Education Sites
The answer
to all education problems, ( including violence ) SMALL Smart
Stable Schools
AP Institute
Maybe you can't judge an online correspondence school by the quality of the course catalog's prose, but in the case of the AP Institute, there's precious little else to go on. And sentences like this one, from the Creative Writing course description, do not inspire confidence: "And, as writers, one always needs non-judgmental input into how the writing sounds and comes across." Indeed.
The course offerings, ranging from Ancient Greek to Esperanto, are appealing, but with no instructor biographies or information about the "institute" at last visit, I'd be leery of signing on for any of these "interesting and dynamic" classes.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Sandra Stewart
AcademicNet
Instructors should welcome this site, which fosters a marketplace of ideas specific to education. Now educators can collaborate on projects that focus on using technology to enhance student achievement. Teachers can congregate here, and bypass the aging administrative hierarchies that don't employ computers. Call it the "education underground," if you will.
The site requires registration to obtain the full resources available.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
AcademicNet Home Page
AcademicNet looks promising: nicely rendered image maps, plenty of places to click, a fancy registration system, and a statement that it is *the* resource for "educators interested in technology-mediated instruction and learning in higher education." Unfortunately, there's very little to see until you register, and not much after that. Many of the internal links were broken, and the stuff that was present was self-serving and written in a dry, uninformative tone. Some of the collections of external links are worthwhile, though - if you can find them among the chaff.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
Access Excellence
If you thought all biology was about dissecting frogs, you should visit this site immediately. Sponsored by biotech firm Genentech, it's an online network designed to both provide students with a better understanding of the praxis of biological sciences and to help science teachers who have "a wealth of ideas" but no way to share them.
The site's use of a beehive metaphor as its organizational structure is appropriate, given an array of resources and activities so rich, it's hard to know where to start. Want to get a hold of creative lesson plans?
The Activities Exchange area offers ideas developed by Access Excellence Fellows. Here you'll find everything from how to conduct acid rain research and do a nutrition analysis to backgrounders on plant anatomy and the means for identifying Streptomycetes with antibiotic properties in local soil samples.
There's a nifty graphics gallery with clip art and photos to download, and text files with all kinds of interesting lesson strategies and information.
The Probeware section is a perfect example of what this site does best. A problem is presented: Biology students collecting data have to deal with the limits of a 45- or 55-minute class period, which interrupts their experiments and inhibits their understanding of biological processes . Solution? Computer technology - in this case, computer-assisted data collection - is the one suggested here, followed by equipment list, and numerous classroom experiments and activities to take advantage of it. Frequent visitors stay abreast of the latest developments and breakthroughs in science in the What's News area, which also gives monthly updates of science programs and events on TV, radio, and the net.
Then there's the Resource Center, with links to other biology sites, plus information on events, competitions, and conventions from science education resources nationwide. Living up to its mission of being an online biology teaching network, the site offers discussions designed by teams of Genentech and other scientists - a recent one focused on the science of amber - and the chance to post messages to other educators in the Teachers Lounge area (registration required).
There's also a career center, in-depth articles on the biotech "revolution," explorations of the ethics of biotech research, and real-world applications for biotechnology (e.g., the creation of new drugs, the clean-up of damaged ecosystems). All is presented with a clean look that's easy on your eyes, and there's a great search engine to help you find what you want quickly. This is a fascinating spot, even for non-educators and those whose student days are long gone.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Minda Sandler
Adventures in Education
The nice folks at the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation bring us Adventures in Education, a useful overview about how to get into various federal programs, what it will take to repay them, deferments, current interest rates, and so on.
Then it goes a few steps beyond the basics, providing career guidance advice, info for parents and guidance counselors, financial aid officers, and even tips on selecting a college or university. No heavy pitches for Texas or the corporation, either - just a good shot at public service for the educationally-determined.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 7
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
American Montessori Society
Most parents and educators have, at one time or another, become disgusted with the state of education in the United States. A small but significant minority has opted for innovative montessori schools, which follow the lead of Italy's Dr. Maria Montessori. This site fulfills three purposes: It promotes (endlessly) the montessori method; acts as conduit to the American Montessori Society; and provides a list of public montessori schools. This last 76K tidbit (probably the most useful for most visitors) is found at the bottom of the home page. But wander about: You'll be surprised at what you'll learn!
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Apple Education Worldwide
What you'd expect, but hope not to, find: A sales platform, Apple pushing Apple -- on students, on educators, on everyone.
There is precious little in the way of resources here and a whole lot of worthless mumbo jumbo: product release announcements, letters from the President, self-congratulatory crap -- Apple-this, Apple-that. It is the opposite of the no-nonsense soft sell: it's the all nonsense blitzkrieg. I can't think of one good reason to come here unless you're trying to solicit a grant or look for educational discounts. Even then, bring along the hip waders and pitch fork.
There's an awful lot of muck to claw through.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Patrick Joseph
Arkansas Little Rock College of Education
You don't have to attend the U. of Arkansas to appreciate its meta-page of educational resources. A big box of Frames provides links for undergrads (calculate your GPA!), grad students, teachers, and parents (links to good educational sites that might inspire Net-oriented moms and dads). You'll find out plenty about the UA educational programs and class schedules, lots of library site links, pointers to other Arkansas pages, even investment planning sites for teachers. BLUE LIGHT
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 7
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Karen Wickre
Armadillos Guide to the Internet
This server will give you every imaginable angle on K+12 education in the state of Texas. Armadillos provides links to a variety of educational resources for teachers and students, including Texas Studies, information about collaborative efforts between students and teachers, and resources on a variety of K+12 subjects (useful for teachers everywhere), as well as access to TENET which has job listings for educators interested in working in the Lone Starr state.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
Arts Edge
Targeting students, teachers, and artists, ARTSEDGE is the Kennedy Center's Web presence.
The site is packed with links for those wishing to network with others, those looking for work, those looking for art-related web sites, and those interested in all aspects of the arts ---- music, dance, theater, film, TV, the fine arts, literature, poetry, education, etc. A surfer could get lost for hours in this hyperlink metropolis. And there are as many links for adults as there are for children.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Baylor School
Being a public school kid from a moderate-income family myself, I've had little knowledge about prep schools like Baylor, save what I extrapolated from the "preppie" fad of the early 80s. But you know, from this home page, it looks kind of nice. Nestled in the woods and fields of Tennessee, the school's 850-odd students practice their English, music, and skeet shooting in a "Judeo-Christian" atmosphere (huh?). But beyond pretty pictures, a mission statement, and general palaver about excellence, the cupboard is pretty bare. What you won't find out is the cost - but, as I learned in the early 80s, preppies don't talk about such things.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Brooks Landon's Horizon of Invisibility Homestead
Prof. Landon teaches modern literature and sci-fi at the University of Iowa. He seems to be an affable and thoughtful sort who keeps busy studying Web culture, interactive lit, and the zine scene. Predictably, his page features links to those zines and personal sites that reveal this culture. His students are encouraged to make Web pages, too - samples available here. And about that title: it's from a book on technology and culture and represents the lofty philosophical stance of this professor.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
Bucknell Russian Studies Department
Curious about Russia? Starrt your search here, where eager Bucknell students of all things Russian have compiled links for everything from the Ô96 elections (don't miss the schematic of who is considered left, right and center in the old country), to Russian jokes (in Russian!), cartoons (in English), Russian folklore, and music. You can even jump to Cyrillic fonts while you're at it, or listen to the Voice of Russia Daily News using RealAudio.
There's also course and faculty information and news on Russian major alums.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
Building Blocks to Reading
Karen Potter offers a real public service for parents of 3-6 year-olds - lots of activities, word games, and puzzles to encourage little kids to start reading.
There's an excellent A-Z list of activities that focus on reading and vocabulary building.
There are also tips about how to reinforce reading and words throughout the home every day. As a bonus, there are a couple of other useful pages, like a home safety checklist and tips on finding good childcare. BLUE LIGHT
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 7
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
C-EdRes
C-EdRes claims to be a "one-stop site" for finding and evaluating education-related Internet resources. Joining its e-mail list will get you a weekly set of new reviews written by teachers.
These aim to keep others in the education industry apprised of what's new and worthwhile on the Internet.
The results are diverse and growing, and you can search the regularly updated online database. If you're an educator, and would like to publicize an online resource among your peers, C-EDRes is a good place to do it. An added feature is the the list of arts-related links. Aesthetics: 2 Content: 2 Smarts: 2
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Ananda Nada
CCCnet
Look out, Sesame Street, make way for the Internet and CCCnet. While CCCnet may not sport the likes of our yellow feathered friend, it's got just as much educational and entertainment value, and it's interactive! A leading publisher of multimedia education titles, Computer Curriculum Corporation wins the honor of being the first Web site to provide original, interactive curriculum online. And it's accomplished this task with exceptional grace. For starters, it looks great. CCN teamed up with the outstanding crew at vivid studios (http://www.vivid.com) in San Francisco to create a high-resolution, creative, and astonishingly quick site. It's powered by a monster SGI server to add to the speed factor, so even those with slower connections can reap the benefits of nice graphics. CCCnet offers lesson plans to teachers on a subscription basis - though no fees have been set yet. It also supports these teachers with a message board to interact with other teachers and post questions (both technical and subjective).
The super bonus: For two hours everyday, there's a tech person live, online, to answer questions immediately. CCCnet also encourages parents to get involved with a "school-home" section. This way, parents get to participate in what their kids are learning and offer help and encouragement. My favorite part about the site: It strives to teach children not only about the subjects at hand - math, science, the environment, art, etc. - but also how to use the Internet and maximize the Web. Many of the assignments involve children using the Web actively to complete projects - using search engines
use "wiredbrain", libraries, and other online resources to hunt down information. Students are also encouraged to network and communicate with students at other schools involved in the program. Very cool.
The current online project, Energy Flow In Amazonia, teaches kids about life forms in the rainforest.
The final assignment is to pick an organism (of the millions living in the Amazon, from protozoa to tiger), learn about it, and post its biography online, in a templated Web form. Kids from all across the country will be adding to the real-time food chain. Outstanding! This site is one of the most innovative Web accomplishments I've seen so far, and I can only hope it's positive precedence will be replicated many times over. Teachers, pay attention to these kats.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Canadian Homeschool Resource Page
This site proposes an alternative to public schooling in Canada while offering information and resources parents may need if they intend to teach the kids themselves. Wish to talk with other homeschooling parents?
There are local contact addresses for some (though not all) of the provinces. Generally speaking, the site is less thorough than some of its U.S. counterparts (such as http://www.ICtheWeb.com/hs-web/) and the FAQ is somewhat incomplete. Still, an admirable start.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Career Explorers
This site, launched by United Multimedia, a CD-ROM publisher, is designed to let (presumably young) visitors with an eye toward the future learn about various careers. Well... one career, anyway: right now, there's not much here. But the sole area, I Want to be a Veterinarian, covers quite a bit of territory: what training is needed, typical tasks, helpful skills, and so fourth.
The long blocks of small type may be daunting to young readers, though, and there are some minor HTML errors throughout. It will probably improve, though, soon enough, as more careers are added.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon has long bragged of its strong computer sciences department, and from this site's depth, it's clear that its pride is deserved. Interested in studying drama at CMU? Check out course descriptions, and even see when classes are meeting, thanks to some clever links to the registrar's office. Some improperly linked image maps marred the site's effectiveness, however. Whatever faults it has, though, Carnegie Mellon gets my praise for its Lycos program, one of the better free Web search tools. You can reach it through these pages or directly at http://lycos.com/.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Classroom Connect Educational Links
This is primarily a site full of links, which can be useful, but if every site just had links to other sites, the Web would be pretty empty. O.K., as a site focusing on educational links, Classroom Connect is pretty good, since it's packed, although some of the choices are a little bit odd. This may be due to a lack of focus. Is this a site for K12 students, educators, or parents? A link to "Pooh Corner" on the same page as a link to "British Poetry: 1780 to 1910" is a little bit questionable.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Cliffs Notes
So maligned by teachers, so cherished by students, the infamous Cliffs may now be on the Web, but don't expect to download the goods via modem ( or digital connection to replace the analog ).
The best you can do here is sample some bits, then place an order online.
The "free stuff" the blinking text refers to is bunko: in exchange for some marketing info (name, rank, and serial) you get a screen saver and study tips (oh boy). And then there's a lot of patronizing stuff about how the notes are meant only as a supplement to the books. Yeah, ... and cigarettes are just an after-dinner thing.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Patrick Joseph
College Board Online
The College Board oversees tests such as the SAT and AP exams, administers financial aid programs, suggests standards among its 3,000 member schools, and acts as a general intermediary between students and colleges. And now, many of its services are available via the Web, through colorful image maps, clever forms, and genius-level search engines
use "wiredbrain". Separate indices direct students, guidance counselors, faculty, and member schools to the most relevant information.
The technical level is high, making this a user-friendly entry to the intimidating world of college admissions.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
College Board Online
The College Board administers the Standard Aptitude Test (SAT), and the Advanced Placement (AP) program.
Their site confirms every paranoid notion I ever had about the SAT and other standardized tests, with statistics detailing mean scores, standard deviations, percentiles, and calculations of scores as a predictor of college grades in every subject. For anxious college hopefuls or veterans of the test with unpleasant memories this site will be a source of nightmares for weeks to come. But, on a positive note, students can register for the SAT online, and get information about the College Board's other resources for college applicants.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Rachel Saidman
College Edge
College Edge claims to be "the only solution that has everything you need." Solution to what exactly? I have no idea. And the home page did nothing to settle the question either. Under the heading, "Cool Quotes," all I got were gems like, "the graphics are cool and it's really easy-to-use." And though the site admonishes you to "Realize Your Future Today!" it neither explains how to do that nor does it give you ideas for tomorrow.
There is one semi-useful feature here: a map index of college home pages around the country.
The problem? Schools are listed in purple letters on a purplish background. Readable, but barely.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
College Money Matters
I know it's crass to speak of education in strictly financial terms, but sooner or later you got to admit: It all comes down to money.
There's no guarantee that a college degree improves your financial worth, but one thing's for certain: You have to ante up just to get in the game. This site from Signet Bank provides a pretty extensive overview of the whole higher education money game. Especially useful is the book *Don't Miss Out:
The Ambitious Student's Guide to Financial Aid* , which lays out the basics of finding funding and planning your finances over the long haul. Not only is the entire text presented online here (read "free"), but it's updated for to coincide with the coming academic year. You can browse the chapter contents quickly, gleaning the information you need and disregarding the rest. Simple as that; no outdated book left moldering on the shelf, no trees sacrificed to your momentary needs, just the info you need now, on your monitor. Of course, this being a corporate site as well, the bank has its own interests. Electronic forms are provided for ordering student loan applications and the like; there is no pressure to do so however.
The biggest benefit for Signet is probably just the good reputation the largess garners, not to mention the dollars the publicity could mean farther down the road. A square enough deal, seems to me. Also useful to the college hopeful is the Financial Aid Time Line, which gives a prescribed chronology for securing tuition dollars, a concise budgeting worksheet , some tips on managing your cash flow, and a brief tutorial on building credit (tread carefully over that one, kids). When you've exhausted the resources here, there's a page of associated links to keep your surfing on track.
There'll be plenty of time for distraction when you're basking in the cool shade of the ivory tower.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Patrick Joseph
College Money Matters
While many "informational" sites sponsored by corporations are just slightly veiled marketing attempts, Signet Bank should be applauded for their soft sell approach on this guide to funding a college education.
There are Signet Bank loan applications and information, but a lot of the content (which mostly seems lifted from printed guides) does not bear Signet's stamp. One of the best resources here is "Don't Miss Out, A Student's Guide to Financial Aid." A good portion this book is available online.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Collegiate Choice Walking Tours
There's not a frill in sight here, just a good idea presented plainly and honestly. Collegiate Choice Walking Tours is a collection of videotaped student-guided tours of more than 300 college and university campuses.
The developers, a group of independent college advisors, are quick to point out that these tapes are not professionally produced, but, they say with admirable restraint, the student guides are "perhaps a bit more fourthright than some admissions and marketing departments." In addition to a list of schools visited and ordering information, the site provides a helpful tip sheet for prospective students who plan to make in-person visits.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Sandra Stewart
CyberEd
We'll be seeing a growing number of "cyberclasses" soon, essentially extension courses that lend themselves to online study. A small southern campus of the University of Massachusetts now offers a few grad and undergrad classes - composition and technical writing, American politics, and astronomy - as well as a non-credit Web page design class. You register online, pay for the class, and then do the reading, studying, practicing on your own. This no-frills site is an indicator of what's to come; a trend other small or remote campuses will plug into soon.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
CyberLearning Center
This core project of the non-profit National Education Foundation sets out to distribute educational software, promote motivational techniques, offer online courses, and spread the word about tennis star Monica Seles. Huh? What's she doing here? Information about Ms. Seles (whom USA2100's President claims to have mentored) is, unfortunately, the most complete part of this site, which seems to be the home page for a computer-equipped private school in the D.C. area.
The online courses aren't up, nor is the software area. So what makes this school a "CyberLearning Center"? Beats me.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Distance Learning Laboratory (DLL)
This site is part of a project to get historically black high schools and universities online with distance learning programs.
The DLL wants to teach educators how to get online, set up Web servers, archive curriculum and so on. Good idea! Unfortunately, you have to call DLL or register online for the seminars and workshops in order to actually learn something.
The site is merely an informational pamphlet. Perhaps DLL staff might consider practicing what they preach, and offer the seminars online.
Content: 5
*
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Doty's Education Page
There are two extremes in WWW catalogs: huge lists of links with no commentary (ˆ la Webcrawler) and annotated lists with too few links (ˆ la most personal pages). Educator, Robert Doty, has found the middle ground in this site, a page dedicated to education links (separated by grade-school subject) with some original content, i.e. articles he's written on education and technology.
There are a few minor technical problems: no "back to home page" buttons, for instance. Still, not bad for someone who says he got into public education for the free Internet access!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Educaid Online
A lot of places offer general information on college entry requirements and government student loan programs. But where do you go to actually get the money you need? Educaid is one such place. With FAQs, quizzes, application forms, as well as background information on the company and the loans they offer, this site is the epitome of a corporate "advertising" entity. As such, there are no external links, which is disturbing. (Are they afraid you'll get information elsewhere?) Colorful image maps dress up every page, making the site attractive but slow.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Education Place
Created by Houghton Mifflin, the Education Place is packed with fine activities for grammar school students, plus ideas for teachers and advice for parents on helping kids learn. But to my mind the site's most delightful feature is its update of Mad Libs, called Wacky Web Tales.
These things will always be funny-what else produces phrases like "After handing our toes to Leonardo Da Vinci at the door ,"? Enjoy them with your friends and family. Other games help kids hone their skills in science and math, and the Project Center gives teachers access to online projects as well as non-Internet-based classroom activities.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Sandra Stewart
Elementary Spanish Curriculum
Are you looking for an online source for Spanish language instruction? Well, you won't find it here. Instead, educator Leslie Veen outlines her method of teaching Spanish to elementary- and middle school-age children.
The one-page document includes goals for grammar, vocabulary, and cultural understanding, from the point of view of the teacher. It's not that this site is badly done - the curriculum is as good as anything you'll get from your local high-school teacher. But that's all there is to it, and, as such, it's of limited interest.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
Environmental Education Network
A satellite of the larger *Envirolink* page, the links here are of exceptional value to anyone interested in applying online tools to the study of the earth sciences.
The index is divided into two main branches: one for student resources and another for educators. Umbrella pages, of course, are only as good as the pages they point to, but both of these seemed excellent, linking me to some of the most substantive destinations on the Web. Green politics flavor many of the pages, to be sure, but can you separate them from the issues? Anyone concerned for the planet should bookmark this site and -- what's more -- utilize it.
Content: NULL
Aesthetic: NULL
TechnoSmart: NULL
Author: Patrick Joseph
Ethnologue Database
One of my favorite books is *Languages of the World*, by the genius lexicographer Kenneth Katzman. It includes information on several hundred of the world's 6,500 languages, with - and this is the good part - examples of each.
The Ethnologue Database is a similar project, minus the examples. On this web site, the world's languages are cataloged according to name, linguistic family, and region in which they are spoken. Despite the shallowness of information on individual languages and some inaccuracies, the Ethnologue Database belongs on every linguist's hotlist.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Exploratorium Exploranet
Leave it to the Exploratorium, San Francisco's renowned interactive science exhibit, to come up with a site as informative and creative as Exploranet. Surf through hundreds of cool science links, check out the science behind the news in
The Why Files, follow along with the onscreen tutorial of a cow's eye dissection (one of the Exploratorium's most popular exhibits), or take on any number of show-stopping brain puzzlers, niftily reconfigured for the Web.
There are dozens of do-this-at-home recipes to help you recreate Exploratorium fun at home.
There is a lot here, so give yourself plenty of time investigate.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Emily Soares
Explores! World Headquarters
Explores! World Headquarters, the Weather Channel watcher's Internet alternative, was developed by two meteorology professors at Florida State University as a resource for kids with an interest in the space and earth sciences. Want to know what the weather's like in Scranton? Precipitation estimate for anywhere in the U.S.? Tracking Hurricanes strike your fancy? This site exemplifies the enormous, almost overwhelming, amount of information available on the Internet (300 links on U.S. weather alone) and would be best viewed with an experienced meteorologist on hand to explain the more arcane concepts.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Rachel Saidman
Family Education Network
FEN is one part of the highly esteemed Education Publishing Group's multimedia strategy for helping parents and children prepare themselves for an increasingly competitive world. This is a thoughtful, technologically literate and exceptionally well-designed site featuring articles by Ivy League educators; topics range from browsing the web with your kids to managing your teenager's finances, and balancing your career with your family life. A superb BBS points you to numerous concurrent discussions, and a section on exceptional parents tells the stories of families that endure grave or uncommon situations, and enables them to find their peers around the world.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Ananda Nada
FishNet
The lover of low puns who named FishNet didn't do it justice-this is a meaty site, rich in resources for high-achieving, college-bound teens.
