Increasing student learning through technology
technology
Autograph is a complete dynamic graphing environment for the high school and college level mathematics classroom. It offers teachers and students the opportunity to bring mathematics to life through the manipulation of dependent, selectable, mathematical objects.
Offering 1-Dimensional, 2-Dimensional, and 3-Dimensional graphing, Autograph spans many levels, including Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Discrete Math, Calculus, Differential Equations, Probability, and Statistics - all subjects covered in one affordable program. Flexibility, ease-of-use, endless possibilities, and value makes Autograph a must for both educators and students.
Developed by:
Douglas Butler & Mark Hatsell
Eastmond Publishing, Ltd.
United Kingdom
Constructing Physics Understanding (CPU)
Developed with support from the National Science Foundation, Constructing Physics Understanding (CPU) is Java simulation software that allows students to conduct countless virtual-lab experiments using 20 simulators and curriculum units, as well as seven stand-alone units that help students to develop their own understanding of physics. Containing over 300 hours of lessons, CPU provides you with hundreds of activities that utilize these physics simulators. Each activity is designed to help students develop valid and robust ideas in physics and physical science. Units are made up of carefully sequenced sets of laboratory discussion activities embedded in a student oriented pedagogy. Students use pre-set simulators that complement and extend the lab experiments. Included are teacher guides and the option to choose computer-based or paper-and-pencil versions for most of the units.
Developed by:
Fred Goldberg
San Diego State University
Patricia Heller
University of Minnesota
Development made possible by:
The National Science Foundation
EarthView Explorer
Designed to enrich existing Earth Science curricula for grades 7-12, EarthView Explorer helps students understand basic processes, stimulates the students’ natural curiosity and interest in science, and helps teachers identify remedial needs. With EarthView Explorer, students actively visualize and explore topics of varying complexity based on recent and authentic global data relevant to the geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, and climate. Activities focused on earthquakes and volcanoes; El Nino variations; vegetation patterns; and climate change can be related to current news events and include tools for modifying the view of the global data, sampling or graphing numeric data, and interacting with a model of global climate. Students can record their investigations for future use or for portfolio evaluation
EarthView Explorer also has the capability to import current data from an outside website supported and maintained by the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. With a simple download, your students can apply the most accurate, up-to-date data to selective activities and research climatic events as they unfold.
Developed by:
Black Hammer Productions & The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
Columbia University
New York, NY
Explore the complex ecosystem of the Nardoo River from the comfort of your classroom. This extraordinary interactive multimedia learning environment is ideal for biology, ecology, and physical geography studies. Your students can explore the ecology of the imaginary Nardoo River through four physical regions from high mountains to the Plains and below, and see how they change across four time zones: pristine state (1900s); early habitation (1940s-1950s); and later habitation (1960s-1970s) through the end of the 20th century (1990s).
Visit the Water Resource Center with your students and join the research staff in an investigation of your choice, using simulators, making measurements in the river, reading newspaper articles, watching videos, and listening to radio reports. Powerful interactive notebook features enable students to report findings and solutions.
Developed by:
The Interactive Multimedia Learning Laboratory
Faculty of Education
University of Wollongong, Australia
Green Home
With major funding provided by the National Science Foundation, Green Home is the
companion software to Planet Neighborhood, a program produced by WETA-TV. Originally aired on PBS, it concerns a new green way to build and operate your home... a way that reduce utility bills, saves energy and water, reduces pollution, minimizes the release of hazardous materials into the environment, and makes your home safer, healthier, quieter, and more comfortable. This is all accomplished by learning about technologies and design strategies that you can incorporate into new home construction or into your existing home.
The Green Home CD-ROM has three primary sections. The walkthrough is a three-dimensional model of a home that was designed to illustrate many of the features discussed in this CD-ROM. The library has information on over a hundred environmental topics. The interactive activities allow the user to change variables and calculate consumption and cost savings.
Developed by:
The Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology
Washington, D.C.
