top 10 math & science resources

MARLA WATTJEANETTE DIEU

BRYAN SCHOMAKERMATT PADULA

BRIAN DAWSON

Top 10 Math & Science Resources

Introduction

Objective: Identify ten exceptional resources for teachers, parents and students.

Special consideration was given to sites with great usability, interactivity and those that target multiple audiences.

Focus: 7 Math and 3 Science resources.

Resources by Target Audience

Teachers

Georgia Math

Math is Fun

CSI:Mathematics

Flash & Math

CRCT Lessons

Grade A Math Help

Teachers Network

Cells Alive

Science Buddies

Exploratorium

Administrators

Georgia Math

Students

Math is Fun

Flash & Math

CRCT Lessons

Grade A Math Help

Cells Alive

Science Buddies

Exploratorium

Parents

Georgia Math

CSI:Mathematics

Georgia Department of EducationMathematics

Target Audience:

Parents

Teachers

Administrators

Overview:

The website specifically addresses the Georgia Performance Standards for a curriculum in mathematics. It links to other resources for parents, teachers and administrators.

URL Name: www.georgiamath.org

Georgia Department of EducationMathematics

Rationale:

• Essential starting point because it lists the Georgia Performance Standards that math curriculums need to meet.

• Easy to follow guide to create a framework needed for each unit.

• Online training materials and videos available.

Math is Fun!

Target Audience:

Teachers

Elementary to Middle Grade Students

Overview:

The website strives to provide explanations to basic and intermediate math concepts such as algebra, geometry, numbers etc. It provides explanations in each of the concepts and has corresponding games that reinforce the concepts.

URL Name: www.mathisfun.com

Math is Fun!

Rationale:

• Layout combines excellent content with fun and interactive ways to learn the content (through games and puzzles etc).

• Provides some practical applications of money such as investing and the concept of interest.

• Link to a “Teacher’s Page” that provides ideas and games for teachers to drive home the content they are teaching.

CSI:Mathematics

Target Audience:

Teachers

Parents

Overview:

Summarizes individual units of standards-based math instruction.

Presents a downloadable, one-page, visually engaging, informative summary of each unit. Also features supporting links for deeper investigation unit content.

URL Name: www.ceismc.gatech.edu/CSI/homepg.html

CSI:Mathematics

Rationale:

•Effective math instruction requires cooperation and communication between teachers, students and parents.

• CSI: Mathematics enables parents to effectively and confidently support their children’s learning, which in turn helps teachers meet their goals.

• The summaries, called parent letters are visually engaging as well as content and context rich.

Flash & Math

Target Audience:

High School Students

Teachers

Overview:

Presents interactive, flash-based modules for classroom demonstration and student exploration of subjects from discrete math to calculus.

URL Name: http://www.flashandmath.com/mathlets/index.html

Flash & Math

Rationale:

•Flash is portable, fast, free and visually engaging.

• Also includes tutorials for teachers on developing their own flash modules.

• The site is simply and cleanly organized, current and features contact information for the creators.

CRCT Lessons

Target Audience:

Middle Grade Students

Teachers

Overview:

•Make CRCT preparation process fun and meaningful•Designed by Georgia 8th grade teacher•Designed for 7th and 8th grade students and teachers•Oriented around the 4 CRCT domains

URL Name: http://www.crctlessons.com/index.htm

CRCT Lessons

Rationale:

• Aligned with Georgia standards - CRCT

• Timed benchmark tests and self-assessments

• Games for students = fun, not intimidating

Grade A Math Help

Target Audience:

Students

Teachers

Overview:

•Free math help -- fractions, pre-algebra, algebra, geometry•Extensive database of free printable worksheets•Cool math games/downloads •Videos, manipulatives•Graphing calculators•Motivational tools

URL Name: http://www.gradeamathhelp.com/

Grade A Math Help

Rationale:

• Polished, professional look and feel, easy to navigate

•Multiple learning tools, easy access for students--games, video, tutorials

•Separate sections for teaching tools/ideas (seat charts, using technology)

•Printable worksheets!

Teachers Network

Target Audience:

Teachers

Overview:

•Focus on professional development as key to improved student achievement•Goal: Transform public schools into creative learning communities•Document and share outstanding classroom teachers' work•Special section devoted to meeting needs of ESL/ELL students

URL Name: http://www.teachersnetwork.org/ntol/howto/eslclass/

Teachers Network

Rationale:

•By teachers, for teachers

•Includes lesson plans, on-line courses

•Special support for new teachers

•Captures newest thinking on ESL/ELL instruction, including math

•Links to articles/resources focused on ESL/ELL instruction

Cells Alive

Target Audience:

Middle Grades and High School Students

Teachers

Overview:

•Film and computer enhanced images of living cells and organisms•Designed for teaching and research•Includes interactive films, puzzles and quizzes

URL Name: http://cellsalive.com/

Cells Alive

Rationale:

• Clear colorful images engages students and aids teaching

• Resources not usually available in textbooks or under classroom microscopes

• Interactive learning tools

• Puzzles and quizzes to encourage fun learning

Science Buddies

Target Audience:

K-12 Students

Teachers

Overview:

•Primarily targeted towards science fairs with over 900 topics and ides•Includes Topic Selection wizard to help narrow topics according to age and area of science•Discussion forum that offers expert help for students

URL Name: http://sciencebuddies.com/

Science Buddies

Rationale:

•User friendly - easy to find relevant pages

• Recommended by and linked to by the National Science Tearchers Association

•Resources are free and site is a non-profit organization

•Resources for administrators, teachers, students and parents

Exploratorium

Target Audience:

K-12 Students

Teachers

Overview:

•Offers free digital library of images, educational activities in PDF and html formats, QuickTime movies, streaming media, and audio files. •"Snacks" section provides miniature science exhibits that teachers can make using common, inexpensive, easily available materials. •Numerous webcasts, podcasts and videos of teacher tips and demonstrations.

URL Name: http://www.exploratorium.edu/educate/index.html

Exploratorium

Rationale:

•Fun, engaging and easy to navigate

•Role modelling through high school student-made demonstrations

•Resources are free and site is an ad-free non-profit organization

•Extremely diverse, plentiful and searchable sets of resources

Conclusion

We were encouraged and slightly overwhelmed by the volume of resources available.

Older static “link farm” resources have been supplanted by robust, interactive Web 2.0 resources.

We identified a need for more math-specific resources for ELL students.