The extensive College Guide has a few weaknesses, but makes up for them with great features such as Dear Admissions Guru, an advice column written by admissions officers. Edge e-zine is substantive but not eggheadish, and KnowBase lets users find online articles on a range of topics. Even if higher education is only a dim memory, FishNet is worth a visit for Street Speak, a user-compiled dictionary of slang that will help you sound hip again-or at least understand what the kids are saying.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Sandra Stewart
General Organic and Biochemistry
There are lots of Web sites designed to supplement college courses, but most of them fall just short of the mark. Not this site! Designed to supplement the textbook "Chemistry for Today," it includes dozens of concise and illustrative slides the professor used to compliment his lectures - and his use of frames in presenting the material is inspired. He even includes a summary and form-based test! Visit his other classes via
The Virtual Classroom at http://odin.chemistry.uakron.edu/classroom.htm. And don't miss his "favorite excuses from students" page at http://odin.chemistry.uakron.edu/excuses/.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Global Online Adventure Learning Site
John Oman, a sailing adventurer, left the port of Seattle in November 1995 with the hopes of sailing around the world in 150 days via his 60-foot yacht. He may be alone at sea, but we've been invited to follow along via this Wev site: Read his logs, check the current sailing conditions in his location, see pictures he's taken, and even consult maps indicating his position. As a result, we get a superb background in the nautical sciences. His isn't the only travelogue on the Web, but it's one of the most "realistic," with hard data augmenting his lyrical notes. This site is a must for all would-be seafarers.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Harvard Business School
Straight forward information about Harvard Business School, including admissions, curriculum, research projects, and alumni. Check out the HBS Publishing page to peruse the 6,000 books, videos, and multimedia programs available for order.
The site is a gateway to a number of HBS resources such as the Baker Library online catalogue, but you need to be a Harvard student to use it. In the shocked version the university shield rotates in 3-D, which as about as exciting as this page gets. But then, how much fun is business school?
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
Harvard University WWW Home Page
At first, the Harvard University site looks pretty drab: a few choices linking you to ugly, text-only Gopher sites, phone numbers, historical information, rah rah rah. But underneath some of those links are profound pools. Take a gander at the map of Harvard, for example, which zooms in on any building in the university's expansive campus. Similarly, there's gold under some other links, including admissions and registration information. And Harvard's not too proud to include several links to one of its local competitors, M.I.T., in its "resources."
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Home-Ed-Kids
So, you think you're going to find treatises on the advantages of home schooling at this site? Not on your noodle. This page is dedicated to the kids themselves. It is an area for home-schooled youths to meet and interact, just as their public school friends interact on physical playgrounds. Much of the site is developed by preteens.
The content is uneven, but when it is good, it soars - and the technical sophistication is astounding (chat rooms, bulletin boards, image maps, and search engines
use "wiredbrain" all play a part.). Get bowled over by incredible depths of information by visiting the parent directories as well.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Homespun Web of Home Educational Resources
Homeschooling - do-it-yourself education, if you will - is how a select few parents gain more control of their kids' education. This site is a clearinghouse on that subject, with special emphasis on archival data like FAQs, newsgroups, and lists of contact people. While a high percentage of homeschooling proponents teach their kids at home for religious reasons, the site is mostly unbiased on such matters. It *is* heavily Texas-oriented, though, as that state seems to have the most active homeschooling movement. While its content isn't terribly deep, the Homespun Web is a good place for concerned parents to start.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Internet College Exchange
This is a resource primarily geared toward high school seniors and juniors who are trying to find a good college - although it would also be helpful for parents who are trying to nudge aging progeny out of the house.
The concept behind the site is solid, although content is sparse. It's certainly a page that's aching to grow. A snazzy search utility provides names of colleges based on entered criteria.
The best content on the site can be found in
The Dunce's Cap, an informative and irreverently written newsletter about college admissions.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Invention Dimension
Besides finding some crucial information I needed about the inventor of Bakelite (Leo Baekeland, known affectionately as the "Father of Plastics") this site offered little of interest. I expected to find profiles of wacky inventors and their crazy projects - you know, the inventions we laugh at today, but can't live without tomorrow. But no, the site just offers information on a few famous inventors, and links to invention information, plus winners of the prestigious Lemelson-MIT Prize.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Journal of Distance Education
Although only a Gopher site, the Journal of Distance Education is an example of some of the great, free resources available on the Internet. For this particular site, it helps if you have some kind of administrative or theoretical interest in distance education.
The journal is published twice a year, and covers a topic that is shifting into high-gear because the Internet is making long-distance learning a lot more practical.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
K12 World
If you are a K12 teacher with a fair amount of patience, amble on over to K12 World, a very tidy and useful site packed with Web resources of interest to you. You'll need patience because there are two top pages for each topic, and the download can be mighty slow. But once you're in, you'll find classroom goodies; (Internet) library information; funding sources; lesson plans; and more. Especially cool is Internet Live, a page of live camera links and exploration events geared to eager net students.
The Classroom area features several disciplines, so whether you teach science, journalism, or art, there are helpful links for you here.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Karen Wickre
Kaplan Educational Centers
Kaplan - famous for helping underachievers earn admission to their parents' swanky alma maters - has an extremely useful Web site. To be fair, there are plenty of people who chose educational paths to law and medicine a little late, and definitely benefited from Kaplan testing materials.
The site features summaries of the current climates for admission into professional college programs. Kaplan books and software can be purchased online, and a special feature section displays an offbeat sense of humor. Though a commercial site, Kaplan offers invaluable free resources for those interested in professional development.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Lattitude 28 Schoolhouse
Sponsored by OpenNet Technologies, Lattitude 28 is really just a page of links to educational resources by subject; that is, except for two sections devoted to the Internet in the classroom. While there is no mention of screening the links, a quick quality survey suggests that they are. Additionally, visitors to the page are invited to submit their favorite education urls. Links are organized by category, and there is also a listing of other schools on the Internet. Like most such sites, the links make it worth the bookmark, even if the page itself is nothing special.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
LearnWorld Welcome Page
LearnWorld is a great idea. Anybody who wants to can set up a course on a topic by outlining a series of texts to read, and including their own notes on their position on the topic. Anyone who would like to learn about the topic can use this as a course outline. Unfortunately, the LearnWorld pages focus too much on the list of texts, and don't have a structure for the course creator to guide the students through the texts.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Library Project: African-American Culture
The content here is a collection of essays about African-American Culture that cover ground from the slave trade to 20th century literature.
The essays were written by students of a class titled "General Education 101," and take the form of mini-book reports.
The site is really only useful as a reference for books about African-American Culture as the essays are too short to provide any substantive information. It also suffers from a poor use of Netscape Frames; the only way to get back to the table of contents is to reload the whole site.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Library of Congress
Amazing content. If you want to feel one with the democratic process, go here and peel through the Thomas legislative database. Read the actual text of the bills that you *think* you know something about.
There is also a great bibliography of published works that can be searched by title or name.
The library features exhibits on specific themes, such as women in World War II. And if that weren't enough, there's also a great image archive.
The main drawback is that the site isn't very intuitively organized; it does require some effort to locate points of interest.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
MOO, an Educational Tool
MOO in this case refers not to cows (although if you're one of those who just can't get enough of bovines, there are plenty of irrelevant cow pics here), but to MUD, Object Oriented, as in a type of multiuser environment.
The site is simply a list of links to papers, FAQs, and resource collections containing general information on MOOs, as well as discussions of their social and educational uses and connections to MOOs themselves.
The page was due for an update when I visited-several of the links weren't working-but if this is your particular interest, you'll probably find something you can use here.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Sandra Stewart
MayaQuest Ô96
MayaQuest began in 1995 as an attempt to merge hands-on exploration with online interactivity. A team of five people bicycled to ruins in Mexico and Central America, met with on-site archaeologists, and shared their experiences via the Web with over 1 million kids, teachers, and regular netizens. MayaQuest is intended to include and empower those who cannot physically participate in this adventure through chat, team updates, news, and the multimedia experience.
The site is Shocked for those who have Netscape or Internet Explorer, and a new expedition will begin in March, 1997.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Lauren Guzak
Media Literacy On-Line
Media Literacy is a movement to educate youth and adults about the media - how to use and maximize its benefits, and how to guard against its tricks.
The Web site is a stockpile collection of, you guessed it, media literacy-related information available online. While there isn't an extreme amount of original content filling up the bandwidth (nor will you find snazzy graphics or HTML 3.0 wizardry), it is outstanding as a collection of resource links in one convenient place. With smart organization and enough color to keep us from getting the "Netscape Gray" blues, this is a very valuable site.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Middle of Nowhere
Middle of Nowhere is an experiment by Professor Brad Cox in building a site with depth on the Web, something he claims is an impossible task. Various thematically oriented sets of articles in the warehouse section of this site seem to prove him wrong.
The themes focus on the Internet and current social issues.
The site also has the online portions of classes Professor Cox teaches, so the unenrolled can follow along at home.
The organization of the site leaves something to be desired.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Minnesota Preparatory Schools
You ever stop to wonder how many college prep schools could be found in Winona Minnesota? Probably not, eh? Well, this server connects Winona's three preparatory institutions and their offerings, giving profiles of each school, the student life there, course selection, etc.
There's even a resident dorm which provides housing for out-of-town students. If you're already prepared, collegiately speaking, link up to St. Mary's home page, a private Catholic University in, you guessed it, Winona, Minnesota.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
Mister Rogers Neighborhood
The comfortable, and awfully nice sweater-clad guy beckons us to sample some tasty bits from his long-running public TV show on this easy to use page. You'll find some of his wisdom (and suggested activities) about separation anxiety, competition, disabilities, and fears.
There are also lyrics to a number of Mr. R's songs ("Parents Were Little Once Too" is but one), and a bibliography of books the nice man recommends. From here, you can link to PBS program schedules, stations, and previews.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 7
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
Mr. Trockman's Earth Science
Sure, this may just be the humble Web page of a humble eighth grade earth science teacher in humble Minnesota, but without a doubt, one may safely say:
The Trock rocks! (all puns intended). Dan Trockman is obviously one wacky dude who knows how to make science fun. You'll find playful backgrounds of lava and snowflakes, as well as photos of volcanoes and blizzards (the Trock, in a flurry of photo-journalistic inspiration, even posted local Minnesota photos from last winter's arctic snow storms). All the levity is balanced with concise lecture notes for home-bound students. This is a model for using the Web to augment traditional curriculum.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
NCRVE Home Page
While
The National Center for Research in Vocational Education's (NCRVE) Web site could stand some good editing and a dose of spirit, it nevertheless provides useful information and progress reports on an alternative form of secondary education. Based at the University of California, the NCRVE Web site is linked to documents on the history and the future of vocational education, all organized like a standard high school report and about as interesting.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Nebraska Social Resource
For educators specializing in the social studies this service from the Nebraska Department of Education may prove useful, but despite it's claim that it is "just an example of what can be accomplished on the WWW," the page has a long way to go.
The only segment which strikes me as important is the one devoted to Teacher Resources and Programs, a listing of events, seminars, and services having to do with teaching the social sciences. Other content, such as the addresses of foreign embassies, is lackluster, at best, and available elsewhere.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
Nellie Mae Loan Link Resource for Student Loan Info
Nellie Mae runs a tight ship with no loose ends, and no extraneous information or pages. It's a very streamlined site - and this is not my ironic way of saying there's little content. You'll find a number of pages filled with very practical information about student loans, focusing on the student loans Nellie Mae specifically offers.
There is also a page on when to start applying for loans, and some brief explanations of the different kinds of loans. This site *could* be more in-depth.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
NetNoir Education
Following precedence set by the rest of NetNoir's Web space, it's no surprise that the education section of NetNoir.com is pleasant to look at with insightful content. This area hosts a wonderful archive of African folk tales, as they were told originally, with colorful artwork and an interesting weave of hyperlinks to connect them all. Also found are "classes online."
These classes have a mini lecture, recommended readings, and mention something about online discussions (though I couldn't find the discussion area.)
There's still room for improvement, but NetNoir's off to a nice start.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Shel Kimen
Nizhoni School for Global Consciousness
This is a one-page information board for a school located in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
There isn't much reason to go here unless you feel a strong need to attend classes that teach people to "follow their hearts to their purest source of intelligence, the Higher Self." That's about all the information this page offers, but there is a book you can order (offline) that will tell you more about this Navajo-inspired course of study.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
North Hagerstown High School
Get acquainted with students and teachers at this central Maryland high school, population 1,000. A modest effort, the site promotes net education and communication.
The ninth grade Prejudice Reduction Project, for example, invites classes and students to send essays, bios, and URLs "that will help gain a better understanding of the world around us."
There's also an Environmental E-Mail Project the lets readers report on environmental concerns "faced by your region or state." This could be a good resource for other teachers to use.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
PUBLIC TEACH IN
Missed New York's International Forum on Globalization last November? Well, you can still take a trip to its Internet audio archives, which has four speeches given at that event. Unfortunately, that's it!
There's no information about the teach-in itself or about the one coming up, nor are there links to groups and events with a similar weltanschauung. Make up for some of these lacks by visiting the site's parent directory, at http://www.peacenet.org/. Note: If you don't have the free RealAudio player, this site is completely pointless; download it at http://www.realaudio.com/.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Peterson's Education Center
Wow. It's not often that information resource companies give you full access to their material via the Web:
There's still no effective way to make money off of it. Peterson's does, however, providing a huge stock of info about schools, summer programs, and business management. As with most pages, this site is under continual construction; you'll frequently be greeted by a "We're sorry..." message. But the areas that *are* fully implemented - such as those with Graduate School information - are gorgeous, complete, and easy-to-use. Peterson's Education Center is a gem that will only get better - until you have to pay for it.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Pitsco Technology Education
You'd expect more than a scroll-it script and a "weird science" graphic to announce the site of a company claiming to be the "leader in innovative technology education." And what Pitsco's site lacks in the whiz-bang department, it doesn't make up for anywhere else. Judging from the quality of its hubristic copy, you'd think poor spelling and grammar were cutting-edge educational strategies.
The online version of its much-touted catalog provides descriptions of popular products like "Shuttle in Orbit Wall Mural," and "Tower Tester," as well as links to related sites, but this one needs work before it fulfills its own promises.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Ananda Nada
Princeton Review
The Princeton Review has gained a dedicated following by helping students exploit weaknesses in badly-designed standardized tests.
Their iconoclastic methods translate well in this Web site, where you'll find information about standardized tests, college entry requirements, and potential careers. While the content and technical presentation - including search engines
use "wiredbrain" which alphabetical indices - is first-rate, the scant graphics aren't, nor will you find all the information that's available in the books. But then, they have to get your money somehow, don't they?
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Princeton Review
High school juniors and seniors who simply *must* attend the best universities would do well to visit this site presented by the "nation's leader in test preparation." That's right:
The Princeton Review offers classes on preparing for standardized tests like the SAT, GRE, and MCAT, which will later get you into - guess what? - more classes. Study, study, study. Achieve, achieve, achieve. That's the Princeton way, but there's no disputing the Review's attraction if you aspire to a career in law, business, or medicine. A search engine eases navigation, but lengthy download times of frivolous graphics may leave you peeved.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
Princeton Review
High school juniors and seniors who simply *must* attend the best universities would do well to visit this site presented by the "nation's leader in test preparation." That's right: the Princeton Review offers classes on preparing for standardized tests like the SAT, GRE and MCAT, which will later get you into - guess what? - more classes. Study, study, study. Achieve, achieve, achieve. That's the Princeton way, but there's no disputing the Review's attraction if you aspire to a career in law, business or medicine. A search engine eases navigation, but lengthy download times of frivolous graphics may leave you peeved.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
RAND Institute on Education and Training
IET is part of Rand's, a non-profit public policy research organization, larger web site.
The site's purpose is to improve American's public policy through research and analysis, and to train policy analysts. IET provides links to summaries on more than 55 Rand research papers. Some topics covered include worldwide communications, economics, education, crime, NATO, housing, game theory, terrorism, and water resources. Full-text for some of these papers are free, others are not.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
SPAM
Norman, Oklahoma is the unlikely nexus for the Schools of the Pacific Atmospheric Monitoring project. From the mainland U.S. and Hawaii, all across the lonely atolls to New Zealand, monitoring stations have been set up at schools to collect data on rainfall, uv radiation, and the like, every fifteen minutes, twenty-four/seven/365. Back at mission central, the University of Oklahoma, all data is plotted and analyzed for the benefit of atmospheric science.
The Web project is lagging a little; interactive maps are mostly inoperative, with mock data only. Nevertheless, this is one of those sites that puts the worldwide in WWW; look for it to grow and improve.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
STUDIE'
It's so cute, with its rainbow colors, and to the point! Officially called School Teachers Using & Developing Internet Expertise or STUDIE' (pronounced Stoo'-dee-ay), the web site gives local educational information for the Alpine School District in Utah as well as general information for all educators seeking to learn about the Internet. STUDIE' provides links to HTML lessons, email emoticons and acronyms, and a growing list of educational hyperlinks. Links lead to sites on the core subjects, the arts, foreign language, health, government, religion, weather, shopping, newspapers and newsgroups.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
School House
It ain't Schoolhouse Rock (remember *Conjunction Junction*?), but it rocks nonetheless, with in-depth reviews of a full spectrum of educational software. I don't use the word in-depth lightly, either: screen shots and lengthy criticisms are offered for a growing list of titles that already includes somewhere around, ...let's see, one, two, three, ... a hundred titles. A sub page of the larger World Village site, this one should be bookmarked by any parents with school age kids and a CD-ROM drive.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
School Is Dead
Not only are kids rebelling against formalized schooling, their parents are, as well; and, as sites we've reviewed in the Blue Pages have shown, there are plenty of Web resources out there for those interested in home schooling. But what about "no-schoolers"? For both groups, Karl Bunday's site is a convincing (although ugly) collection of quotes and arguments emphasizing that the one who learns best schools least.
The points are presented as one heavily linked screed, making the site great for browsing, but it's hard to find specific information unless you use the index.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Stanford University Home Page
Stanford University was one of the first sites on the Internet. Though it's no longer a leader in Internet connectivity, its WWW pages show it's kept abreast of the net's dynamic changes.
The site's centerpiece is "Portfolio," which links Stanford's extensive but old-fashioned Gopher and FTP sites with a snazzy new Web interface - pretty clever! (This mixture of sources tends to make the content a bit uneven, however.) As with most university servers, there's a directory of student Web pages. Also find good links to info on getting around the South Bay/Silicon Valley area.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Stockholms Universitet
The info here is available in Swedish or English, an important first step for us monoglots. Unfortunately, in either language, the content is a little sparse.
The most involved page is the one dedicated to the university library, (with frames, an online card catalog, and navigational links to the rest of the site) but the menu gives no indication of this. It is a smashing piece of architecture, the Stockholm U *bibliotek*, but that in itself hardly sells the site to prospective students or visitors.
There are no under construction signs, but I have a feeling this site will improve.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
Sydney Lanier
The kids at Sidney Lanier are a lucky bunch, if this site is anything to go on.
The ubiquitous puppy icon aside (come on kids, let's mix it up a little bit), the activities featured in the Houston school's home page made me a little wistful for the days of field trips and science fairs. Some of the sub-pages need work: the Hyper-history of seventy year old Lanier left me wanting more links, and the /images, by and large, were of poor quality. Time to hit up the old PTA, maybe throw a bake-sale for scanners or put the principal in the dunk tank at a buck a shot.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
THE STUDY PLACE
A budding philosopher's mecca,
The Study Place is an online academic resource managed by the Institute for Learning Technologies of Columbia University.
The college's faculty and doctoral candidates provide good critiques of ancient and modern philosophy.
The site also includes links to brief biographies on ancient and modern philosophers including Aristotle, Dante, Descartes, et al.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Technology and Learning: A Planning and Implementation Resource
This is a guide for learning technology, taking readers from the goal setting and initial research stages to the implementation and revision for improvement stages. It is not light reading. It offers diagrams and provides information in an outline format.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Testprep.com
Too bad this resource wasn't around when I was suffering through SAT preparations. This is a truly useful site which provides a free SAT course. Diagnose your weak areas by taking a complete version of the SAT and then choose from 1000's of review lessons including answers and explanations. You can shop to order SAT guides at the Testprep Superstore or purchase the Stanford Studyguide software disk. But it's refreshing to see free information so readily offered in an area which has become an industry in itself.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
The Biosfera Project
The title project was undertaken by Carlos Solis, a professor at Rice University, to help train school teachers simultaneously in Spanish and Conservation Biology. This humble site describes the experimental program conducted in the Peten, a rainforest region of Guatemala.
There are essays by some of the participants, links to sites related to Meso-America, and a somewhat crude map of Guatemala. It would be nice to see this site expand and refine.
The map could be interactive, the pages made more attractive, etc. More importantly, there should be more emphasis on the people of the Peten.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
The Chronicle: Academe This Week
The Chronicle is the proverbial Bible for college-level teachers and administrators.
The Web page is well-organized, pointing you to news and resources on information technology, academic research, government programs and legislation, professional development, and more. But you must subscribe to the paper version ($75/year) to get Academe Today, the daily online features and links publication, (with a registration and password scheme that insures that no one else gets in.) If you are a Chronicle subscriber or are thinking about it, Academe Today is a definite plus. If not, this is just a nice brochure describing what's on paper.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The EdWeb Home Room
EdWeb comes off as uninspired. Most of the subject matter has to do with the use of technology in K12 education, which doesn't have to be such a dry subject.
