on the Net

The scope of the SciTech Education Programs has expanded to include the effective use of the Internet as a learning tool by collaborating with Maryland Sea Grant. Three truly interactive web-based lessons entitled "Biofilms and Biodiversity", "Oyster Anatomy Lab", and "The Key to Classification" have been developed that are based on two of the eight SciTech lessons. The extensive web-based lessons are designed for both teachers and students and can be used in multiple ways:

• Interactively as part of a classroom/laboratory activity (i.e. coupled with field work).
  
• As a follow-up activity to a hands-on laboratory investigation - e.g. teachers have effectively used 2-3 class periods having students use these web pages (an encouraging example of teachers effectively integrating technology into the classroom).
  
• As an independent launching off point for a science project.

As an exciting interactive learning tool, these lessons make learning science both interesting and fun. It also allows students from all over the country, even those not in close proximity to the ocean, to learn about biofilms, biodiversity, anatomy, and classification without directly participating in the actual laboratory experiment. Alternatively, because the web pages are designed to encourage the implementation of experiments and participation an increased number of students and teachers may take the initiative to set-up their own tests. The format of the lessons allows users to download the complete activity to their computer (Mac or PC) and use it within a browser without a live Internet connection. To date the lessons have been downloaded 800 times in over 30 countries from Australia to Venezuela and in 29 states in the US.

The Oyster Anatomy Lab lesson has been selected by the Maryland State Department of Education as a model lesson for teachers to use to prepare students for the High School Assessment in Biology in tenth grade. The National Science Teachers Association SciLinks Program has selected the Oysters website as a critical web resource for teachers and consequently the website will be linked into biology texts as a reference for teachers to use in support of biology content related to oysters and shellfish. The selection of the website for these purposes illustrates the value of the partnership between UMBI/COMB and MDSG in their efforts to creatively expose more students and teachers to research based science content.

Resource Links

Chesapeake Science on the Internet for Educators
http://www.bayeducation.net/

The National Marine Educators Association
http://www.marine-ed.org/

SciLinks
http://www.scilinks.org/

Maryland Sea Grant Interactive Marine Education
http://www.mdsg.umd.edu

Maryland Sea Grant Schools Network News, Education Newsletter
http://www.mdsg.umd.edu/Extension/msgsnn/index.html

The Bridge, Education Resources on the Web
http://www.vims.edu/bridge/

MSDE Core Learning Goals
http://www.mdk12.org/mspp/high_school/what_will/index.html

The Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plans
http://www.eduref.org/Virtual/Lessons/index.shtml

Eisenhower National Clearing House, On-Line Lesson Plans
http://www.goenc.com/