EARTH/SPACE SCIENCE WEB-TEXTBOOK (Based upon Florida's Course Code #2001310)
About This Web-textbook This demo web-text is designed to illustrate a method by which the classroom teacher can enhance his/her instructional methodology. It is designed to take students on an interactive journey from the bottom of the ocean to the outer reaches of the universe. It uses the modern tools of science to do science. Although the classroom textbook can be used as a wonderful resource, but by the time it reaches the classroom, most of the information can be as old as 5 to 7 years. Using the "Net" as a means to supplement the classroom text is an excellent method to stay on top of the scientific world. However, using the Net requires time and dedication to search for data sites and the incorporation of them into everyday classroom practice. Searching these sites require more than the instructor providing a URL to the class and stating "I have provided some links for you guys to information about_______. Read the information at the site, write a one page summary and answer the following questions: a.------- b.-------, etc." There are several organizatrions which think this is an excellent method of integrating technology into the classroom-maybe, because it requires NO work from the intsructor other than grading the paper. To make the instruction worthwhile and appealing requires going to various sites, and designing a learning experience that students will enjoy, and at the same time, provides the teacher's own spin to the topic. You will find many different sites on the Internet which may provide the same type of information as the teacher. You will also find many sites which provide lesson plans, in the traditional sense. By traditional I mean paper and pencil (purpose , objective, materials. procedure, etc.), but, there are very few sites which illustrate how to use the Internet to "mine" the data fields to provide real-time data analysis, and to use the computer to provide activities other than writing reports and summaries. This web-textbook attempts to do both. This is a proof of design concept, intended to illustrate to schools, school districts, teachers, universities, and colleges, that an interactive textbook of this type can be designed and delivered via the Internet. This web-textbook uses government, university and other publicly available web-sites, shareware, freeware, a limited number of commercially available run-time software, and public domain brochures and documents to structure the book. Each page is an introduction to a specific topic that I think my students should learn or know. From the introduction page I provide hyperlinks to specific information which deals in depth with the topic on the introduction page. Once the students are thoroughly immersed in the topic, I either write an interactive activity which uses information from the Web or I provide a hyperlink to a site which already has an interactive activity which helps to enhance the student's understanding of the topic at hand. If there are questions, please feel free to e-mail dan@proofofconcepts.com. This Web Textbook explores the following topics:
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