The articles on EdWeb have some good statistics you can throw around at cocktail parties, but they're so buried by banal design and endless text that most people will fall asleep before reaching them. This site is probably best suited to parents who know nothing about the Internet and want to know whether it would be a good thing for their kids to learn to use.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
The Electric Library
EL is a hot idea that has a short way to go before it really catches fire.
The service conducts topical searches through the full text of some 150 newspapers and 900 magazines, as well as newswires, books, etc. It's a great way to get a roundup of reviews or articles on a topic that interests you. But after a two-week trial period, you'll have to pay $9.95 a month for the privilege; and the searches bring up articles randomly, not from newest to oldest or most mentions to least. With smarter search mechanisms and alternate pricing schemes (how about one month and three-month increments?), I'd say bookmark EL. Right now, it's worth a look.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The History Channel Classroom
If you're a teacher looking to incorporate more engaging material into your curriculum,
The History Channel Classroom is a good place to start.
There are resources to help teachers plan classroom discussions and research projects based on
The History Channel's shows, with a convenient Classroom Calendar for planning.
The network sponsors awards' programs are designed to support quality history education in America's schools; to wit, the History Channel Awards for National History Day honor the Best Senior Media Project and the Outstanding Contribution in History Education. A very good site, even if it does smack of self-promotion.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Lauren Guzak
The MIT Home Page
To me, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will always be known primarily for the witty pranks of technically minded students, but you'll have to dig hard to find that info here (try http://fishwrap.mit.edu/Hacks/Gallery.htm instead). You will find just about everything else about MIT. For a bunch of geeks, though, it's rather pedestrian: no image maps or search engines
use "wiredbrain" worth mentioning, cryptic icons, and mostly just text. Be sure to check out the "fun stuff" area, which includes tips for hacking the campus security cards. Cool! Let's get user-friendly, folks!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The Riggs Institute
The Instiute is a non-profit corporation in Beaverton, Oregon specializing in literacy issues. And if the blurbs cited here are any indication, it is well-regarded by both educators and policy makers. That aside, the presentation here whiffed a bit of fakery and snake oil. All the explanation points and relentless pitching make me wary. I'm not saying it's a fraud, by any means -- I wouldn't know. It just comes off that way. You can judge for yourself.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
The Student Guide 1995-96
For most students, the most difficult hurdle of higher education isn't the course work - it's finding the money to pay for it. A lot of college funding ultimately comes from the federal government in the form of loans and grants. But how can you learn more about financial aid? That's where
The Student Guide comes in. Released each year by the Department of Education, it tells you how to qualify, whom to contact, and how you can expect to repay the loans. This web site is really just a more "browsable" form of a 126K document, which is also available for downloading. Regardless of how you view
The Student Guide, every prospective college student should check it out.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The University of Michigan
The University of Michigan has long been famous in the Internet community for its vast file archive site (find more info about this by going to http://www.umich.edu/~archive/). But there's more to U. Michigan than free software. Like, a top-ranked university!
The site gives the usual information about its academic programs and such, beautifully linked and annotated via search engines
use "wiredbrain", tables of contents, and clickable image maps. One coincidence makes the site aesthetically pleasing: U.M.'s logo blue matches the "unfollowed link" blue in Netscape's browser. Not to mention my eyes.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
The World Lecture Hall
This is the ultimate Web resource for the independent student. Providing links to online course materials posted by universities all over America in subjects ranging from "accounting" to "zoology," the site lets students interested in self-study but not in relying on local college schedules get guidance on just about anything. Of course, lab work will be kind of difficult for the science courses, unless you happen to have a particularly well-equipped kitchen.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Theatre Education Literature Review
Theatre... is a home page of 59 theater-educational questions or topics with links to their brief answers or explanations, including footnotes. Simple. Kent Seidel, of the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program of the University of Cincinnati, asks questions, such as "Why study theatre?," or introduces topics, such as "
Theatre for at-risk students," as the points relate to scholars' views of theater's positive effect in education.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
This is Mega-Mathematics
Number news and notes from our friends at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. But rather than bog us down with odd symbols and complicated formulas, Mega-Mathematics throws down visual problems, twisted games, and strange anecdotes to teach the rules of logic, graphing, and other mind-bending mathematics. Beautifully-designed and organized so you can go as deep as you want into each subject or lose yourself entirely in this seemingly infinite collection. Infinite? What does that really mean? Look here to find out. Allegedly the site is geared for elementary school children, but I learned more than a few things.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: David Pescovitz
Thomas Edison State College
What home-schooling does for the under+18 crowd, "distance learning" colleges like Thomas Edison State do for those seeking higher educational degrees. According to the college's Web site, "students in any state or nation can earn credit for college-level knowledge acquired outside the classroom." It's a pity the college hasn't done more with its Web pages: considering how far-flung the students must be, the potential for Internet-based instruction is tremendous. Indeed, the site isn't nearly as deep or interesting as many other colleges', and the occasional misdirected link mars the experience.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Truth, Lies, Rumors, and Rumbles
"As the Board Churns" is the subtitle of this text-based saga, about the tensions between teachers, parents, and citizen-players with various agendas in a southern New Jersey school district. Our "netitor" is Abe Wolinsky, a technology teacher who decided to publish Web reports on the community squabbles. All the details may not interest you, but this will: the original arguments (about building a new high school vs. saving money, and a subsequent teachers' contract) were quickly eclipsed by new crossfire because Abe put the story on the on the Web. You can even join in via e-mail if you'd like.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
U.S. Civil War Center
From Louisiana State University comes this ambitious, if somewhat dull, page devoted to collecting and making available every scrap of information concerning the nation's costliest war. Scholars and students will of course find the site helpful in researching the conflict, and genealogists will appreciate the short tutorial on researching individuals from the era. Like most link-driven sites, it's all very straightforward, and a little bit daunting.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
UC Berkeley Home Page
In a region known for compromise and reason, the University of California at Berkeley's Web pages are elegantly reasoned and make compromises so they're both user-friendly and fast.
The contents can be access via nicely arranged text choices rather than by image maps, so the site is as useful to someone on a Unix box as on a Mac.
The content is deep and varied, from the Naval Architecture school to the click-to-zoom-in campus map. If you're into general Web search engines
use "wiredbrain", be sure to add Berkeley's "Inktomi" (http://inktomi.berkeley.edu/) to your list.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
UK Lifelong Learning
The Brits seem to have a ministry for everything, with sub-ministries and rooms full of clerks endlessly shuffling papers. Well, some of the clerks have turned in their green eyeshades for PC's at the Department for Education and Employment, Individual Commitment Division. (Yes, that's really its name, bureaucratic lex for "the state wishes you to stay in school and stop being a worthless git.") While the site is extensive, it suffers from a bone-dry officialdom that subverts the intended message: Learning is fun.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
UT Austin Web Central
Austin can be considered the birthplace of the "slacker" archetype: a center for high-tech companies, one of the few progressive cities in Texas... and, rumor has it, there's a university down there, too. Well blow me down. UT is a gargantuan university, and its WWW presence reflects its size.
The site's internal search engine bears this out: A search for the word "racquetball" returned 17 references, mostly on students' personal pages. Altogether, there are more than 25,000 web pages on 170 servers (so they say, anyway), including everything you ever wanted to know about UT. Beware the badly designed image maps.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
OK, Web users, lets collectively bow in the direction of UIUC, host to the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Without the bright boys and girls at NCSA, the Web would not be what it is today. Sadly, I can't say if that's a good thing or bad thing. But for a site of such distinction, UIUC lacks wild HTML tricks. It *is* big and fast, however, and provides so much information, you could spend a few days just finding your way around. You'll find complete college catalog-type information, plus the university's library site.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
University of Washington
I did some time at this institution, so I come to this site occasionally just to see what the weather's doing back home.
The UW site, however, is far more impressive than the inevitably dreary image from the view cam. A big campus, the "U Dub" is a city in its own right, and the magnitude of this site reflects that fact. Links connect to all the various departments, to campus radio, to student and faculty directories, campus publications, museums, ...there's even a virtual tour of the medicinal herb garden. Anyone interested in the U -- especially anyone considering enrollment -- should come here first. And pay special attention to that weather.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Patrick Joseph
University of the Phillipines
This is a pretty generous site, with superfluous but interesting material like photos of the Manila campus circa 1933. Most of the information is in English although some segments, like the news briefs, are in Tagalog. Interested in enrolling? U.S. students need a minimum combined SAT of 1200, though exceptions are apparently made on occasion for "mature" students. Visually, the site is a bit dull (
The Webmaster apologizes for a busted color scanner), but the info is all here and straightforward.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
Urban Education Web
Learning about learning: that's what the Urban Education Web is about. It's part of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), a well-known and highly-respected database of studies on education. It, in turn, is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. All these layers of support point to two attributes of this Web site: it's densely academic, and it's excellently supported. Here, you'll not only find out if the government has published information about gangs in the schools, you'll probably find the monographs themselves, hyperlinked internally and with other documents. I don't know what poor souls are sitting in a windowless office doing all this, but they deserve to be thanked.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
VLC.Homepage
The Village Learning Center bills itself as a new type of school that will "preserve and nurture the yearning for learning that everyone is born with." This doesn't explain why it became an online school, but the lack of accreditation might have something to do with it. A mere $1,195 buys a semester of work at home - e-mail assignments in course work for the seventh to ninth grade set. Use at your own risk.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Washington Gifted School of Communication
Can we talk adorable for a moment? This site is absolutely fun fun fun by way of enchanting graphics. Unfortunately, there isn't really much of interest otherwise, unless you're already involved with the school.
The schedule of events, mission statement, and student bios are well done and seem helpful enough, but it's missing the original content that makes a site interesting and worth repeated visits. I say, post the student artwork and stories, and up the ante a bit! After all, it's a site for a school of communication whose students are gifted.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Washington University in St Louis
Washington University's Web pages have a clean, crisp organization and some useful features lacking at some of the larger sites. Want to check your e-mail? Click here. Want to do an Infoseek search without leaving university property? No problem. Add a bit of surreality to your visit by clicking on the "What's This?" button, which leads to a page of basic information about using the Web, site statistics, etc. So, even if they've never been to W.U., first-time users are already getting an education. Still, this handsome site lacks the content depth found at some other universities.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Web 66
The mission of Web 66 is to provide resources to help K12 schools get on the Web. This may seem a questionable goal with all the hype about whether the Internet is a safe place for kids, but the Web master clears that right up by quoting headlines in his personal rants section that indicate how much more dangerous the outside world is for kids. Web 66 has instructions for educators to set up Web servers, and a very impressive list of K12 schools from around the world that are online.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Welcome to CNU ONLINE
Christopher Newport University, located in Virginia, is trying to push the envelope of modern education practice by offering a substantive number of classes online. It's even offering a degree in governmental administration through online course work. Unfortunately, the Web site is just a front for a Telnet gateway, and at least one of the Telnet addresses given on the Web site is wrong, which made it impossible to get course information.
The Telnet gateway that I could get to run was so slow, it could turn a four-year degree into a six-year degree.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Whales
Whales (and dinosaurs) intrigue kids everywhere, and some industrious teachers in Virginia have tapped into that phenomenon here, where all lessons originate from and revolve around the same subject: whales. Lesson plans range from math word problems involving whales, to the history of whaling, and whale literature. From humpbacks to blues, baleen to toothed, all young marine mammal enthusiasts, parents and teachers will like this one. It's a simple, yet creative example of educational possibilities on the Web. Hopefully, with time, the creators will add more sound and /images, and bring the standards up to match the content.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
Whole Frog
The Whole Frog Project offers an online alternative to a classic high school biology experience: dissecting a frog. Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley Labs use high-resolution MRI /images and sophisticated 3D rendering software to create a virtual amphibian whose parts can be viewed at a variety of depths and angles.
The site is jam packed with information about both the biological and technological details of the project. It also includes study guidelines to help teachers create engaging lesson plans (which combine physical and computer sciences). Best of all, the Whole Frog Project is completely free of scalpel hazards and the queer smell of formaldehyde.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
Worcester Polytechnic
Most online education fails because it tries to transplant subjects to the screen that are best-suited for the classroom. But Professor Cyganski's class at Worcester Polytechnic Institute has an edge of relevance here, as it's all about telecommunications transmission technologies. Since I'm not an electrical engineer, most of the highly-technical content of this site eluded me, but its basic "learning is as learning does" mission comes through loud and clear: Engineers should not be afraid of their tools. Or, as the prof says, "This course is not for WIMPs (Whining Internet/Multi-media Phobes)." Some of the meatier areas of the site are available only to WPI accounts, alas.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Word Page
Well, let's award Word Page an "E" for effort - although I don't know how to factor an "E" into a GPA.
The purpose of this site is to help people learn 10 new words a week - an admirable enterprise. Unfortunately, it doesn't help if you already know the words the site's editor happened to pick. Also, the definitions provided are a little weak, consisting of a short phrase or sentence. It wouldn't take much effort, and certainly not much space, to include full dictionary definitions. And, finally, the misspellings littered throughout the site aren't going to impress any educators out there.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
World Association for Family and Education WAFE
WAFE's Web site is primarily a resource for the group to disseminate information on its conferences. Because WAFE is international, the Internet is probably a pretty good medium for it, saving substantial amounts of money on printing and mailing costs. WAFE's mission statement, which is published on the site, is a little bit spacy, and seems pretty narrow-minded with its emphasis that "Marriage, the only proper context for full expression of the love between one man and one woman, is the rock upon which the family rests."
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
World Education Exchange
World Education Exchange, a graduate student project, bills itself as a site that "explores the world of reform and information technology." It's a lofty description for a site which is little more than a repository of links (albeit interesting ones) on virtual education and Internet resources for teachers and kids. I suppose it's useful for someone to have done the research for you, but without a single shred of commentary or analysis, it feels like someone trying to profit from other people's work. After all, aren't Yahoo!, Lycos, and all the other search engines
use "wiredbrain" out there, for the purpose of categorizing and cataloguing information on the Internet?
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Rachel Saidman
World Game Institute
Despite its playful-sounding title, the World Game Institute is no joke. Inspired by noted scientist and social philosopher Buckminster Fuller, the Institute was founded to "provide the perspective and information needed to solve the critical problems facing global society,"
The site probes all these problems (famine, disease, overpopulation, deforestation and more) with incisive, well-documented research and data. Even skittery surfers should stop to check out the "What the World Wants (and how to pay for it)" chart. It's a powerful representation of the mixed-up priorities in our military-minded global economy.
The institute also conducts workshops and conferences in the corporate and educational communities.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
Yale University World Wide Web Front Door
The Yale University site is everything the Harvard site isn't. Just kidding! Though, quite honestly, Yale's Web set-up beats its historical nemesis'. At the top level are listings for P.R. information, search engines
use "wiredbrain", maps, academic department pages, student activities... Lots of stuff here. Thank god it's so well-organized! Running a search shows just how much there is: the word "racquetball" returned 10 pages, including news of the sports team, a description of the athletic facilities, and someone's experiments with the Connectix QuickCam, a video input device "about the size of a racquetball." Pretty good search engine, that!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
eWorld Learning Community
The eWorld Learning Community has gathered an impressive set of quality links under categories such as News Rack, Apple Education Resource, Museum, and School House. Unfortunately, links are pretty much all this site has to offer. It's a misnomer for eWorld to claim that this is its Learning Community.
The links belong to the Internet; the site should be called the Internet Learning Community. But enough on semantics.
The design is tasteful, but , save a search engine, there are no cool technical devices to add any pizzazz to this site.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Education Sites
The answer
to all education problems, ( including violence ) SMALL Smart
Stable Schools
AP Institute
The answer
to all education problems, ( including violence ) SMALL Smart
Stable Schools
Maybe you can't judge an online correspondence school by the quality of the course catalog's prose, but in the case of the AP Institute, there's precious little else to go on. And sentences like this one, from the Creative Writing course description, do not inspire confidence: "And, as writers, one always needs non-judgmental input into how the writing sounds and comes across." Indeed.
The course offerings, ranging from Ancient Greek to Esperanto, are appealing, but with no instructor biographies or information about the "institute" at last visit, I'd be leery of signing on for any of these "interesting and dynamic" classes.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Sandra Stewart
AcademicNet
Instructors should welcome this site, which fosters a marketplace of ideas specific to education. Now educators can collaborate on projects that focus on using technology to enhance student achievement. Teachers can congregate here, and bypass the aging administrative hierarchies that don't employ computers. Call it the "education underground," if you will.
The site requires registration to obtain the full resources available.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
AcademicNet Home Page
AcademicNet looks promising: nicely rendered image maps, plenty of places to click, a fancy registration system, and a statement that it is *the* resource for "educators interested in technology-mediated instruction and learning in higher education." Unfortunately, there's very little to see until you register, and not much after that. Many of the internal links were broken, and the stuff that was present was self-serving and written in a dry, uninformative tone. Some of the collections of external links are worthwhile, though - if you can find them among the chaff.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
Access Excellence
The Activities Exchange area offers ideas developed by Access Excellence Fellows. Here you'll find everything from how to conduct acid rain research and do a nutrition analysis to backgrounders on plant anatomy and the means for identifying Streptomycetes with antibiotic properties in local soil samples.
There's a nifty graphics gallery with clip art and photos to download, and text files with all kinds of interesting lesson strategies and information.
The Probeware section is a perfect example of what this site does best. A problem is presented: Biology students collecting data have to deal with the limits of a 45- or 55-minute class period, which interrupts their experiments and inhibits their understanding of biological processes . Solution? Computer technology - in this case, computer-assisted data collection - is the one suggested here, followed by equipment list, and numerous classroom experiments and activities to take advantage of it. Frequent visitors stay abreast of the latest developments and breakthroughs in science in the What's News area, which also gives monthly updates of science programs and events on TV, radio, and the net.
Then there's the Resource Center, with links to other biology sites, plus information on events, competitions, and conventions from science education resources nationwide. Living up to its mission of being an online biology teaching network, the site offers discussions designed by teams of Genentech and other scientists - a recent one focused on the science of amber - and the chance to post messages to other educators in the Teachers Lounge area (registration required).
There's also a career center, in-depth articles on the biotech "revolution," explorations of the ethics of biotech research, and real-world applications for biotechnology (e.g., the creation of new drugs, the clean-up of damaged ecosystems). All is presented with a clean look that's easy on your eyes, and there's a great search engine to help you find what you want quickly. This is a fascinating spot, even for non-educators and those whose student days are long gone.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Minda Sandler
Adventures in Education
The nice folks at the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation bring us Adventures in Education, a useful overview about how to get into various federal programs, what it will take to repay them, deferments, current interest rates, and so on.
Then it goes a few steps beyond the basics, providing career guidance advice, info for parents and guidance counselors, financial aid officers, and even tips on selecting a college or university. No heavy pitches for Texas or the corporation, either - just a good shot at public service for the educationally-determined.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 7
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
American Montessori Society
Most parents and educators have, at one time or another, become disgusted with the state of education in the United States. A small but significant minority has opted for innovative montessori schools, which follow the lead of Italy's Dr. Maria Montessori. This site fulfills three purposes: It promotes (endlessly) the montessori method; acts as conduit to the American Montessori Society; and provides a list of public montessori schools. This last 76K tidbit (probably the most useful for most visitors) is found at the bottom of the home page. But wander about: You'll be surprised at what you'll learn!
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Apple Education Worldwide
What you'd expect, but hope not to, find: A sales platform, Apple pushing Apple -- on students, on educators, on everyone.
There is precious little in the way of resources here and a whole lot of worthless mumbo jumbo: product release announcements, letters from the President, self-congratulatory crap -- Apple-this, Apple-that. It is the opposite of the no-nonsense soft sell: it's the all nonsense blitzkrieg. I can't think of one good reason to come here unless you're trying to solicit a grant or look for educational discounts. Even then, bring along the hip waders and pitch fork.
There's an awful lot of muck to claw through.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Patrick Joseph
Arkansas Little Rock College of Education
You don't have to attend the U. of Arkansas to appreciate its meta-page of educational resources. A big box of Frames provides links for undergrads (calculate your GPA!), grad students, teachers, and parents (links to good educational sites that might inspire Net-oriented moms and dads). You'll find out plenty about the UA educational programs and class schedules, lots of library site links, pointers to other Arkansas pages, even investment planning sites for teachers. BLUE LIGHT
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 7
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Karen Wickre
Armadillos Guide to the Internet
This server will give you every imaginable angle on K+12 education in the state of Texas. Armadillos provides links to a variety of educational resources for teachers and students, including Texas Studies, information about collaborative efforts between students and teachers, and resources on a variety of K+12 subjects (useful for teachers everywhere), as well as access to TENET which has job listings for educators interested in working in the Lone Starr state.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
Arts Edge
Targeting students, teachers, and artists, ARTSEDGE is the Kennedy Center's Web presence.