Investigating Lake Iluka
Investigating Lake Iluka captures students’ imaginations while developing their critical thinking and problem solving skills. So much so that it has been called “simply the best product in its category” (AIMIA).
Like its sister program, Exploring the Nardoo, this program uses video, graphics, and sound to simulate a lake environment. Students investigate ecosystems... make physical, chemical, and biological measurements... collect animal and plant life information... view news footage and consult experts... take electronic notes on their findings... and even use the tools within this dynamic learning environment to produce their final reports.
Developed by:
The Interactive Multimedia Learning Laboratory
Faculty of Education
University of Wollongong, Australia
RedShift
Created in conjunction with Maris Technologies, the RedShift desktop planetarium CD-ROM is the world’s best selling astronomy title, selling over 1 million copies worldwide. The original program and its four significant updates have received over 25 international multimedia awards, including a Codie Award in 1999.
Students will see breathtaking views of over 300,000 planets, stars, and galaxies, exploring these objects from any place in the solar system. Students can also examine surface features on all planets, not only predict lunar eclipses -- but also watch them occur. Plus you’ll receive accompanying teacher materials developed by Professor Jay M. Pasachoff, author of Astronomy: From Earth to the Universe.
Taking you on an amazing celestial journey through the universe, RedShift has been designed to make astronomy accessible to the beginner while delivering the highest level of breadth and accuracy for the astronomy enthusiast.
Developed by:
Maris Technologies Ltd.
Surrey, United Kingdom
Small Blue Planet
Called “breathtaking and beautiful” by CD World Magazine, this sophisticated tool lets students learn as they explore the deepest pacific trenches... the highest Asian peaks... and the most desolate Australian deserts, all without leaving their desks. Just as easily, they can explore the Earth’s rotation, seasons, and earthquakes.
And we made certain the content is as effective as it is comprehensive.
Accompanying classroom materials include 10 fully developed Lesson Plans on the political and historic events that have shaped our world.
Developed by:
Now What Software
San Francisco, CA
The Sun’s Joules
Produced for the United States Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, The Sun’s Joules is an educational CD-ROM developed with funding from the National Science Foundation about renewable energy and the environment. It has nearly 1,000 screens of text, graphics, videos, and interactive exercises, as well as a detailed index, charts of U.S. energy consumption by state, an energy glossary, and a list of web sites of interest.
Developed by:
The Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology
Washington, D.C.
&
Media Culture
San Francisco, CA
Development made possible by:
The National Science Foundation
Classroom Wizard
The Classroom Wizard offers three great programs!
Crossword Wizard puts the magic back into making Crosswords on your computer. Crosswords encourage users to think laterally and provide an excellent way to review key terminology on any topic. It’s ideal for school, club newsletters, or magazines.
Cloze Wizard is a powerful teaching utility that allows for quick and easy production of close passage exercises and a range of other language-based worksheets. Students often need to see text in a range of different formats to fully understand the meaning of terms and phrases used. Cloze Wizard follows in the footsteps of our highly successful Crossword Wizard, giving similarly easy-to-use interface and professional printouts.
Math Worksheet Wizard is an indispensable aid for teachers and parents. All students need to practice basic mathematics concepts on a regular basis. With the Math Worksheet Wizard, worksheets can be created quickly and easily to suit the needs of the student at an appropriate level.
Developed by:
Rush Software
Gerroa, Australia
GET IT!
Geoscience Education Through Interactive Technology (GET IT!) uses an inquiry-based approach to learning with investigations that simulate real-life research practices and use real-world data. GET IT! enables students to think like scientists and appreciate the nature of geoscience by looking beneath the surface, learning from mistakes, and discovering that science is a complex network of ideas and processes.
Developed by:
Cambrian Systems
San Antonio, Texas
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EarthView Explorer
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Get It!
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Green Home
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Investigating Lake Iluka
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RedShift
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Small Blue Planet
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The Sun’s Joules
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Classroom Wizard
