Journal 8: Free Science Resources Online

Journal 8
Spotlight: Free Science Resources Online
by Dave Nagel

This article highlighted a number of free online resources designed to actively engage and inform students about the wonders of Science. One of the first resources was called MIT OpenCourseWare where students can access videos, pictures, lectures, and syllabi from actual MIT Courses. This is a place where real life and learning meet in a virtual environment. It is accessible by all students though it is geared toward post-secondary students. This is great because it gives students the opportunity to experience (as close as possible) a real MIT education no matter where they live or their economic status.

Another resource was NASA Education that can be used by students, teachers, or simply people interested in learning more about Space Science. Like the MIT resource, this one includes videos, animations, and simulations. It also includes game trivia, educational information, and links to relevant websites. For younger students, a picture dictionary is available. This site is great because it accommodates a variety of age and learning levels and goes beyond the classroom for project based learning and future applications.

The Smithsonian Institution aligns materials to state and national standards and can be searched by state, grade, and subject. Subjects include Earth Science, Air and Space, and even outside areas such as Language Arts, Art, and Literature. This site is helpful to teachers when planning instruction, interdisciplinary instruction, or developing major projects.

All of these resources help students better connect with Science and have fun while learning. It is important that students know how to use the technology available to them if they are going to succeed in the real world. For many struggling learners or those who are not interested in Science, all they need are ways in which to see the subject active and connected to the real word and then they can see its value and importance. I am excited to bring sources like this into my classroom someday and hope more and more students can get their hands on them in the meantime.