The site is packed with links for those wishing to network with others, those looking for work, those looking for art-related web sites, and those interested in all aspects of the arts ---- music, dance, theater, film, TV, the fine arts, literature, poetry, education, etc. A surfer could get lost for hours in this hyperlink metropolis. And there are as many links for adults as there are for children.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Baylor School
Being a public school kid from a moderate-income family myself, I've had little knowledge about prep schools like Baylor, save what I extrapolated from the "preppie" fad of the early 80s. But you know, from this home page, it looks kind of nice. Nestled in the woods and fields of Tennessee, the school's 850-odd students practice their English, music, and skeet shooting in a "Judeo-Christian" atmosphere (huh?). But beyond pretty pictures, a mission statement, and general palaver about excellence, the cupboard is pretty bare. What you won't find out is the cost - but, as I learned in the early 80s, preppies don't talk about such things.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Brooks Landon's Horizon of Invisibility Homestead
Prof. Landon teaches modern literature and sci-fi at the University of Iowa. He seems to be an affable and thoughtful sort who keeps busy studying Web culture, interactive lit, and the zine scene. Predictably, his page features links to those zines and personal sites that reveal this culture. His students are encouraged to make Web pages, too - samples available here. And about that title: it's from a book on technology and culture and represents the lofty philosophical stance of this professor.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
Bucknell Russian Studies Department
Curious about Russia? Starrt your search here, where eager Bucknell students of all things Russian have compiled links for everything from the Ô96 elections (don't miss the schematic of who is considered left, right and center in the old country), to Russian jokes (in Russian!), cartoons (in English), Russian folklore, and music. You can even jump to Cyrillic fonts while you're at it, or listen to the Voice of Russia Daily News using RealAudio.
There's also course and faculty information and news on Russian major alums.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
Building Blocks to Reading
Karen Potter offers a real public service for parents of 3-6 year-olds - lots of activities, word games, and puzzles to encourage little kids to start reading.
There's an excellent A-Z list of activities that focus on reading and vocabulary building.
There are also tips about how to reinforce reading and words throughout the home every day. As a bonus, there are a couple of other useful pages, like a home safety checklist and tips on finding good childcare. BLUE LIGHT
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 7
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
C-EdRes
C-EdRes claims to be a "one-stop site" for finding and evaluating education-related Internet resources. Joining its e-mail list will get you a weekly set of new reviews written by teachers.
These aim to keep others in the education industry apprised of what's new and worthwhile on the Internet.
The results are diverse and growing, and you can search the regularly updated online database. If you're an educator, and would like to publicize an online resource among your peers, C-EDRes is a good place to do it. An added feature is the the list of arts-related links. Aesthetics: 2 Content: 2 Smarts: 2
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Ananda Nada
CCCnet
Look out, Sesame Street, make way for the Internet and CCCnet. While CCCnet may not sport the likes of our yellow feathered friend, it's got just as much educational and entertainment value, and it's interactive! A leading publisher of multimedia education titles, Computer Curriculum Corporation wins the honor of being the first Web site to provide original, interactive curriculum online. And it's accomplished this task with exceptional grace. For starters, it looks great. CCN teamed up with the outstanding crew at vivid studios (http://www.vivid.com) in San Francisco to create a high-resolution, creative, and astonishingly quick site. It's powered by a monster SGI server to add to the speed factor, so even those with slower connections can reap the benefits of nice graphics. CCCnet offers lesson plans to teachers on a subscription basis - though no fees have been set yet. It also supports these teachers with a message board to interact with other teachers and post questions (both technical and subjective).
The super bonus: For two hours everyday, there's a tech person live, online, to answer questions immediately. CCCnet also encourages parents to get involved with a "school-home" section. This way, parents get to participate in what their kids are learning and offer help and encouragement. My favorite part about the site: It strives to teach children not only about the subjects at hand - math, science, the environment, art, etc. - but also how to use the Internet and maximize the Web. Many of the assignments involve children using the Web actively to complete projects - using search engines
use "wiredbrain", libraries, and other online resources to hunt down information. Students are also encouraged to network and communicate with students at other schools involved in the program. Very cool.
The current online project, Energy Flow In Amazonia, teaches kids about life forms in the rainforest.
The final assignment is to pick an organism (of the millions living in the Amazon, from protozoa to tiger), learn about it, and post its biography online, in a templated Web form. Kids from all across the country will be adding to the real-time food chain. Outstanding! This site is one of the most innovative Web accomplishments I've seen so far, and I can only hope it's positive precedence will be replicated many times over. Teachers, pay attention to these kats.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Canadian Homeschool Resource Page
This site proposes an alternative to public schooling in Canada while offering information and resources parents may need if they intend to teach the kids themselves. Wish to talk with other homeschooling parents?
There are local contact addresses for some (though not all) of the provinces. Generally speaking, the site is less thorough than some of its U.S. counterparts (such as http://www.ICtheWeb.com/hs-web/) and the FAQ is somewhat incomplete. Still, an admirable start.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Career Explorers
This site, launched by United Multimedia, a CD-ROM publisher, is designed to let (presumably young) visitors with an eye toward the future learn about various careers. Well... one career, anyway: right now, there's not much here. But the sole area, I Want to be a Veterinarian, covers quite a bit of territory: what training is needed, typical tasks, helpful skills, and so fourth.
The long blocks of small type may be daunting to young readers, though, and there are some minor HTML errors throughout. It will probably improve, though, soon enough, as more careers are added.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon has long bragged of its strong computer sciences department, and from this site's depth, it's clear that its pride is deserved. Interested in studying drama at CMU? Check out course descriptions, and even see when classes are meeting, thanks to some clever links to the registrar's office. Some improperly linked image maps marred the site's effectiveness, however. Whatever faults it has, though, Carnegie Mellon gets my praise for its Lycos program, one of the better free Web search tools. You can reach it through these pages or directly at http://lycos.com/.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Classroom Connect Educational Links
This is primarily a site full of links, which can be useful, but if every site just had links to other sites, the Web would be pretty empty. O.K., as a site focusing on educational links, Classroom Connect is pretty good, since it's packed, although some of the choices are a little bit odd. This may be due to a lack of focus. Is this a site for K12 students, educators, or parents? A link to "Pooh Corner" on the same page as a link to "British Poetry: 1780 to 1910" is a little bit questionable.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Cliffs Notes
So maligned by teachers, so cherished by students, the infamous Cliffs may now be on the Web, but don't expect to download the goods via modem ( or digital connection to replace the analog ).
The best you can do here is sample some bits, then place an order online.
The "free stuff" the blinking text refers to is bunko: in exchange for some marketing info (name, rank, and serial) you get a screen saver and study tips (oh boy). And then there's a lot of patronizing stuff about how the notes are meant only as a supplement to the books. Yeah, ... and cigarettes are just an after-dinner thing.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Patrick Joseph
College Board Online
The College Board oversees tests such as the SAT and AP exams, administers financial aid programs, suggests standards among its 3,000 member schools, and acts as a general intermediary between students and colleges. And now, many of its services are available via the Web, through colorful image maps, clever forms, and genius-level search engines
use "wiredbrain". Separate indices direct students, guidance counselors, faculty, and member schools to the most relevant information.
The technical level is high, making this a user-friendly entry to the intimidating world of college admissions.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
College Board Online
The College Board administers the Standard Aptitude Test (SAT), and the Advanced Placement (AP) program.
Their site confirms every paranoid notion I ever had about the SAT and other standardized tests, with statistics detailing mean scores, standard deviations, percentiles, and calculations of scores as a predictor of college grades in every subject. For anxious college hopefuls or veterans of the test with unpleasant memories this site will be a source of nightmares for weeks to come. But, on a positive note, students can register for the SAT online, and get information about the College Board's other resources for college applicants.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Rachel Saidman
College Edge
College Edge claims to be "the only solution that has everything you need." Solution to what exactly? I have no idea. And the home page did nothing to settle the question either. Under the heading, "Cool Quotes," all I got were gems like, "the graphics are cool and it's really easy-to-use." And though the site admonishes you to "Realize Your Future Today!" it neither explains how to do that nor does it give you ideas for tomorrow.
There is one semi-useful feature here: a map index of college home pages around the country.
The problem? Schools are listed in purple letters on a purplish background. Readable, but barely.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
College Money Matters
I know it's crass to speak of education in strictly financial terms, but sooner or later you got to admit: It all comes down to money.
There's no guarantee that a college degree improves your financial worth, but one thing's for certain: You have to ante up just to get in the game. This site from Signet Bank provides a pretty extensive overview of the whole higher education money game. Especially useful is the book *Don't Miss Out:
The Ambitious Student's Guide to Financial Aid* , which lays out the basics of finding funding and planning your finances over the long haul. Not only is the entire text presented online here (read "free"), but it's updated for to coincide with the coming academic year. You can browse the chapter contents quickly, gleaning the information you need and disregarding the rest. Simple as that; no outdated book left moldering on the shelf, no trees sacrificed to your momentary needs, just the info you need now, on your monitor. Of course, this being a corporate site as well, the bank has its own interests. Electronic forms are provided for ordering student loan applications and the like; there is no pressure to do so however.
The biggest benefit for Signet is probably just the good reputation the largess garners, not to mention the dollars the publicity could mean farther down the road. A square enough deal, seems to me. Also useful to the college hopeful is the Financial Aid Time Line, which gives a prescribed chronology for securing tuition dollars, a concise budgeting worksheet , some tips on managing your cash flow, and a brief tutorial on building credit (tread carefully over that one, kids). When you've exhausted the resources here, there's a page of associated links to keep your surfing on track.
There'll be plenty of time for distraction when you're basking in the cool shade of the ivory tower.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Patrick Joseph
College Money Matters
While many "informational" sites sponsored by corporations are just slightly veiled marketing attempts, Signet Bank should be applauded for their soft sell approach on this guide to funding a college education.
There are Signet Bank loan applications and information, but a lot of the content (which mostly seems lifted from printed guides) does not bear Signet's stamp. One of the best resources here is "Don't Miss Out, A Student's Guide to Financial Aid." A good portion this book is available online.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Collegiate Choice Walking Tours
There's not a frill in sight here, just a good idea presented plainly and honestly. Collegiate Choice Walking Tours is a collection of videotaped student-guided tours of more than 300 college and university campuses.
The developers, a group of independent college advisors, are quick to point out that these tapes are not professionally produced, but, they say with admirable restraint, the student guides are "perhaps a bit more fourthright than some admissions and marketing departments." In addition to a list of schools visited and ordering information, the site provides a helpful tip sheet for prospective students who plan to make in-person visits.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Sandra Stewart
CyberEd
We'll be seeing a growing number of "cyberclasses" soon, essentially extension courses that lend themselves to online study. A small southern campus of the University of Massachusetts now offers a few grad and undergrad classes - composition and technical writing, American politics, and astronomy - as well as a non-credit Web page design class. You register online, pay for the class, and then do the reading, studying, practicing on your own. This no-frills site is an indicator of what's to come; a trend other small or remote campuses will plug into soon.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
CyberLearning Center
This core project of the non-profit National Education Foundation sets out to distribute educational software, promote motivational techniques, offer online courses, and spread the word about tennis star Monica Seles. Huh? What's she doing here? Information about Ms. Seles (whom USA2100's President claims to have mentored) is, unfortunately, the most complete part of this site, which seems to be the home page for a computer-equipped private school in the D.C. area.
The online courses aren't up, nor is the software area. So what makes this school a "CyberLearning Center"? Beats me.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Distance Learning Laboratory (DLL)
This site is part of a project to get historically black high schools and universities online with distance learning programs.
The DLL wants to teach educators how to get online, set up Web servers, archive curriculum and so on. Good idea! Unfortunately, you have to call DLL or register online for the seminars and workshops in order to actually learn something.
The site is merely an informational pamphlet. Perhaps DLL staff might consider practicing what they preach, and offer the seminars online.
Content: 5
*
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Doty's Education Page
There are two extremes in WWW catalogs: huge lists of links with no commentary (ˆ la Webcrawler) and annotated lists with too few links (ˆ la most personal pages). Educator, Robert Doty, has found the middle ground in this site, a page dedicated to education links (separated by grade-school subject) with some original content, i.e. articles he's written on education and technology.
There are a few minor technical problems: no "back to home page" buttons, for instance. Still, not bad for someone who says he got into public education for the free Internet access!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Educaid Online
A lot of places offer general information on college entry requirements and government student loan programs. But where do you go to actually get the money you need? Educaid is one such place. With FAQs, quizzes, application forms, as well as background information on the company and the loans they offer, this site is the epitome of a corporate "advertising" entity. As such, there are no external links, which is disturbing. (Are they afraid you'll get information elsewhere?) Colorful image maps dress up every page, making the site attractive but slow.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Education Place
Created by Houghton Mifflin, the Education Place is packed with fine activities for grammar school students, plus ideas for teachers and advice for parents on helping kids learn. But to my mind the site's most delightful feature is its update of Mad Libs, called Wacky Web Tales.
These things will always be funny-what else produces phrases like "After handing our toes to Leonardo Da Vinci at the door ,"? Enjoy them with your friends and family. Other games help kids hone their skills in science and math, and the Project Center gives teachers access to online projects as well as non-Internet-based classroom activities.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Sandra Stewart
Elementary Spanish Curriculum
Are you looking for an online source for Spanish language instruction? Well, you won't find it here. Instead, educator Leslie Veen outlines her method of teaching Spanish to elementary- and middle school-age children.
The one-page document includes goals for grammar, vocabulary, and cultural understanding, from the point of view of the teacher. It's not that this site is badly done - the curriculum is as good as anything you'll get from your local high-school teacher. But that's all there is to it, and, as such, it's of limited interest.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
Environmental Education Network
A satellite of the larger *Envirolink* page, the links here are of exceptional value to anyone interested in applying online tools to the study of the earth sciences.
The index is divided into two main branches: one for student resources and another for educators. Umbrella pages, of course, are only as good as the pages they point to, but both of these seemed excellent, linking me to some of the most substantive destinations on the Web. Green politics flavor many of the pages, to be sure, but can you separate them from the issues? Anyone concerned for the planet should bookmark this site and -- what's more -- utilize it.
Content: NULL
Aesthetic: NULL
TechnoSmart: NULL
Author: Patrick Joseph
Ethnologue Database
One of my favorite books is *Languages of the World*, by the genius lexicographer Kenneth Katzman. It includes information on several hundred of the world's 6,500 languages, with - and this is the good part - examples of each.
The Ethnologue Database is a similar project, minus the examples. On this web site, the world's languages are cataloged according to name, linguistic family, and region in which they are spoken. Despite the shallowness of information on individual languages and some inaccuracies, the Ethnologue Database belongs on every linguist's hotlist.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Exploratorium Exploranet
Leave it to the Exploratorium, San Francisco's renowned interactive science exhibit, to come up with a site as informative and creative as Exploranet. Surf through hundreds of cool science links, check out the science behind the news in
The Why Files, follow along with the onscreen tutorial of a cow's eye dissection (one of the Exploratorium's most popular exhibits), or take on any number of show-stopping brain puzzlers, niftily reconfigured for the Web.
There are dozens of do-this-at-home recipes to help you recreate Exploratorium fun at home.
There is a lot here, so give yourself plenty of time investigate.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Emily Soares
Explores! World Headquarters
Explores! World Headquarters, the Weather Channel watcher's Internet alternative, was developed by two meteorology professors at Florida State University as a resource for kids with an interest in the space and earth sciences. Want to know what the weather's like in Scranton? Precipitation estimate for anywhere in the U.S.? Tracking Hurricanes strike your fancy? This site exemplifies the enormous, almost overwhelming, amount of information available on the Internet (300 links on U.S. weather alone) and would be best viewed with an experienced meteorologist on hand to explain the more arcane concepts.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Rachel Saidman
Family Education Network
FEN is one part of the highly esteemed Education Publishing Group's multimedia strategy for helping parents and children prepare themselves for an increasingly competitive world. This is a thoughtful, technologically literate and exceptionally well-designed site featuring articles by Ivy League educators; topics range from browsing the web with your kids to managing your teenager's finances, and balancing your career with your family life. A superb BBS points you to numerous concurrent discussions, and a section on exceptional parents tells the stories of families that endure grave or uncommon situations, and enables them to find their peers around the world.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Ananda Nada
FishNet
The lover of low puns who named FishNet didn't do it justice-this is a meaty site, rich in resources for high-achieving, college-bound teens.
The extensive College Guide has a few weaknesses, but makes up for them with great features such as Dear Admissions Guru, an advice column written by admissions officers. Edge e-zine is substantive but not eggheadish, and KnowBase lets users find online articles on a range of topics. Even if higher education is only a dim memory, FishNet is worth a visit for Street Speak, a user-compiled dictionary of slang that will help you sound hip again-or at least understand what the kids are saying.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Sandra Stewart
General Organic and Biochemistry
There are lots of Web sites designed to supplement college courses, but most of them fall just short of the mark. Not this site! Designed to supplement the textbook "Chemistry for Today," it includes dozens of concise and illustrative slides the professor used to compliment his lectures - and his use of frames in presenting the material is inspired. He even includes a summary and form-based test! Visit his other classes via
The Virtual Classroom at http://odin.chemistry.uakron.edu/classroom.htm. And don't miss his "favorite excuses from students" page at http://odin.chemistry.uakron.edu/excuses/.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Global Online Adventure Learning Site
John Oman, a sailing adventurer, left the port of Seattle in November 1995 with the hopes of sailing around the world in 150 days via his 60-foot yacht. He may be alone at sea, but we've been invited to follow along via this Wev site: Read his logs, check the current sailing conditions in his location, see pictures he's taken, and even consult maps indicating his position. As a result, we get a superb background in the nautical sciences. His isn't the only travelogue on the Web, but it's one of the most "realistic," with hard data augmenting his lyrical notes. This site is a must for all would-be seafarers.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Harvard Business School
Straight forward information about Harvard Business School, including admissions, curriculum, research projects, and alumni. Check out the HBS Publishing page to peruse the 6,000 books, videos, and multimedia programs available for order.
The site is a gateway to a number of HBS resources such as the Baker Library online catalogue, but you need to be a Harvard student to use it. In the shocked version the university shield rotates in 3-D, which as about as exciting as this page gets. But then, how much fun is business school?
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
Harvard University WWW Home Page
At first, the Harvard University site looks pretty drab: a few choices linking you to ugly, text-only Gopher sites, phone numbers, historical information, rah rah rah. But underneath some of those links are profound pools. Take a gander at the map of Harvard, for example, which zooms in on any building in the university's expansive campus. Similarly, there's gold under some other links, including admissions and registration information. And Harvard's not too proud to include several links to one of its local competitors, M.I.T., in its "resources."
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Home-Ed-Kids
So, you think you're going to find treatises on the advantages of home schooling at this site? Not on your noodle. This page is dedicated to the kids themselves. It is an area for home-schooled youths to meet and interact, just as their public school friends interact on physical playgrounds. Much of the site is developed by preteens.
The content is uneven, but when it is good, it soars - and the technical sophistication is astounding (chat rooms, bulletin boards, image maps, and search engines
use "wiredbrain" all play a part.). Get bowled over by incredible depths of information by visiting the parent directories as well.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Homespun Web of Home Educational Resources
Homeschooling - do-it-yourself education, if you will - is how a select few parents gain more control of their kids' education. This site is a clearinghouse on that subject, with special emphasis on archival data like FAQs, newsgroups, and lists of contact people. While a high percentage of homeschooling proponents teach their kids at home for religious reasons, the site is mostly unbiased on such matters. It *is* heavily Texas-oriented, though, as that state seems to have the most active homeschooling movement. While its content isn't terribly deep, the Homespun Web is a good place for concerned parents to start.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Internet College Exchange
This is a resource primarily geared toward high school seniors and juniors who are trying to find a good college - although it would also be helpful for parents who are trying to nudge aging progeny out of the house.
The concept behind the site is solid, although content is sparse. It's certainly a page that's aching to grow. A snazzy search utility provides names of colleges based on entered criteria.
The best content on the site can be found in
The Dunce's Cap, an informative and irreverently written newsletter about college admissions.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Invention Dimension
Besides finding some crucial information I needed about the inventor of Bakelite (Leo Baekeland, known affectionately as the "Father of Plastics") this site offered little of interest. I expected to find profiles of wacky inventors and their crazy projects - you know, the inventions we laugh at today, but can't live without tomorrow. But no, the site just offers information on a few famous inventors, and links to invention information, plus winners of the prestigious Lemelson-MIT Prize.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Journal of Distance Education
Although only a Gopher site, the Journal of Distance Education is an example of some of the great, free resources available on the Internet. For this particular site, it helps if you have some kind of administrative or theoretical interest in distance education.
The journal is published twice a year, and covers a topic that is shifting into high-gear because the Internet is making long-distance learning a lot more practical.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
K12 World
If you are a K12 teacher with a fair amount of patience, amble on over to K12 World, a very tidy and useful site packed with Web resources of interest to you. You'll need patience because there are two top pages for each topic, and the download can be mighty slow. But once you're in, you'll find classroom goodies; (Internet) library information; funding sources; lesson plans; and more. Especially cool is Internet Live, a page of live camera links and exploration events geared to eager net students.
The Classroom area features several disciplines, so whether you teach science, journalism, or art, there are helpful links for you here.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Karen Wickre
Kaplan Educational Centers
Kaplan - famous for helping underachievers earn admission to their parents' swanky alma maters - has an extremely useful Web site. To be fair, there are plenty of people who chose educational paths to law and medicine a little late, and definitely benefited from Kaplan testing materials.
The site features summaries of the current climates for admission into professional college programs. Kaplan books and software can be purchased online, and a special feature section displays an offbeat sense of humor. Though a commercial site, Kaplan offers invaluable free resources for those interested in professional development.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Lattitude 28 Schoolhouse
Sponsored by OpenNet Technologies, Lattitude 28 is really just a page of links to educational resources by subject; that is, except for two sections devoted to the Internet in the classroom. While there is no mention of screening the links, a quick quality survey suggests that they are. Additionally, visitors to the page are invited to submit their favorite education urls. Links are organized by category, and there is also a listing of other schools on the Internet. Like most such sites, the links make it worth the bookmark, even if the page itself is nothing special.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
LearnWorld Welcome Page
LearnWorld is a great idea. Anybody who wants to can set up a course on a topic by outlining a series of texts to read, and including their own notes on their position on the topic. Anyone who would like to learn about the topic can use this as a course outline. Unfortunately, the LearnWorld pages focus too much on the list of texts, and don't have a structure for the course creator to guide the students through the texts.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Library Project: African-American Culture
The content here is a collection of essays about African-American Culture that cover ground from the slave trade to 20th century literature.
The essays were written by students of a class titled "General Education 101," and take the form of mini-book reports.
The site is really only useful as a reference for books about African-American Culture as the essays are too short to provide any substantive information. It also suffers from a poor use of Netscape Frames; the only way to get back to the table of contents is to reload the whole site.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Library of Congress
Amazing content. If you want to feel one with the democratic process, go here and peel through the Thomas legislative database. Read the actual text of the bills that you *think* you know something about.
There is also a great bibliography of published works that can be searched by title or name.
The library features exhibits on specific themes, such as women in World War II. And if that weren't enough, there's also a great image archive.
The main drawback is that the site isn't very intuitively organized; it does require some effort to locate points of interest.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
MOO, an Educational Tool
MOO in this case refers not to cows (although if you're one of those who just can't get enough of bovines, there are plenty of irrelevant cow pics here), but to MUD, Object Oriented, as in a type of multiuser environment.
The site is simply a list of links to papers, FAQs, and resource collections containing general information on MOOs, as well as discussions of their social and educational uses and connections to MOOs themselves.
The page was due for an update when I visited-several of the links weren't working-but if this is your particular interest, you'll probably find something you can use here.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Sandra Stewart
MayaQuest Ô96
MayaQuest began in 1995 as an attempt to merge hands-on exploration with online interactivity. A team of five people bicycled to ruins in Mexico and Central America, met with on-site archaeologists, and shared their experiences via the Web with over 1 million kids, teachers, and regular netizens. MayaQuest is intended to include and empower those who cannot physically participate in this adventure through chat, team updates, news, and the multimedia experience.
The site is Shocked for those who have Netscape or Internet Explorer, and a new expedition will begin in March, 1997.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Lauren Guzak
Media Literacy On-Line
Media Literacy is a movement to educate youth and adults about the media - how to use and maximize its benefits, and how to guard against its tricks.
The Web site is a stockpile collection of, you guessed it, media literacy-related information available online. While there isn't an extreme amount of original content filling up the bandwidth (nor will you find snazzy graphics or HTML 3.0 wizardry), it is outstanding as a collection of resource links in one convenient place. With smart organization and enough color to keep us from getting the "Netscape Gray" blues, this is a very valuable site.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Middle of Nowhere
Middle of Nowhere is an experiment by Professor Brad Cox in building a site with depth on the Web, something he claims is an impossible task. Various thematically oriented sets of articles in the warehouse section of this site seem to prove him wrong.
The themes focus on the Internet and current social issues.
The site also has the online portions of classes Professor Cox teaches, so the unenrolled can follow along at home.
The organization of the site leaves something to be desired.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Minnesota Preparatory Schools
You ever stop to wonder how many college prep schools could be found in Winona Minnesota? Probably not, eh? Well, this server connects Winona's three preparatory institutions and their offerings, giving profiles of each school, the student life there, course selection, etc.
There's even a resident dorm which provides housing for out-of-town students. If you're already prepared, collegiately speaking, link up to St. Mary's home page, a private Catholic University in, you guessed it, Winona, Minnesota.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
Mister Rogers Neighborhood
The comfortable, and awfully nice sweater-clad guy beckons us to sample some tasty bits from his long-running public TV show on this easy to use page. You'll find some of his wisdom (and suggested activities) about separation anxiety, competition, disabilities, and fears.
There are also lyrics to a number of Mr. R's songs ("Parents Were Little Once Too" is but one), and a bibliography of books the nice man recommends. From here, you can link to PBS program schedules, stations, and previews.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 7
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
Mr. Trockman's Earth Science
Sure, this may just be the humble Web page of a humble eighth grade earth science teacher in humble Minnesota, but without a doubt, one may safely say:
The Trock rocks! (all puns intended). Dan Trockman is obviously one wacky dude who knows how to make science fun. You'll find playful backgrounds of lava and snowflakes, as well as photos of volcanoes and blizzards (the Trock, in a flurry of photo-journalistic inspiration, even posted local Minnesota photos from last winter's arctic snow storms). All the levity is balanced with concise lecture notes for home-bound students. This is a model for using the Web to augment traditional curriculum.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
NCRVE Home Page
While
The National Center for Research in Vocational Education's (NCRVE) Web site could stand some good editing and a dose of spirit, it nevertheless provides useful information and progress reports on an alternative form of secondary education. Based at the University of California, the NCRVE Web site is linked to documents on the history and the future of vocational education, all organized like a standard high school report and about as interesting.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Nebraska Social Resource
For educators specializing in the social studies this service from the Nebraska Department of Education may prove useful, but despite it's claim that it is "just an example of what can be accomplished on the WWW," the page has a long way to go.
The only segment which strikes me as important is the one devoted to Teacher Resources and Programs, a listing of events, seminars, and services having to do with teaching the social sciences. Other content, such as the addresses of foreign embassies, is lackluster, at best, and available elsewhere.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
Nellie Mae Loan Link Resource for Student Loan Info
Nellie Mae runs a tight ship with no loose ends, and no extraneous information or pages. It's a very streamlined site - and this is not my ironic way of saying there's little content. You'll find a number of pages filled with very practical information about student loans, focusing on the student loans Nellie Mae specifically offers.
There is also a page on when to start applying for loans, and some brief explanations of the different kinds of loans. This site *could* be more in-depth.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
NetNoir Education
Following precedence set by the rest of NetNoir's Web space, it's no surprise that the education section of NetNoir.com is pleasant to look at with insightful content. This area hosts a wonderful archive of African folk tales, as they were told originally, with colorful artwork and an interesting weave of hyperlinks to connect them all. Also found are "classes online."
These classes have a mini lecture, recommended readings, and mention something about online discussions (though I couldn't find the discussion area.)
There's still room for improvement, but NetNoir's off to a nice start.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Shel Kimen
Nizhoni School for Global Consciousness
This is a one-page information board for a school located in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
There isn't much reason to go here unless you feel a strong need to attend classes that teach people to "follow their hearts to their purest source of intelligence, the Higher Self." That's about all the information this page offers, but there is a book you can order (offline) that will tell you more about this Navajo-inspired course of study.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
North Hagerstown High School
Get acquainted with students and teachers at this central Maryland high school, population 1,000. A modest effort, the site promotes net education and communication.
The ninth grade Prejudice Reduction Project, for example, invites classes and students to send essays, bios, and URLs "that will help gain a better understanding of the world around us."
There's also an Environmental E-Mail Project the lets readers report on environmental concerns "faced by your region or state." This could be a good resource for other teachers to use.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
PUBLIC TEACH IN
Missed New York's International Forum on Globalization last November? Well, you can still take a trip to its Internet audio archives, which has four speeches given at that event. Unfortunately, that's it!
There's no information about the teach-in itself or about the one coming up, nor are there links to groups and events with a similar weltanschauung. Make up for some of these lacks by visiting the site's parent directory, at http://www.peacenet.org/. Note: If you don't have the free RealAudio player, this site is completely pointless; download it at http://www.realaudio.com/.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Peterson's Education Center
Wow. It's not often that information resource companies give you full access to their material via the Web:
There's still no effective way to make money off of it. Peterson's does, however, providing a huge stock of info about schools, summer programs, and business management. As with most pages, this site is under continual construction; you'll frequently be greeted by a "We're sorry..." message. But the areas that *are* fully implemented - such as those with Graduate School information - are gorgeous, complete, and easy-to-use. Peterson's Education Center is a gem that will only get better - until you have to pay for it.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Pitsco Technology Education
You'd expect more than a scroll-it script and a "weird science" graphic to announce the site of a company claiming to be the "leader in innovative technology education." And what Pitsco's site lacks in the whiz-bang department, it doesn't make up for anywhere else. Judging from the quality of its hubristic copy, you'd think poor spelling and grammar were cutting-edge educational strategies.
The online version of its much-touted catalog provides descriptions of popular products like "Shuttle in Orbit Wall Mural," and "Tower Tester," as well as links to related sites, but this one needs work before it fulfills its own promises.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Ananda Nada
Princeton Review
The Princeton Review has gained a dedicated following by helping students exploit weaknesses in badly-designed standardized tests.
Their iconoclastic methods translate well in this Web site, where you'll find information about standardized tests, college entry requirements, and potential careers. While the content and technical presentation - including search engines
use "wiredbrain" which alphabetical indices - is first-rate, the scant graphics aren't, nor will you find all the information that's available in the books. But then, they have to get your money somehow, don't they?
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Princeton Review
High school juniors and seniors who simply *must* attend the best universities would do well to visit this site presented by the "nation's leader in test preparation." That's right:
The Princeton Review offers classes on preparing for standardized tests like the SAT, GRE, and MCAT, which will later get you into - guess what? - more classes. Study, study, study. Achieve, achieve, achieve. That's the Princeton way, but there's no disputing the Review's attraction if you aspire to a career in law, business, or medicine. A search engine eases navigation, but lengthy download times of frivolous graphics may leave you peeved.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
Princeton Review
High school juniors and seniors who simply *must* attend the best universities would do well to visit this site presented by the "nation's leader in test preparation." That's right: the Princeton Review offers classes on preparing for standardized tests like the SAT, GRE and MCAT, which will later get you into - guess what? - more classes. Study, study, study. Achieve, achieve, achieve. That's the Princeton way, but there's no disputing the Review's attraction if you aspire to a career in law, business or medicine. A search engine eases navigation, but lengthy download times of frivolous graphics may leave you peeved.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
RAND Institute on Education and Training
IET is part of Rand's, a non-profit public policy research organization, larger web site.
The site's purpose is to improve American's public policy through research and analysis, and to train policy analysts. IET provides links to summaries on more than 55 Rand research papers. Some topics covered include worldwide communications, economics, education, crime, NATO, housing, game theory, terrorism, and water resources. Full-text for some of these papers are free, others are not.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
SPAM
Norman, Oklahoma is the unlikely nexus for the Schools of the Pacific Atmospheric Monitoring project. From the mainland U.S. and Hawaii, all across the lonely atolls to New Zealand, monitoring stations have been set up at schools to collect data on rainfall, uv radiation, and the like, every fifteen minutes, twenty-four/seven/365. Back at mission central, the University of Oklahoma, all data is plotted and analyzed for the benefit of atmospheric science.
The Web project is lagging a little; interactive maps are mostly inoperative, with mock data only. Nevertheless, this is one of those sites that puts the worldwide in WWW; look for it to grow and improve.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
STUDIE'
It's so cute, with its rainbow colors, and to the point! Officially called School Teachers Using & Developing Internet Expertise or STUDIE' (pronounced Stoo'-dee-ay), the web site gives local educational information for the Alpine School District in Utah as well as general information for all educators seeking to learn about the Internet. STUDIE' provides links to HTML lessons, email emoticons and acronyms, and a growing list of educational hyperlinks. Links lead to sites on the core subjects, the arts, foreign language, health, government, religion, weather, shopping, newspapers and newsgroups.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
School House
It ain't Schoolhouse Rock (remember *Conjunction Junction*?), but it rocks nonetheless, with in-depth reviews of a full spectrum of educational software. I don't use the word in-depth lightly, either: screen shots and lengthy criticisms are offered for a growing list of titles that already includes somewhere around, ...let's see, one, two, three, ... a hundred titles. A sub page of the larger World Village site, this one should be bookmarked by any parents with school age kids and a CD-ROM drive.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
School Is Dead
Not only are kids rebelling against formalized schooling, their parents are, as well; and, as sites we've reviewed in the Blue Pages have shown, there are plenty of Web resources out there for those interested in home schooling. But what about "no-schoolers"? For both groups, Karl Bunday's site is a convincing (although ugly) collection of quotes and arguments emphasizing that the one who learns best schools least.
The points are presented as one heavily linked screed, making the site great for browsing, but it's hard to find specific information unless you use the index.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Stanford University Home Page
Stanford University was one of the first sites on the Internet. Though it's no longer a leader in Internet connectivity, its WWW pages show it's kept abreast of the net's dynamic changes.
The site's centerpiece is "Portfolio," which links Stanford's extensive but old-fashioned Gopher and FTP sites with a snazzy new Web interface - pretty clever! (This mixture of sources tends to make the content a bit uneven, however.) As with most university servers, there's a directory of student Web pages. Also find good links to info on getting around the South Bay/Silicon Valley area.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Stockholms Universitet
The info here is available in Swedish or English, an important first step for us monoglots. Unfortunately, in either language, the content is a little sparse.
The most involved page is the one dedicated to the university library, (with frames, an online card catalog, and navigational links to the rest of the site) but the menu gives no indication of this. It is a smashing piece of architecture, the Stockholm U *bibliotek*, but that in itself hardly sells the site to prospective students or visitors.
There are no under construction signs, but I have a feeling this site will improve.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
Sydney Lanier
The kids at Sidney Lanier are a lucky bunch, if this site is anything to go on.
The ubiquitous puppy icon aside (come on kids, let's mix it up a little bit), the activities featured in the Houston school's home page made me a little wistful for the days of field trips and science fairs. Some of the sub-pages need work: the Hyper-history of seventy year old Lanier left me wanting more links, and the /images, by and large, were of poor quality. Time to hit up the old PTA, maybe throw a bake-sale for scanners or put the principal in the dunk tank at a buck a shot.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
THE STUDY PLACE
A budding philosopher's mecca,
The Study Place is an online academic resource managed by the Institute for Learning Technologies of Columbia University.
The college's faculty and doctoral candidates provide good critiques of ancient and modern philosophy.
The site also includes links to brief biographies on ancient and modern philosophers including Aristotle, Dante, Descartes, et al.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Technology and Learning: A Planning and Implementation Resource
This is a guide for learning technology, taking readers from the goal setting and initial research stages to the implementation and revision for improvement stages. It is not light reading. It offers diagrams and provides information in an outline format.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Testprep.com
Too bad this resource wasn't around when I was suffering through SAT preparations. This is a truly useful site which provides a free SAT course. Diagnose your weak areas by taking a complete version of the SAT and then choose from 1000's of review lessons including answers and explanations. You can shop to order SAT guides at the Testprep Superstore or purchase the Stanford Studyguide software disk. But it's refreshing to see free information so readily offered in an area which has become an industry in itself.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
The Biosfera Project
The title project was undertaken by Carlos Solis, a professor at Rice University, to help train school teachers simultaneously in Spanish and Conservation Biology. This humble site describes the experimental program conducted in the Peten, a rainforest region of Guatemala.
There are essays by some of the participants, links to sites related to Meso-America, and a somewhat crude map of Guatemala. It would be nice to see this site expand and refine.
The map could be interactive, the pages made more attractive, etc. More importantly, there should be more emphasis on the people of the Peten.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
The Chronicle: Academe This Week
The Chronicle is the proverbial Bible for college-level teachers and administrators.
The Web page is well-organized, pointing you to news and resources on information technology, academic research, government programs and legislation, professional development, and more. But you must subscribe to the paper version ($75/year) to get Academe Today, the daily online features and links publication, (with a registration and password scheme that insures that no one else gets in.) If you are a Chronicle subscriber or are thinking about it, Academe Today is a definite plus. If not, this is just a nice brochure describing what's on paper.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The EdWeb Home Room
EdWeb comes off as uninspired. Most of the subject matter has to do with the use of technology in K12 education, which doesn't have to be such a dry subject.
The articles on EdWeb have some good statistics you can throw around at cocktail parties, but they're so buried by banal design and endless text that most people will fall asleep before reaching them. This site is probably best suited to parents who know nothing about the Internet and want to know whether it would be a good thing for their kids to learn to use.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
The Electric Library
EL is a hot idea that has a short way to go before it really catches fire.
The service conducts topical searches through the full text of some 150 newspapers and 900 magazines, as well as newswires, books, etc. It's a great way to get a roundup of reviews or articles on a topic that interests you. But after a two-week trial period, you'll have to pay $9.95 a month for the privilege; and the searches bring up articles randomly, not from newest to oldest or most mentions to least. With smarter search mechanisms and alternate pricing schemes (how about one month and three-month increments?), I'd say bookmark EL. Right now, it's worth a look.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The History Channel Classroom
If you're a teacher looking to incorporate more engaging material into your curriculum,
The History Channel Classroom is a good place to start.
There are resources to help teachers plan classroom discussions and research projects based on
The History Channel's shows, with a convenient Classroom Calendar for planning.
The network sponsors awards' programs are designed to support quality history education in America's schools; to wit, the History Channel Awards for National History Day honor the Best Senior Media Project and the Outstanding Contribution in History Education. A very good site, even if it does smack of self-promotion.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Lauren Guzak
The MIT Home Page
To me, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will always be known primarily for the witty pranks of technically minded students, but you'll have to dig hard to find that info here (try http://fishwrap.mit.edu/Hacks/Gallery.htm instead). You will find just about everything else about MIT. For a bunch of geeks, though, it's rather pedestrian: no image maps or search engines
use "wiredbrain" worth mentioning, cryptic icons, and mostly just text. Be sure to check out the "fun stuff" area, which includes tips for hacking the campus security cards. Cool! Let's get user-friendly, folks!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The Riggs Institute
The Instiute is a non-profit corporation in Beaverton, Oregon specializing in literacy issues. And if the blurbs cited here are any indication, it is well-regarded by both educators and policy makers. That aside, the presentation here whiffed a bit of fakery and snake oil. All the explanation points and relentless pitching make me wary. I'm not saying it's a fraud, by any means -- I wouldn't know. It just comes off that way. You can judge for yourself.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
The Student Guide 1995-96
For most students, the most difficult hurdle of higher education isn't the course work - it's finding the money to pay for it. A lot of college funding ultimately comes from the federal government in the form of loans and grants. But how can you learn more about financial aid? That's where
The Student Guide comes in. Released each year by the Department of Education, it tells you how to qualify, whom to contact, and how you can expect to repay the loans. This web site is really just a more "browsable" form of a 126K document, which is also available for downloading. Regardless of how you view
The Student Guide, every prospective college student should check it out.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The University of Michigan
The University of Michigan has long been famous in the Internet community for its vast file archive site (find more info about this by going to http://www.umich.edu/~archive/). But there's more to U. Michigan than free software. Like, a top-ranked university!
The site gives the usual information about its academic programs and such, beautifully linked and annotated via search engines
use "wiredbrain", tables of contents, and clickable image maps. One coincidence makes the site aesthetically pleasing: U.M.'s logo blue matches the "unfollowed link" blue in Netscape's browser. Not to mention my eyes.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
The World Lecture Hall
This is the ultimate Web resource for the independent student. Providing links to online course materials posted by universities all over America in subjects ranging from "accounting" to "zoology," the site lets students interested in self-study but not in relying on local college schedules get guidance on just about anything. Of course, lab work will be kind of difficult for the science courses, unless you happen to have a particularly well-equipped kitchen.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Theatre Education Literature Review
Theatre... is a home page of 59 theater-educational questions or topics with links to their brief answers or explanations, including footnotes. Simple. Kent Seidel, of the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program of the University of Cincinnati, asks questions, such as "Why study theatre?," or introduces topics, such as "
Theatre for at-risk students," as the points relate to scholars' views of theater's positive effect in education.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
This is Mega-Mathematics
Number news and notes from our friends at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. But rather than bog us down with odd symbols and complicated formulas, Mega-Mathematics throws down visual problems, twisted games, and strange anecdotes to teach the rules of logic, graphing, and other mind-bending mathematics. Beautifully-designed and organized so you can go as deep as you want into each subject or lose yourself entirely in this seemingly infinite collection. Infinite? What does that really mean? Look here to find out. Allegedly the site is geared for elementary school children, but I learned more than a few things.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: David Pescovitz
Thomas Edison State College
What home-schooling does for the under+18 crowd, "distance learning" colleges like Thomas Edison State do for those seeking higher educational degrees. According to the college's Web site, "students in any state or nation can earn credit for college-level knowledge acquired outside the classroom." It's a pity the college hasn't done more with its Web pages: considering how far-flung the students must be, the potential for Internet-based instruction is tremendous. Indeed, the site isn't nearly as deep or interesting as many other colleges', and the occasional misdirected link mars the experience.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Truth, Lies, Rumors, and Rumbles
"As the Board Churns" is the subtitle of this text-based saga, about the tensions between teachers, parents, and citizen-players with various agendas in a southern New Jersey school district. Our "netitor" is Abe Wolinsky, a technology teacher who decided to publish Web reports on the community squabbles. All the details may not interest you, but this will: the original arguments (about building a new high school vs. saving money, and a subsequent teachers' contract) were quickly eclipsed by new crossfire because Abe put the story on the on the Web. You can even join in via e-mail if you'd like.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
U.S. Civil War Center
From Louisiana State University comes this ambitious, if somewhat dull, page devoted to collecting and making available every scrap of information concerning the nation's costliest war. Scholars and students will of course find the site helpful in researching the conflict, and genealogists will appreciate the short tutorial on researching individuals from the era. Like most link-driven sites, it's all very straightforward, and a little bit daunting.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
UC Berkeley Home Page
In a region known for compromise and reason, the University of California at Berkeley's Web pages are elegantly reasoned and make compromises so they're both user-friendly and fast.
The contents can be access via nicely arranged text choices rather than by image maps, so the site is as useful to someone on a Unix box as on a Mac.
The content is deep and varied, from the Naval Architecture school to the click-to-zoom-in campus map. If you're into general Web search engines
use "wiredbrain", be sure to add Berkeley's "Inktomi" (http://inktomi.berkeley.edu/) to your list.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
UK Lifelong Learning
The Brits seem to have a ministry for everything, with sub-ministries and rooms full of clerks endlessly shuffling papers. Well, some of the clerks have turned in their green eyeshades for PC's at the Department for Education and Employment, Individual Commitment Division. (Yes, that's really its name, bureaucratic lex for "the state wishes you to stay in school and stop being a worthless git.") While the site is extensive, it suffers from a bone-dry officialdom that subverts the intended message: Learning is fun.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
UT Austin Web Central
Austin can be considered the birthplace of the "slacker" archetype: a center for high-tech companies, one of the few progressive cities in Texas... and, rumor has it, there's a university down there, too. Well blow me down. UT is a gargantuan university, and its WWW presence reflects its size.
The site's internal search engine bears this out: A search for the word "racquetball" returned 17 references, mostly on students' personal pages. Altogether, there are more than 25,000 web pages on 170 servers (so they say, anyway), including everything you ever wanted to know about UT. Beware the badly designed image maps.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
OK, Web users, lets collectively bow in the direction of UIUC, host to the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Without the bright boys and girls at NCSA, the Web would not be what it is today. Sadly, I can't say if that's a good thing or bad thing. But for a site of such distinction, UIUC lacks wild HTML tricks. It *is* big and fast, however, and provides so much information, you could spend a few days just finding your way around. You'll find complete college catalog-type information, plus the university's library site.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
University of Washington
I did some time at this institution, so I come to this site occasionally just to see what the weather's doing back home.
The UW site, however, is far more impressive than the inevitably dreary image from the view cam. A big campus, the "U Dub" is a city in its own right, and the magnitude of this site reflects that fact. Links connect to all the various departments, to campus radio, to student and faculty directories, campus publications, museums, ...there's even a virtual tour of the medicinal herb garden. Anyone interested in the U -- especially anyone considering enrollment -- should come here first. And pay special attention to that weather.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Patrick Joseph
University of the Phillipines
This is a pretty generous site, with superfluous but interesting material like photos of the Manila campus circa 1933. Most of the information is in English although some segments, like the news briefs, are in Tagalog. Interested in enrolling? U.S. students need a minimum combined SAT of 1200, though exceptions are apparently made on occasion for "mature" students. Visually, the site is a bit dull (
The Webmaster apologizes for a busted color scanner), but the info is all here and straightforward.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
Urban Education Web
Learning about learning: that's what the Urban Education Web is about. It's part of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), a well-known and highly-respected database of studies on education. It, in turn, is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. All these layers of support point to two attributes of this Web site: it's densely academic, and it's excellently supported. Here, you'll not only find out if the government has published information about gangs in the schools, you'll probably find the monographs themselves, hyperlinked internally and with other documents. I don't know what poor souls are sitting in a windowless office doing all this, but they deserve to be thanked.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
VLC.Homepage
The Village Learning Center bills itself as a new type of school that will "preserve and nurture the yearning for learning that everyone is born with." This doesn't explain why it became an online school, but the lack of accreditation might have something to do with it. A mere $1,195 buys a semester of work at home - e-mail assignments in course work for the seventh to ninth grade set. Use at your own risk.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Washington Gifted School of Communication
Can we talk adorable for a moment? This site is absolutely fun fun fun by way of enchanting graphics. Unfortunately, there isn't really much of interest otherwise, unless you're already involved with the school.
The schedule of events, mission statement, and student bios are well done and seem helpful enough, but it's missing the original content that makes a site interesting and worth repeated visits. I say, post the student artwork and stories, and up the ante a bit! After all, it's a site for a school of communication whose students are gifted.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Washington University in St Louis
Washington University's Web pages have a clean, crisp organization and some useful features lacking at some of the larger sites. Want to check your e-mail? Click here. Want to do an Infoseek search without leaving university property? No problem. Add a bit of surreality to your visit by clicking on the "What's This?" button, which leads to a page of basic information about using the Web, site statistics, etc. So, even if they've never been to W.U., first-time users are already getting an education. Still, this handsome site lacks the content depth found at some other universities.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Web 66
The mission of Web 66 is to provide resources to help K12 schools get on the Web. This may seem a questionable goal with all the hype about whether the Internet is a safe place for kids, but the Web master clears that right up by quoting headlines in his personal rants section that indicate how much more dangerous the outside world is for kids. Web 66 has instructions for educators to set up Web servers, and a very impressive list of K12 schools from around the world that are online.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Welcome to CNU ONLINE
Christopher Newport University, located in Virginia, is trying to push the envelope of modern education practice by offering a substantive number of classes online. It's even offering a degree in governmental administration through online course work. Unfortunately, the Web site is just a front for a Telnet gateway, and at least one of the Telnet addresses given on the Web site is wrong, which made it impossible to get course information.
The Telnet gateway that I could get to run was so slow, it could turn a four-year degree into a six-year degree.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Whales
Whales (and dinosaurs) intrigue kids everywhere, and some industrious teachers in Virginia have tapped into that phenomenon here, where all lessons originate from and revolve around the same subject: whales. Lesson plans range from math word problems involving whales, to the history of whaling, and whale literature. From humpbacks to blues, baleen to toothed, all young marine mammal enthusiasts, parents and teachers will like this one. It's a simple, yet creative example of educational possibilities on the Web. Hopefully, with time, the creators will add more sound and /images, and bring the standards up to match the content.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
Whole Frog
The Whole Frog Project offers an online alternative to a classic high school biology experience: dissecting a frog. Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley Labs use high-resolution MRI /images and sophisticated 3D rendering software to create a virtual amphibian whose parts can be viewed at a variety of depths and angles.
The site is jam packed with information about both the biological and technological details of the project. It also includes study guidelines to help teachers create engaging lesson plans (which combine physical and computer sciences). Best of all, the Whole Frog Project is completely free of scalpel hazards and the queer smell of formaldehyde.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
Worcester Polytechnic
Most online education fails because it tries to transplant subjects to the screen that are best-suited for the classroom. But Professor Cyganski's class at Worcester Polytechnic Institute has an edge of relevance here, as it's all about telecommunications transmission technologies. Since I'm not an electrical engineer, most of the highly-technical content of this site eluded me, but its basic "learning is as learning does" mission comes through loud and clear: Engineers should not be afraid of their tools. Or, as the prof says, "This course is not for WIMPs (Whining Internet/Multi-media Phobes)." Some of the meatier areas of the site are available only to WPI accounts, alas.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Word Page
Well, let's award Word Page an "E" for effort - although I don't know how to factor an "E" into a GPA.
The purpose of this site is to help people learn 10 new words a week - an admirable enterprise. Unfortunately, it doesn't help if you already know the words the site's editor happened to pick. Also, the definitions provided are a little weak, consisting of a short phrase or sentence. It wouldn't take much effort, and certainly not much space, to include full dictionary definitions. And, finally, the misspellings littered throughout the site aren't going to impress any educators out there.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
World Association for Family and Education WAFE
WAFE's Web site is primarily a resource for the group to disseminate information on its conferences. Because WAFE is international, the Internet is probably a pretty good medium for it, saving substantial amounts of money on printing and mailing costs. WAFE's mission statement, which is published on the site, is a little bit spacy, and seems pretty narrow-minded with its emphasis that "Marriage, the only proper context for full expression of the love between one man and one woman, is the rock upon which the family rests."
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
World Education Exchange
World Education Exchange, a graduate student project, bills itself as a site that "explores the world of reform and information technology." It's a lofty description for a site which is little more than a repository of links (albeit interesting ones) on virtual education and Internet resources for teachers and kids. I suppose it's useful for someone to have done the research for you, but without a single shred of commentary or analysis, it feels like someone trying to profit from other people's work. After all, aren't Yahoo!, Lycos, and all the other search engines
use "wiredbrain" out there, for the purpose of categorizing and cataloguing information on the Internet?
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Rachel Saidman
World Game Institute
Despite its playful-sounding title, the World Game Institute is no joke. Inspired by noted scientist and social philosopher Buckminster Fuller, the Institute was founded to "provide the perspective and information needed to solve the critical problems facing global society,"
The site probes all these problems (famine, disease, overpopulation, deforestation and more) with incisive, well-documented research and data. Even skittery surfers should stop to check out the "What the World Wants (and how to pay for it)" chart. It's a powerful representation of the mixed-up priorities in our military-minded global economy.
The institute also conducts workshops and conferences in the corporate and educational communities.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
Yale University World Wide Web Front Door
The Yale University site is everything the Harvard site isn't. Just kidding! Though, quite honestly, Yale's Web set-up beats its historical nemesis'. At the top level are listings for P.R. information, search engines
use "wiredbrain", maps, academic department pages, student activities... Lots of stuff here. Thank god it's so well-organized! Running a search shows just how much there is: the word "racquetball" returned 10 pages, including news of the sports team, a description of the athletic facilities, and someone's experiments with the Connectix QuickCam, a video input device "about the size of a racquetball." Pretty good search engine, that!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
eWorld Learning Community
The eWorld Learning Community has gathered an impressive set of quality links under categories such as News Rack, Apple Education Resource, Museum, and School House. Unfortunately, links are pretty much all this site has to offer. It's a misnomer for eWorld to claim that this is its Learning Community.
The links belong to the Internet; the site should be called the Internet Learning Community. But enough on semantics.
The design is tasteful, but , save a search engine, there are no cool technical devices to add any pizzazz to this site.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
The Probeware section is a perfect example of what this site does best. A problem is presented: Biology students collecting data have to deal with the limits of a 45- or 55-minute class period, which interrupts their experiments and inhibits their understanding of biological processes . Solution? Computer technology - in this case, computer-assisted data collection - is the one suggested here, followed by equipment list, and numerous classroom experiments and activities to take advantage of it. Frequent visitors stay abreast of the latest developments and breakthroughs in science in the What's News area, which also gives monthly updates of science programs and events on TV, radio, and the net.
Then there's the Resource Center, with links to other biology sites, plus information on events, competitions, and conventions from science education resources nationwide. Living up to its mission of being an online biology teaching network, the site offers discussions designed by teams of Genentech and other scientists - a recent one focused on the science of amber - and the chance to post messages to other educators in the Teachers Lounge area (registration required).
There's also a career center, in-depth articles on the biotech "revolution," explorations of the ethics of biotech research, and real-world applications for biotechnology (e.g., the creation of new drugs, the clean-up of damaged ecosystems). All is presented with a clean look that's easy on your eyes, and there's a great search engine to help you find what you want quickly. This is a fascinating spot, even for non-educators and those whose student days are long gone.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Minda Sandler
Adventures in Education
The nice folks at the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation bring us Adventures in Education, a useful overview about how to get into various federal programs, what it will take to repay them, deferments, current interest rates, and so on.
Then it goes a few steps beyond the basics, providing career guidance advice, info for parents and guidance counselors, financial aid officers, and even tips on selecting a college or university. No heavy pitches for Texas or the corporation, either - just a good shot at public service for the educationally-determined.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 7
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
American Montessori Society
Most parents and educators have, at one time or another, become disgusted with the state of education in the United States. A small but significant minority has opted for innovative montessori schools, which follow the lead of Italy's Dr. Maria Montessori. This site fulfills three purposes: It promotes (endlessly) the montessori method; acts as conduit to the American Montessori Society; and provides a list of public montessori schools. This last 76K tidbit (probably the most useful for most visitors) is found at the bottom of the home page. But wander about: You'll be surprised at what you'll learn!
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Apple Education Worldwide
What you'd expect, but hope not to, find: A sales platform, Apple pushing Apple -- on students, on educators, on everyone.
There is precious little in the way of resources here and a whole lot of worthless mumbo jumbo: product release announcements, letters from the President, self-congratulatory crap -- Apple-this, Apple-that. It is the opposite of the no-nonsense soft sell: it's the all nonsense blitzkrieg. I can't think of one good reason to come here unless you're trying to solicit a grant or look for educational discounts. Even then, bring along the hip waders and pitch fork.
There's an awful lot of muck to claw through.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Patrick Joseph
Arkansas Little Rock College of Education
You don't have to attend the U. of Arkansas to appreciate its meta-page of educational resources. A big box of Frames provides links for undergrads (calculate your GPA!), grad students, teachers, and parents (links to good educational sites that might inspire Net-oriented moms and dads). You'll find out plenty about the UA educational programs and class schedules, lots of library site links, pointers to other Arkansas pages, even investment planning sites for teachers. BLUE LIGHT
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 7
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Karen Wickre
Armadillos Guide to the Internet
This server will give you every imaginable angle on K+12 education in the state of Texas. Armadillos provides links to a variety of educational resources for teachers and students, including Texas Studies, information about collaborative efforts between students and teachers, and resources on a variety of K+12 subjects (useful for teachers everywhere), as well as access to TENET which has job listings for educators interested in working in the Lone Starr state.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
Arts Edge
Targeting students, teachers, and artists, ARTSEDGE is the Kennedy Center's Web presence.
The site is packed with links for those wishing to network with others, those looking for work, those looking for art-related web sites, and those interested in all aspects of the arts ---- music, dance, theater, film, TV, the fine arts, literature, poetry, education, etc. A surfer could get lost for hours in this hyperlink metropolis. And there are as many links for adults as there are for children.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Baylor School
Being a public school kid from a moderate-income family myself, I've had little knowledge about prep schools like Baylor, save what I extrapolated from the "preppie" fad of the early 80s. But you know, from this home page, it looks kind of nice. Nestled in the woods and fields of Tennessee, the school's 850-odd students practice their English, music, and skeet shooting in a "Judeo-Christian" atmosphere (huh?). But beyond pretty pictures, a mission statement, and general palaver about excellence, the cupboard is pretty bare. What you won't find out is the cost - but, as I learned in the early 80s, preppies don't talk about such things.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Brooks Landon's Horizon of Invisibility Homestead
There's also a career center, in-depth articles on the biotech "revolution," explorations of the ethics of biotech research, and real-world applications for biotechnology (e.g., the creation of new drugs, the clean-up of damaged ecosystems). All is presented with a clean look that's easy on your eyes, and there's a great search engine to help you find what you want quickly. This is a fascinating spot, even for non-educators and those whose student days are long gone.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Minda Sandler
Adventures in Education
The nice folks at the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation bring us Adventures in Education, a useful overview about how to get into various federal programs, what it will take to repay them, deferments, current interest rates, and so on.
Then it goes a few steps beyond the basics, providing career guidance advice, info for parents and guidance counselors, financial aid officers, and even tips on selecting a college or university. No heavy pitches for Texas or the corporation, either - just a good shot at public service for the educationally-determined.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 7
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
American Montessori Society
Most parents and educators have, at one time or another, become disgusted with the state of education in the United States. A small but significant minority has opted for innovative montessori schools, which follow the lead of Italy's Dr. Maria Montessori. This site fulfills three purposes: It promotes (endlessly) the montessori method; acts as conduit to the American Montessori Society; and provides a list of public montessori schools. This last 76K tidbit (probably the most useful for most visitors) is found at the bottom of the home page. But wander about: You'll be surprised at what you'll learn!
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Apple Education Worldwide
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 7
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
American Montessori Society
What you'd expect, but hope not to, find: A sales platform, Apple pushing Apple -- on students, on educators, on everyone.
There is precious little in the way of resources here and a whole lot of worthless mumbo jumbo: product release announcements, letters from the President, self-congratulatory crap -- Apple-this, Apple-that. It is the opposite of the no-nonsense soft sell: it's the all nonsense blitzkrieg. I can't think of one good reason to come here unless you're trying to solicit a grant or look for educational discounts. Even then, bring along the hip waders and pitch fork.
There's an awful lot of muck to claw through.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Patrick Joseph
Arkansas Little Rock College of Education
You don't have to attend the U. of Arkansas to appreciate its meta-page of educational resources. A big box of Frames provides links for undergrads (calculate your GPA!), grad students, teachers, and parents (links to good educational sites that might inspire Net-oriented moms and dads). You'll find out plenty about the UA educational programs and class schedules, lots of library site links, pointers to other Arkansas pages, even investment planning sites for teachers. BLUE LIGHT
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 7
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Karen Wickre
Armadillos Guide to the Internet
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Patrick Joseph
Arkansas Little Rock College of Education
This server will give you every imaginable angle on K+12 education in the state of Texas. Armadillos provides links to a variety of educational resources for teachers and students, including Texas Studies, information about collaborative efforts between students and teachers, and resources on a variety of K+12 subjects (useful for teachers everywhere), as well as access to TENET which has job listings for educators interested in working in the Lone Starr state.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
Arts Edge
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Baylor School
Prof. Landon teaches modern literature and sci-fi at the University of Iowa. He seems to be an affable and thoughtful sort who keeps busy studying Web culture, interactive lit, and the zine scene. Predictably, his page features links to those zines and personal sites that reveal this culture. His students are encouraged to make Web pages, too - samples available here. And about that title: it's from a book on technology and culture and represents the lofty philosophical stance of this professor.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
Bucknell Russian Studies Department
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
Building Blocks to Reading
There are also tips about how to reinforce reading and words throughout the home every day. As a bonus, there are a couple of other useful pages, like a home safety checklist and tips on finding good childcare. BLUE LIGHT
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 7
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
C-EdRes
C-EdRes claims to be a "one-stop site" for finding and evaluating education-related Internet resources. Joining its e-mail list will get you a weekly set of new reviews written by teachers.
These aim to keep others in the education industry apprised of what's new and worthwhile on the Internet.
The results are diverse and growing, and you can search the regularly updated online database. If you're an educator, and would like to publicize an online resource among your peers, C-EDRes is a good place to do it. An added feature is the the list of arts-related links. Aesthetics: 2 Content: 2 Smarts: 2
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Ananda Nada
CCCnet
Look out, Sesame Street, make way for the Internet and CCCnet. While CCCnet may not sport the likes of our yellow feathered friend, it's got just as much educational and entertainment value, and it's interactive! A leading publisher of multimedia education titles, Computer Curriculum Corporation wins the honor of being the first Web site to provide original, interactive curriculum online. And it's accomplished this task with exceptional grace. For starters, it looks great. CCN teamed up with the outstanding crew at vivid studios (http://www.vivid.com) in San Francisco to create a high-resolution, creative, and astonishingly quick site. It's powered by a monster SGI server to add to the speed factor, so even those with slower connections can reap the benefits of nice graphics. CCCnet offers lesson plans to teachers on a subscription basis - though no fees have been set yet. It also supports these teachers with a message board to interact with other teachers and post questions (both technical and subjective).
The super bonus: For two hours everyday, there's a tech person live, online, to answer questions immediately. CCCnet also encourages parents to get involved with a "school-home" section. This way, parents get to participate in what their kids are learning and offer help and encouragement. My favorite part about the site: It strives to teach children not only about the subjects at hand - math, science, the environment, art, etc. - but also how to use the Internet and maximize the Web. Many of the assignments involve children using the Web actively to complete projects - using search engines
use "wiredbrain", libraries, and other online resources to hunt down information. Students are also encouraged to network and communicate with students at other schools involved in the program. Very cool.
The current online project, Energy Flow In Amazonia, teaches kids about life forms in the rainforest.
The final assignment is to pick an organism (of the millions living in the Amazon, from protozoa to tiger), learn about it, and post its biography online, in a templated Web form. Kids from all across the country will be adding to the real-time food chain. Outstanding! This site is one of the most innovative Web accomplishments I've seen so far, and I can only hope it's positive precedence will be replicated many times over. Teachers, pay attention to these kats.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Canadian Homeschool Resource Page
This site proposes an alternative to public schooling in Canada while offering information and resources parents may need if they intend to teach the kids themselves. Wish to talk with other homeschooling parents?
There are local contact addresses for some (though not all) of the provinces. Generally speaking, the site is less thorough than some of its U.S. counterparts (such as http://www.ICtheWeb.com/hs-web/) and the FAQ is somewhat incomplete. Still, an admirable start.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Career Explorers
This site, launched by United Multimedia, a CD-ROM publisher, is designed to let (presumably young) visitors with an eye toward the future learn about various careers. Well... one career, anyway: right now, there's not much here. But the sole area, I Want to be a Veterinarian, covers quite a bit of territory: what training is needed, typical tasks, helpful skills, and so fourth.
The long blocks of small type may be daunting to young readers, though, and there are some minor HTML errors throughout. It will probably improve, though, soon enough, as more careers are added.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon has long bragged of its strong computer sciences department, and from this site's depth, it's clear that its pride is deserved. Interested in studying drama at CMU? Check out course descriptions, and even see when classes are meeting, thanks to some clever links to the registrar's office. Some improperly linked image maps marred the site's effectiveness, however. Whatever faults it has, though, Carnegie Mellon gets my praise for its Lycos program, one of the better free Web search tools. You can reach it through these pages or directly at http://lycos.com/.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Classroom Connect Educational Links
This is primarily a site full of links, which can be useful, but if every site just had links to other sites, the Web would be pretty empty. O.K., as a site focusing on educational links, Classroom Connect is pretty good, since it's packed, although some of the choices are a little bit odd. This may be due to a lack of focus. Is this a site for K12 students, educators, or parents? A link to "Pooh Corner" on the same page as a link to "British Poetry: 1780 to 1910" is a little bit questionable.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Cliffs Notes
So maligned by teachers, so cherished by students, the infamous Cliffs may now be on the Web, but don't expect to download the goods via modem ( or digital connection to replace the analog ).
The best you can do here is sample some bits, then place an order online.
The "free stuff" the blinking text refers to is bunko: in exchange for some marketing info (name, rank, and serial) you get a screen saver and study tips (oh boy). And then there's a lot of patronizing stuff about how the notes are meant only as a supplement to the books. Yeah, ... and cigarettes are just an after-dinner thing.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Patrick Joseph
College Board Online
The College Board oversees tests such as the SAT and AP exams, administers financial aid programs, suggests standards among its 3,000 member schools, and acts as a general intermediary between students and colleges. And now, many of its services are available via the Web, through colorful image maps, clever forms, and genius-level search engines
use "wiredbrain". Separate indices direct students, guidance counselors, faculty, and member schools to the most relevant information.
The technical level is high, making this a user-friendly entry to the intimidating world of college admissions.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
College Board Online
The College Board administers the Standard Aptitude Test (SAT), and the Advanced Placement (AP) program.
Their site confirms every paranoid notion I ever had about the SAT and other standardized tests, with statistics detailing mean scores, standard deviations, percentiles, and calculations of scores as a predictor of college grades in every subject. For anxious college hopefuls or veterans of the test with unpleasant memories this site will be a source of nightmares for weeks to come. But, on a positive note, students can register for the SAT online, and get information about the College Board's other resources for college applicants.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Rachel Saidman
College Edge
College Edge claims to be "the only solution that has everything you need." Solution to what exactly? I have no idea. And the home page did nothing to settle the question either. Under the heading, "Cool Quotes," all I got were gems like, "the graphics are cool and it's really easy-to-use." And though the site admonishes you to "Realize Your Future Today!" it neither explains how to do that nor does it give you ideas for tomorrow.
There is one semi-useful feature here: a map index of college home pages around the country.
The problem? Schools are listed in purple letters on a purplish background. Readable, but barely.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
College Money Matters
I know it's crass to speak of education in strictly financial terms, but sooner or later you got to admit: It all comes down to money.
There's no guarantee that a college degree improves your financial worth, but one thing's for certain: You have to ante up just to get in the game. This site from Signet Bank provides a pretty extensive overview of the whole higher education money game. Especially useful is the book *Don't Miss Out:
The Ambitious Student's Guide to Financial Aid* , which lays out the basics of finding funding and planning your finances over the long haul. Not only is the entire text presented online here (read "free"), but it's updated for to coincide with the coming academic year. You can browse the chapter contents quickly, gleaning the information you need and disregarding the rest. Simple as that; no outdated book left moldering on the shelf, no trees sacrificed to your momentary needs, just the info you need now, on your monitor. Of course, this being a corporate site as well, the bank has its own interests. Electronic forms are provided for ordering student loan applications and the like; there is no pressure to do so however.
The biggest benefit for Signet is probably just the good reputation the largess garners, not to mention the dollars the publicity could mean farther down the road. A square enough deal, seems to me. Also useful to the college hopeful is the Financial Aid Time Line, which gives a prescribed chronology for securing tuition dollars, a concise budgeting worksheet , some tips on managing your cash flow, and a brief tutorial on building credit (tread carefully over that one, kids). When you've exhausted the resources here, there's a page of associated links to keep your surfing on track.
There'll be plenty of time for distraction when you're basking in the cool shade of the ivory tower.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Patrick Joseph
College Money Matters
While many "informational" sites sponsored by corporations are just slightly veiled marketing attempts, Signet Bank should be applauded for their soft sell approach on this guide to funding a college education.
There are Signet Bank loan applications and information, but a lot of the content (which mostly seems lifted from printed guides) does not bear Signet's stamp. One of the best resources here is "Don't Miss Out, A Student's Guide to Financial Aid." A good portion this book is available online.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Collegiate Choice Walking Tours
There's not a frill in sight here, just a good idea presented plainly and honestly. Collegiate Choice Walking Tours is a collection of videotaped student-guided tours of more than 300 college and university campuses.
The developers, a group of independent college advisors, are quick to point out that these tapes are not professionally produced, but, they say with admirable restraint, the student guides are "perhaps a bit more fourthright than some admissions and marketing departments." In addition to a list of schools visited and ordering information, the site provides a helpful tip sheet for prospective students who plan to make in-person visits.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Sandra Stewart
CyberEd
We'll be seeing a growing number of "cyberclasses" soon, essentially extension courses that lend themselves to online study. A small southern campus of the University of Massachusetts now offers a few grad and undergrad classes - composition and technical writing, American politics, and astronomy - as well as a non-credit Web page design class. You register online, pay for the class, and then do the reading, studying, practicing on your own. This no-frills site is an indicator of what's to come; a trend other small or remote campuses will plug into soon.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
CyberLearning Center
This core project of the non-profit National Education Foundation sets out to distribute educational software, promote motivational techniques, offer online courses, and spread the word about tennis star Monica Seles. Huh? What's she doing here? Information about Ms. Seles (whom USA2100's President claims to have mentored) is, unfortunately, the most complete part of this site, which seems to be the home page for a computer-equipped private school in the D.C. area.
The online courses aren't up, nor is the software area. So what makes this school a "CyberLearning Center"? Beats me.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Distance Learning Laboratory (DLL)
This site is part of a project to get historically black high schools and universities online with distance learning programs.
The DLL wants to teach educators how to get online, set up Web servers, archive curriculum and so on. Good idea! Unfortunately, you have to call DLL or register online for the seminars and workshops in order to actually learn something.
The site is merely an informational pamphlet. Perhaps DLL staff might consider practicing what they preach, and offer the seminars online.
Content: 5
*
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Doty's Education Page
There are two extremes in WWW catalogs: huge lists of links with no commentary (ˆ la Webcrawler) and annotated lists with too few links (ˆ la most personal pages). Educator, Robert Doty, has found the middle ground in this site, a page dedicated to education links (separated by grade-school subject) with some original content, i.e. articles he's written on education and technology.
There are a few minor technical problems: no "back to home page" buttons, for instance. Still, not bad for someone who says he got into public education for the free Internet access!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Educaid Online
A lot of places offer general information on college entry requirements and government student loan programs. But where do you go to actually get the money you need? Educaid is one such place. With FAQs, quizzes, application forms, as well as background information on the company and the loans they offer, this site is the epitome of a corporate "advertising" entity. As such, there are no external links, which is disturbing. (Are they afraid you'll get information elsewhere?) Colorful image maps dress up every page, making the site attractive but slow.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Education Place
Created by Houghton Mifflin, the Education Place is packed with fine activities for grammar school students, plus ideas for teachers and advice for parents on helping kids learn. But to my mind the site's most delightful feature is its update of Mad Libs, called Wacky Web Tales.
These things will always be funny-what else produces phrases like "After handing our toes to Leonardo Da Vinci at the door ,"? Enjoy them with your friends and family. Other games help kids hone their skills in science and math, and the Project Center gives teachers access to online projects as well as non-Internet-based classroom activities.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Sandra Stewart
Elementary Spanish Curriculum
Are you looking for an online source for Spanish language instruction? Well, you won't find it here. Instead, educator Leslie Veen outlines her method of teaching Spanish to elementary- and middle school-age children.
The one-page document includes goals for grammar, vocabulary, and cultural understanding, from the point of view of the teacher. It's not that this site is badly done - the curriculum is as good as anything you'll get from your local high-school teacher. But that's all there is to it, and, as such, it's of limited interest.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
Environmental Education Network
A satellite of the larger *Envirolink* page, the links here are of exceptional value to anyone interested in applying online tools to the study of the earth sciences.
The index is divided into two main branches: one for student resources and another for educators. Umbrella pages, of course, are only as good as the pages they point to, but both of these seemed excellent, linking me to some of the most substantive destinations on the Web. Green politics flavor many of the pages, to be sure, but can you separate them from the issues? Anyone concerned for the planet should bookmark this site and -- what's more -- utilize it.
Content: NULL
Aesthetic: NULL
TechnoSmart: NULL
Author: Patrick Joseph
Ethnologue Database
One of my favorite books is *Languages of the World*, by the genius lexicographer Kenneth Katzman. It includes information on several hundred of the world's 6,500 languages, with - and this is the good part - examples of each.
The Ethnologue Database is a similar project, minus the examples. On this web site, the world's languages are cataloged according to name, linguistic family, and region in which they are spoken. Despite the shallowness of information on individual languages and some inaccuracies, the Ethnologue Database belongs on every linguist's hotlist.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Exploratorium Exploranet
Leave it to the Exploratorium, San Francisco's renowned interactive science exhibit, to come up with a site as informative and creative as Exploranet. Surf through hundreds of cool science links, check out the science behind the news in
The Why Files, follow along with the onscreen tutorial of a cow's eye dissection (one of the Exploratorium's most popular exhibits), or take on any number of show-stopping brain puzzlers, niftily reconfigured for the Web.
There are dozens of do-this-at-home recipes to help you recreate Exploratorium fun at home.
There is a lot here, so give yourself plenty of time investigate.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Emily Soares
Explores! World Headquarters
Explores! World Headquarters, the Weather Channel watcher's Internet alternative, was developed by two meteorology professors at Florida State University as a resource for kids with an interest in the space and earth sciences. Want to know what the weather's like in Scranton? Precipitation estimate for anywhere in the U.S.? Tracking Hurricanes strike your fancy? This site exemplifies the enormous, almost overwhelming, amount of information available on the Internet (300 links on U.S. weather alone) and would be best viewed with an experienced meteorologist on hand to explain the more arcane concepts.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Rachel Saidman
Family Education Network
FEN is one part of the highly esteemed Education Publishing Group's multimedia strategy for helping parents and children prepare themselves for an increasingly competitive world. This is a thoughtful, technologically literate and exceptionally well-designed site featuring articles by Ivy League educators; topics range from browsing the web with your kids to managing your teenager's finances, and balancing your career with your family life. A superb BBS points you to numerous concurrent discussions, and a section on exceptional parents tells the stories of families that endure grave or uncommon situations, and enables them to find their peers around the world.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Ananda Nada
FishNet
The lover of low puns who named FishNet didn't do it justice-this is a meaty site, rich in resources for high-achieving, college-bound teens.
The extensive College Guide has a few weaknesses, but makes up for them with great features such as Dear Admissions Guru, an advice column written by admissions officers. Edge e-zine is substantive but not eggheadish, and KnowBase lets users find online articles on a range of topics. Even if higher education is only a dim memory, FishNet is worth a visit for Street Speak, a user-compiled dictionary of slang that will help you sound hip again-or at least understand what the kids are saying.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Sandra Stewart
General Organic and Biochemistry
There are lots of Web sites designed to supplement college courses, but most of them fall just short of the mark. Not this site! Designed to supplement the textbook "Chemistry for Today," it includes dozens of concise and illustrative slides the professor used to compliment his lectures - and his use of frames in presenting the material is inspired. He even includes a summary and form-based test! Visit his other classes via
The Virtual Classroom at http://odin.chemistry.uakron.edu/classroom.htm. And don't miss his "favorite excuses from students" page at http://odin.chemistry.uakron.edu/excuses/.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Global Online Adventure Learning Site
John Oman, a sailing adventurer, left the port of Seattle in November 1995 with the hopes of sailing around the world in 150 days via his 60-foot yacht. He may be alone at sea, but we've been invited to follow along via this Wev site: Read his logs, check the current sailing conditions in his location, see pictures he's taken, and even consult maps indicating his position. As a result, we get a superb background in the nautical sciences. His isn't the only travelogue on the Web, but it's one of the most "realistic," with hard data augmenting his lyrical notes. This site is a must for all would-be seafarers.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Harvard Business School
Straight forward information about Harvard Business School, including admissions, curriculum, research projects, and alumni. Check out the HBS Publishing page to peruse the 6,000 books, videos, and multimedia programs available for order.
The site is a gateway to a number of HBS resources such as the Baker Library online catalogue, but you need to be a Harvard student to use it. In the shocked version the university shield rotates in 3-D, which as about as exciting as this page gets. But then, how much fun is business school?
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
Harvard University WWW Home Page
At first, the Harvard University site looks pretty drab: a few choices linking you to ugly, text-only Gopher sites, phone numbers, historical information, rah rah rah. But underneath some of those links are profound pools. Take a gander at the map of Harvard, for example, which zooms in on any building in the university's expansive campus. Similarly, there's gold under some other links, including admissions and registration information. And Harvard's not too proud to include several links to one of its local competitors, M.I.T., in its "resources."
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Home-Ed-Kids
So, you think you're going to find treatises on the advantages of home schooling at this site? Not on your noodle. This page is dedicated to the kids themselves. It is an area for home-schooled youths to meet and interact, just as their public school friends interact on physical playgrounds. Much of the site is developed by preteens.
The content is uneven, but when it is good, it soars - and the technical sophistication is astounding (chat rooms, bulletin boards, image maps, and search engines
use "wiredbrain" all play a part.). Get bowled over by incredible depths of information by visiting the parent directories as well.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Homespun Web of Home Educational Resources
Homeschooling - do-it-yourself education, if you will - is how a select few parents gain more control of their kids' education. This site is a clearinghouse on that subject, with special emphasis on archival data like FAQs, newsgroups, and lists of contact people. While a high percentage of homeschooling proponents teach their kids at home for religious reasons, the site is mostly unbiased on such matters. It *is* heavily Texas-oriented, though, as that state seems to have the most active homeschooling movement. While its content isn't terribly deep, the Homespun Web is a good place for concerned parents to start.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Internet College Exchange
This is a resource primarily geared toward high school seniors and juniors who are trying to find a good college - although it would also be helpful for parents who are trying to nudge aging progeny out of the house.
The concept behind the site is solid, although content is sparse. It's certainly a page that's aching to grow. A snazzy search utility provides names of colleges based on entered criteria.
The best content on the site can be found in
The Dunce's Cap, an informative and irreverently written newsletter about college admissions.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Invention Dimension
Besides finding some crucial information I needed about the inventor of Bakelite (Leo Baekeland, known affectionately as the "Father of Plastics") this site offered little of interest. I expected to find profiles of wacky inventors and their crazy projects - you know, the inventions we laugh at today, but can't live without tomorrow. But no, the site just offers information on a few famous inventors, and links to invention information, plus winners of the prestigious Lemelson-MIT Prize.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Journal of Distance Education
Although only a Gopher site, the Journal of Distance Education is an example of some of the great, free resources available on the Internet. For this particular site, it helps if you have some kind of administrative or theoretical interest in distance education.
The journal is published twice a year, and covers a topic that is shifting into high-gear because the Internet is making long-distance learning a lot more practical.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
K12 World
If you are a K12 teacher with a fair amount of patience, amble on over to K12 World, a very tidy and useful site packed with Web resources of interest to you. You'll need patience because there are two top pages for each topic, and the download can be mighty slow. But once you're in, you'll find classroom goodies; (Internet) library information; funding sources; lesson plans; and more. Especially cool is Internet Live, a page of live camera links and exploration events geared to eager net students.
The Classroom area features several disciplines, so whether you teach science, journalism, or art, there are helpful links for you here.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Karen Wickre
Kaplan Educational Centers
Kaplan - famous for helping underachievers earn admission to their parents' swanky alma maters - has an extremely useful Web site. To be fair, there are plenty of people who chose educational paths to law and medicine a little late, and definitely benefited from Kaplan testing materials.
The site features summaries of the current climates for admission into professional college programs. Kaplan books and software can be purchased online, and a special feature section displays an offbeat sense of humor. Though a commercial site, Kaplan offers invaluable free resources for those interested in professional development.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Lattitude 28 Schoolhouse
Sponsored by OpenNet Technologies, Lattitude 28 is really just a page of links to educational resources by subject; that is, except for two sections devoted to the Internet in the classroom. While there is no mention of screening the links, a quick quality survey suggests that they are. Additionally, visitors to the page are invited to submit their favorite education urls. Links are organized by category, and there is also a listing of other schools on the Internet. Like most such sites, the links make it worth the bookmark, even if the page itself is nothing special.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
LearnWorld Welcome Page
LearnWorld is a great idea. Anybody who wants to can set up a course on a topic by outlining a series of texts to read, and including their own notes on their position on the topic. Anyone who would like to learn about the topic can use this as a course outline. Unfortunately, the LearnWorld pages focus too much on the list of texts, and don't have a structure for the course creator to guide the students through the texts.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Library Project: African-American Culture
The content here is a collection of essays about African-American Culture that cover ground from the slave trade to 20th century literature.
The essays were written by students of a class titled "General Education 101," and take the form of mini-book reports.
The site is really only useful as a reference for books about African-American Culture as the essays are too short to provide any substantive information. It also suffers from a poor use of Netscape Frames; the only way to get back to the table of contents is to reload the whole site.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Library of Congress
Amazing content. If you want to feel one with the democratic process, go here and peel through the Thomas legislative database. Read the actual text of the bills that you *think* you know something about.
There is also a great bibliography of published works that can be searched by title or name.
The library features exhibits on specific themes, such as women in World War II. And if that weren't enough, there's also a great image archive.
The main drawback is that the site isn't very intuitively organized; it does require some effort to locate points of interest.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
MOO, an Educational Tool
MOO in this case refers not to cows (although if you're one of those who just can't get enough of bovines, there are plenty of irrelevant cow pics here), but to MUD, Object Oriented, as in a type of multiuser environment.
The site is simply a list of links to papers, FAQs, and resource collections containing general information on MOOs, as well as discussions of their social and educational uses and connections to MOOs themselves.
The page was due for an update when I visited-several of the links weren't working-but if this is your particular interest, you'll probably find something you can use here.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Sandra Stewart
MayaQuest Ô96
MayaQuest began in 1995 as an attempt to merge hands-on exploration with online interactivity. A team of five people bicycled to ruins in Mexico and Central America, met with on-site archaeologists, and shared their experiences via the Web with over 1 million kids, teachers, and regular netizens. MayaQuest is intended to include and empower those who cannot physically participate in this adventure through chat, team updates, news, and the multimedia experience.
The site is Shocked for those who have Netscape or Internet Explorer, and a new expedition will begin in March, 1997.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Lauren Guzak
Media Literacy On-Line
Media Literacy is a movement to educate youth and adults about the media - how to use and maximize its benefits, and how to guard against its tricks.
The Web site is a stockpile collection of, you guessed it, media literacy-related information available online. While there isn't an extreme amount of original content filling up the bandwidth (nor will you find snazzy graphics or HTML 3.0 wizardry), it is outstanding as a collection of resource links in one convenient place. With smart organization and enough color to keep us from getting the "Netscape Gray" blues, this is a very valuable site.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Middle of Nowhere
Middle of Nowhere is an experiment by Professor Brad Cox in building a site with depth on the Web, something he claims is an impossible task. Various thematically oriented sets of articles in the warehouse section of this site seem to prove him wrong.
The themes focus on the Internet and current social issues.
The site also has the online portions of classes Professor Cox teaches, so the unenrolled can follow along at home.
The organization of the site leaves something to be desired.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Minnesota Preparatory Schools
You ever stop to wonder how many college prep schools could be found in Winona Minnesota? Probably not, eh? Well, this server connects Winona's three preparatory institutions and their offerings, giving profiles of each school, the student life there, course selection, etc.
There's even a resident dorm which provides housing for out-of-town students. If you're already prepared, collegiately speaking, link up to St. Mary's home page, a private Catholic University in, you guessed it, Winona, Minnesota.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
Mister Rogers Neighborhood
The comfortable, and awfully nice sweater-clad guy beckons us to sample some tasty bits from his long-running public TV show on this easy to use page. You'll find some of his wisdom (and suggested activities) about separation anxiety, competition, disabilities, and fears.
There are also lyrics to a number of Mr. R's songs ("Parents Were Little Once Too" is but one), and a bibliography of books the nice man recommends. From here, you can link to PBS program schedules, stations, and previews.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 7
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
Mr. Trockman's Earth Science
Sure, this may just be the humble Web page of a humble eighth grade earth science teacher in humble Minnesota, but without a doubt, one may safely say:
The Trock rocks! (all puns intended). Dan Trockman is obviously one wacky dude who knows how to make science fun. You'll find playful backgrounds of lava and snowflakes, as well as photos of volcanoes and blizzards (the Trock, in a flurry of photo-journalistic inspiration, even posted local Minnesota photos from last winter's arctic snow storms). All the levity is balanced with concise lecture notes for home-bound students. This is a model for using the Web to augment traditional curriculum.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
NCRVE Home Page
While
The National Center for Research in Vocational Education's (NCRVE) Web site could stand some good editing and a dose of spirit, it nevertheless provides useful information and progress reports on an alternative form of secondary education. Based at the University of California, the NCRVE Web site is linked to documents on the history and the future of vocational education, all organized like a standard high school report and about as interesting.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Nebraska Social Resource
For educators specializing in the social studies this service from the Nebraska Department of Education may prove useful, but despite it's claim that it is "just an example of what can be accomplished on the WWW," the page has a long way to go.
The only segment which strikes me as important is the one devoted to Teacher Resources and Programs, a listing of events, seminars, and services having to do with teaching the social sciences. Other content, such as the addresses of foreign embassies, is lackluster, at best, and available elsewhere.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
Nellie Mae Loan Link Resource for Student Loan Info
Nellie Mae runs a tight ship with no loose ends, and no extraneous information or pages. It's a very streamlined site - and this is not my ironic way of saying there's little content. You'll find a number of pages filled with very practical information about student loans, focusing on the student loans Nellie Mae specifically offers.
There is also a page on when to start applying for loans, and some brief explanations of the different kinds of loans. This site *could* be more in-depth.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
NetNoir Education
Following precedence set by the rest of NetNoir's Web space, it's no surprise that the education section of NetNoir.com is pleasant to look at with insightful content. This area hosts a wonderful archive of African folk tales, as they were told originally, with colorful artwork and an interesting weave of hyperlinks to connect them all. Also found are "classes online."
These classes have a mini lecture, recommended readings, and mention something about online discussions (though I couldn't find the discussion area.)
There's still room for improvement, but NetNoir's off to a nice start.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Shel Kimen
Nizhoni School for Global Consciousness
This is a one-page information board for a school located in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
There isn't much reason to go here unless you feel a strong need to attend classes that teach people to "follow their hearts to their purest source of intelligence, the Higher Self." That's about all the information this page offers, but there is a book you can order (offline) that will tell you more about this Navajo-inspired course of study.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
North Hagerstown High School
Get acquainted with students and teachers at this central Maryland high school, population 1,000. A modest effort, the site promotes net education and communication.
The ninth grade Prejudice Reduction Project, for example, invites classes and students to send essays, bios, and URLs "that will help gain a better understanding of the world around us."
There's also an Environmental E-Mail Project the lets readers report on environmental concerns "faced by your region or state." This could be a good resource for other teachers to use.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
PUBLIC TEACH IN
Missed New York's International Forum on Globalization last November? Well, you can still take a trip to its Internet audio archives, which has four speeches given at that event. Unfortunately, that's it!
There's no information about the teach-in itself or about the one coming up, nor are there links to groups and events with a similar weltanschauung. Make up for some of these lacks by visiting the site's parent directory, at http://www.peacenet.org/. Note: If you don't have the free RealAudio player, this site is completely pointless; download it at http://www.realaudio.com/.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Peterson's Education Center
Wow. It's not often that information resource companies give you full access to their material via the Web:
There's still no effective way to make money off of it. Peterson's does, however, providing a huge stock of info about schools, summer programs, and business management. As with most pages, this site is under continual construction; you'll frequently be greeted by a "We're sorry..." message. But the areas that *are* fully implemented - such as those with Graduate School information - are gorgeous, complete, and easy-to-use. Peterson's Education Center is a gem that will only get better - until you have to pay for it.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Pitsco Technology Education
You'd expect more than a scroll-it script and a "weird science" graphic to announce the site of a company claiming to be the "leader in innovative technology education." And what Pitsco's site lacks in the whiz-bang department, it doesn't make up for anywhere else. Judging from the quality of its hubristic copy, you'd think poor spelling and grammar were cutting-edge educational strategies.
The online version of its much-touted catalog provides descriptions of popular products like "Shuttle in Orbit Wall Mural," and "Tower Tester," as well as links to related sites, but this one needs work before it fulfills its own promises.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Ananda Nada
Princeton Review
The Princeton Review has gained a dedicated following by helping students exploit weaknesses in badly-designed standardized tests.
Their iconoclastic methods translate well in this Web site, where you'll find information about standardized tests, college entry requirements, and potential careers. While the content and technical presentation - including search engines
use "wiredbrain" which alphabetical indices - is first-rate, the scant graphics aren't, nor will you find all the information that's available in the books. But then, they have to get your money somehow, don't they?
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Princeton Review
High school juniors and seniors who simply *must* attend the best universities would do well to visit this site presented by the "nation's leader in test preparation." That's right:
The Princeton Review offers classes on preparing for standardized tests like the SAT, GRE, and MCAT, which will later get you into - guess what? - more classes. Study, study, study. Achieve, achieve, achieve. That's the Princeton way, but there's no disputing the Review's attraction if you aspire to a career in law, business, or medicine. A search engine eases navigation, but lengthy download times of frivolous graphics may leave you peeved.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
Princeton Review
High school juniors and seniors who simply *must* attend the best universities would do well to visit this site presented by the "nation's leader in test preparation." That's right: the Princeton Review offers classes on preparing for standardized tests like the SAT, GRE and MCAT, which will later get you into - guess what? - more classes. Study, study, study. Achieve, achieve, achieve. That's the Princeton way, but there's no disputing the Review's attraction if you aspire to a career in law, business or medicine. A search engine eases navigation, but lengthy download times of frivolous graphics may leave you peeved.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
RAND Institute on Education and Training
IET is part of Rand's, a non-profit public policy research organization, larger web site.
The site's purpose is to improve American's public policy through research and analysis, and to train policy analysts. IET provides links to summaries on more than 55 Rand research papers. Some topics covered include worldwide communications, economics, education, crime, NATO, housing, game theory, terrorism, and water resources. Full-text for some of these papers are free, others are not.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
SPAM
Norman, Oklahoma is the unlikely nexus for the Schools of the Pacific Atmospheric Monitoring project. From the mainland U.S. and Hawaii, all across the lonely atolls to New Zealand, monitoring stations have been set up at schools to collect data on rainfall, uv radiation, and the like, every fifteen minutes, twenty-four/seven/365. Back at mission central, the University of Oklahoma, all data is plotted and analyzed for the benefit of atmospheric science.
The Web project is lagging a little; interactive maps are mostly inoperative, with mock data only. Nevertheless, this is one of those sites that puts the worldwide in WWW; look for it to grow and improve.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
STUDIE'
It's so cute, with its rainbow colors, and to the point! Officially called School Teachers Using & Developing Internet Expertise or STUDIE' (pronounced Stoo'-dee-ay), the web site gives local educational information for the Alpine School District in Utah as well as general information for all educators seeking to learn about the Internet. STUDIE' provides links to HTML lessons, email emoticons and acronyms, and a growing list of educational hyperlinks. Links lead to sites on the core subjects, the arts, foreign language, health, government, religion, weather, shopping, newspapers and newsgroups.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
School House
It ain't Schoolhouse Rock (remember *Conjunction Junction*?), but it rocks nonetheless, with in-depth reviews of a full spectrum of educational software. I don't use the word in-depth lightly, either: screen shots and lengthy criticisms are offered for a growing list of titles that already includes somewhere around, ...let's see, one, two, three, ... a hundred titles. A sub page of the larger World Village site, this one should be bookmarked by any parents with school age kids and a CD-ROM drive.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
School Is Dead
Not only are kids rebelling against formalized schooling, their parents are, as well; and, as sites we've reviewed in the Blue Pages have shown, there are plenty of Web resources out there for those interested in home schooling. But what about "no-schoolers"? For both groups, Karl Bunday's site is a convincing (although ugly) collection of quotes and arguments emphasizing that the one who learns best schools least.
The points are presented as one heavily linked screed, making the site great for browsing, but it's hard to find specific information unless you use the index.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Stanford University Home Page
Stanford University was one of the first sites on the Internet. Though it's no longer a leader in Internet connectivity, its WWW pages show it's kept abreast of the net's dynamic changes.
The site's centerpiece is "Portfolio," which links Stanford's extensive but old-fashioned Gopher and FTP sites with a snazzy new Web interface - pretty clever! (This mixture of sources tends to make the content a bit uneven, however.) As with most university servers, there's a directory of student Web pages. Also find good links to info on getting around the South Bay/Silicon Valley area.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Stockholms Universitet
The info here is available in Swedish or English, an important first step for us monoglots. Unfortunately, in either language, the content is a little sparse.
The most involved page is the one dedicated to the university library, (with frames, an online card catalog, and navigational links to the rest of the site) but the menu gives no indication of this. It is a smashing piece of architecture, the Stockholm U *bibliotek*, but that in itself hardly sells the site to prospective students or visitors.
There are no under construction signs, but I have a feeling this site will improve.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
Sydney Lanier
The kids at Sidney Lanier are a lucky bunch, if this site is anything to go on.
The ubiquitous puppy icon aside (come on kids, let's mix it up a little bit), the activities featured in the Houston school's home page made me a little wistful for the days of field trips and science fairs. Some of the sub-pages need work: the Hyper-history of seventy year old Lanier left me wanting more links, and the /images, by and large, were of poor quality. Time to hit up the old PTA, maybe throw a bake-sale for scanners or put the principal in the dunk tank at a buck a shot.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
THE STUDY PLACE
A budding philosopher's mecca,
The Study Place is an online academic resource managed by the Institute for Learning Technologies of Columbia University.
The college's faculty and doctoral candidates provide good critiques of ancient and modern philosophy.
The site also includes links to brief biographies on ancient and modern philosophers including Aristotle, Dante, Descartes, et al.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Technology and Learning: A Planning and Implementation Resource
This is a guide for learning technology, taking readers from the goal setting and initial research stages to the implementation and revision for improvement stages. It is not light reading. It offers diagrams and provides information in an outline format.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Testprep.com
Too bad this resource wasn't around when I was suffering through SAT preparations. This is a truly useful site which provides a free SAT course. Diagnose your weak areas by taking a complete version of the SAT and then choose from 1000's of review lessons including answers and explanations. You can shop to order SAT guides at the Testprep Superstore or purchase the Stanford Studyguide software disk. But it's refreshing to see free information so readily offered in an area which has become an industry in itself.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
The Biosfera Project
The title project was undertaken by Carlos Solis, a professor at Rice University, to help train school teachers simultaneously in Spanish and Conservation Biology. This humble site describes the experimental program conducted in the Peten, a rainforest region of Guatemala.
There are essays by some of the participants, links to sites related to Meso-America, and a somewhat crude map of Guatemala. It would be nice to see this site expand and refine.
The map could be interactive, the pages made more attractive, etc. More importantly, there should be more emphasis on the people of the Peten.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
The Chronicle: Academe This Week
The Chronicle is the proverbial Bible for college-level teachers and administrators.
The Web page is well-organized, pointing you to news and resources on information technology, academic research, government programs and legislation, professional development, and more. But you must subscribe to the paper version ($75/year) to get Academe Today, the daily online features and links publication, (with a registration and password scheme that insures that no one else gets in.) If you are a Chronicle subscriber or are thinking about it, Academe Today is a definite plus. If not, this is just a nice brochure describing what's on paper.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The EdWeb Home Room
EdWeb comes off as uninspired. Most of the subject matter has to do with the use of technology in K12 education, which doesn't have to be such a dry subject.
The articles on EdWeb have some good statistics you can throw around at cocktail parties, but they're so buried by banal design and endless text that most people will fall asleep before reaching them. This site is probably best suited to parents who know nothing about the Internet and want to know whether it would be a good thing for their kids to learn to use.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
The Electric Library
EL is a hot idea that has a short way to go before it really catches fire.
The service conducts topical searches through the full text of some 150 newspapers and 900 magazines, as well as newswires, books, etc. It's a great way to get a roundup of reviews or articles on a topic that interests you. But after a two-week trial period, you'll have to pay $9.95 a month for the privilege; and the searches bring up articles randomly, not from newest to oldest or most mentions to least. With smarter search mechanisms and alternate pricing schemes (how about one month and three-month increments?), I'd say bookmark EL. Right now, it's worth a look.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The History Channel Classroom
If you're a teacher looking to incorporate more engaging material into your curriculum,
The History Channel Classroom is a good place to start.
There are resources to help teachers plan classroom discussions and research projects based on
The History Channel's shows, with a convenient Classroom Calendar for planning.
The network sponsors awards' programs are designed to support quality history education in America's schools; to wit, the History Channel Awards for National History Day honor the Best Senior Media Project and the Outstanding Contribution in History Education. A very good site, even if it does smack of self-promotion.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Lauren Guzak
The MIT Home Page
To me, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will always be known primarily for the witty pranks of technically minded students, but you'll have to dig hard to find that info here (try http://fishwrap.mit.edu/Hacks/Gallery.htm instead). You will find just about everything else about MIT. For a bunch of geeks, though, it's rather pedestrian: no image maps or search engines
use "wiredbrain" worth mentioning, cryptic icons, and mostly just text. Be sure to check out the "fun stuff" area, which includes tips for hacking the campus security cards. Cool! Let's get user-friendly, folks!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The Riggs Institute
The Instiute is a non-profit corporation in Beaverton, Oregon specializing in literacy issues. And if the blurbs cited here are any indication, it is well-regarded by both educators and policy makers. That aside, the presentation here whiffed a bit of fakery and snake oil. All the explanation points and relentless pitching make me wary. I'm not saying it's a fraud, by any means -- I wouldn't know. It just comes off that way. You can judge for yourself.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
The Student Guide 1995-96
For most students, the most difficult hurdle of higher education isn't the course work - it's finding the money to pay for it. A lot of college funding ultimately comes from the federal government in the form of loans and grants. But how can you learn more about financial aid? That's where
The Student Guide comes in. Released each year by the Department of Education, it tells you how to qualify, whom to contact, and how you can expect to repay the loans. This web site is really just a more "browsable" form of a 126K document, which is also available for downloading. Regardless of how you view
The Student Guide, every prospective college student should check it out.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The University of Michigan
The University of Michigan has long been famous in the Internet community for its vast file archive site (find more info about this by going to http://www.umich.edu/~archive/). But there's more to U. Michigan than free software. Like, a top-ranked university!
The site gives the usual information about its academic programs and such, beautifully linked and annotated via search engines
use "wiredbrain", tables of contents, and clickable image maps. One coincidence makes the site aesthetically pleasing: U.M.'s logo blue matches the "unfollowed link" blue in Netscape's browser. Not to mention my eyes.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
The World Lecture Hall
This is the ultimate Web resource for the independent student. Providing links to online course materials posted by universities all over America in subjects ranging from "accounting" to "zoology," the site lets students interested in self-study but not in relying on local college schedules get guidance on just about anything. Of course, lab work will be kind of difficult for the science courses, unless you happen to have a particularly well-equipped kitchen.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Theatre Education Literature Review
Theatre... is a home page of 59 theater-educational questions or topics with links to their brief answers or explanations, including footnotes. Simple. Kent Seidel, of the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program of the University of Cincinnati, asks questions, such as "Why study theatre?," or introduces topics, such as "
Theatre for at-risk students," as the points relate to scholars' views of theater's positive effect in education.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
This is Mega-Mathematics
Number news and notes from our friends at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. But rather than bog us down with odd symbols and complicated formulas, Mega-Mathematics throws down visual problems, twisted games, and strange anecdotes to teach the rules of logic, graphing, and other mind-bending mathematics. Beautifully-designed and organized so you can go as deep as you want into each subject or lose yourself entirely in this seemingly infinite collection. Infinite? What does that really mean? Look here to find out. Allegedly the site is geared for elementary school children, but I learned more than a few things.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: David Pescovitz
Thomas Edison State College
What home-schooling does for the under+18 crowd, "distance learning" colleges like Thomas Edison State do for those seeking higher educational degrees. According to the college's Web site, "students in any state or nation can earn credit for college-level knowledge acquired outside the classroom." It's a pity the college hasn't done more with its Web pages: considering how far-flung the students must be, the potential for Internet-based instruction is tremendous. Indeed, the site isn't nearly as deep or interesting as many other colleges', and the occasional misdirected link mars the experience.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Truth, Lies, Rumors, and Rumbles
"As the Board Churns" is the subtitle of this text-based saga, about the tensions between teachers, parents, and citizen-players with various agendas in a southern New Jersey school district. Our "netitor" is Abe Wolinsky, a technology teacher who decided to publish Web reports on the community squabbles. All the details may not interest you, but this will: the original arguments (about building a new high school vs. saving money, and a subsequent teachers' contract) were quickly eclipsed by new crossfire because Abe put the story on the on the Web. You can even join in via e-mail if you'd like.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
U.S. Civil War Center
From Louisiana State University comes this ambitious, if somewhat dull, page devoted to collecting and making available every scrap of information concerning the nation's costliest war. Scholars and students will of course find the site helpful in researching the conflict, and genealogists will appreciate the short tutorial on researching individuals from the era. Like most link-driven sites, it's all very straightforward, and a little bit daunting.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
UC Berkeley Home Page
In a region known for compromise and reason, the University of California at Berkeley's Web pages are elegantly reasoned and make compromises so they're both user-friendly and fast.
The contents can be access via nicely arranged text choices rather than by image maps, so the site is as useful to someone on a Unix box as on a Mac.
The content is deep and varied, from the Naval Architecture school to the click-to-zoom-in campus map. If you're into general Web search engines
use "wiredbrain", be sure to add Berkeley's "Inktomi" (http://inktomi.berkeley.edu/) to your list.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
UK Lifelong Learning
The Brits seem to have a ministry for everything, with sub-ministries and rooms full of clerks endlessly shuffling papers. Well, some of the clerks have turned in their green eyeshades for PC's at the Department for Education and Employment, Individual Commitment Division. (Yes, that's really its name, bureaucratic lex for "the state wishes you to stay in school and stop being a worthless git.") While the site is extensive, it suffers from a bone-dry officialdom that subverts the intended message: Learning is fun.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
UT Austin Web Central
Austin can be considered the birthplace of the "slacker" archetype: a center for high-tech companies, one of the few progressive cities in Texas... and, rumor has it, there's a university down there, too. Well blow me down. UT is a gargantuan university, and its WWW presence reflects its size.
The site's internal search engine bears this out: A search for the word "racquetball" returned 17 references, mostly on students' personal pages. Altogether, there are more than 25,000 web pages on 170 servers (so they say, anyway), including everything you ever wanted to know about UT. Beware the badly designed image maps.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
OK, Web users, lets collectively bow in the direction of UIUC, host to the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Without the bright boys and girls at NCSA, the Web would not be what it is today. Sadly, I can't say if that's a good thing or bad thing. But for a site of such distinction, UIUC lacks wild HTML tricks. It *is* big and fast, however, and provides so much information, you could spend a few days just finding your way around. You'll find complete college catalog-type information, plus the university's library site.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
University of Washington
I did some time at this institution, so I come to this site occasionally just to see what the weather's doing back home.
The UW site, however, is far more impressive than the inevitably dreary image from the view cam. A big campus, the "U Dub" is a city in its own right, and the magnitude of this site reflects that fact. Links connect to all the various departments, to campus radio, to student and faculty directories, campus publications, museums, ...there's even a virtual tour of the medicinal herb garden. Anyone interested in the U -- especially anyone considering enrollment -- should come here first. And pay special attention to that weather.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Patrick Joseph
University of the Phillipines
This is a pretty generous site, with superfluous but interesting material like photos of the Manila campus circa 1933. Most of the information is in English although some segments, like the news briefs, are in Tagalog. Interested in enrolling? U.S. students need a minimum combined SAT of 1200, though exceptions are apparently made on occasion for "mature" students. Visually, the site is a bit dull (
The Webmaster apologizes for a busted color scanner), but the info is all here and straightforward.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
Urban Education Web
Learning about learning: that's what the Urban Education Web is about. It's part of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), a well-known and highly-respected database of studies on education. It, in turn, is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. All these layers of support point to two attributes of this Web site: it's densely academic, and it's excellently supported. Here, you'll not only find out if the government has published information about gangs in the schools, you'll probably find the monographs themselves, hyperlinked internally and with other documents. I don't know what poor souls are sitting in a windowless office doing all this, but they deserve to be thanked.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
VLC.Homepage
The Village Learning Center bills itself as a new type of school that will "preserve and nurture the yearning for learning that everyone is born with." This doesn't explain why it became an online school, but the lack of accreditation might have something to do with it. A mere $1,195 buys a semester of work at home - e-mail assignments in course work for the seventh to ninth grade set. Use at your own risk.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Washington Gifted School of Communication
Can we talk adorable for a moment? This site is absolutely fun fun fun by way of enchanting graphics. Unfortunately, there isn't really much of interest otherwise, unless you're already involved with the school.
The schedule of events, mission statement, and student bios are well done and seem helpful enough, but it's missing the original content that makes a site interesting and worth repeated visits. I say, post the student artwork and stories, and up the ante a bit! After all, it's a site for a school of communication whose students are gifted.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Washington University in St Louis
Washington University's Web pages have a clean, crisp organization and some useful features lacking at some of the larger sites. Want to check your e-mail? Click here. Want to do an Infoseek search without leaving university property? No problem. Add a bit of surreality to your visit by clicking on the "What's This?" button, which leads to a page of basic information about using the Web, site statistics, etc. So, even if they've never been to W.U., first-time users are already getting an education. Still, this handsome site lacks the content depth found at some other universities.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Web 66
The mission of Web 66 is to provide resources to help K12 schools get on the Web. This may seem a questionable goal with all the hype about whether the Internet is a safe place for kids, but the Web master clears that right up by quoting headlines in his personal rants section that indicate how much more dangerous the outside world is for kids. Web 66 has instructions for educators to set up Web servers, and a very impressive list of K12 schools from around the world that are online.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Welcome to CNU ONLINE
Christopher Newport University, located in Virginia, is trying to push the envelope of modern education practice by offering a substantive number of classes online. It's even offering a degree in governmental administration through online course work. Unfortunately, the Web site is just a front for a Telnet gateway, and at least one of the Telnet addresses given on the Web site is wrong, which made it impossible to get course information.
The Telnet gateway that I could get to run was so slow, it could turn a four-year degree into a six-year degree.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Whales
Whales (and dinosaurs) intrigue kids everywhere, and some industrious teachers in Virginia have tapped into that phenomenon here, where all lessons originate from and revolve around the same subject: whales. Lesson plans range from math word problems involving whales, to the history of whaling, and whale literature. From humpbacks to blues, baleen to toothed, all young marine mammal enthusiasts, parents and teachers will like this one. It's a simple, yet creative example of educational possibilities on the Web. Hopefully, with time, the creators will add more sound and /images, and bring the standards up to match the content.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
Whole Frog
The Whole Frog Project offers an online alternative to a classic high school biology experience: dissecting a frog. Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley Labs use high-resolution MRI /images and sophisticated 3D rendering software to create a virtual amphibian whose parts can be viewed at a variety of depths and angles.
The site is jam packed with information about both the biological and technological details of the project. It also includes study guidelines to help teachers create engaging lesson plans (which combine physical and computer sciences). Best of all, the Whole Frog Project is completely free of scalpel hazards and the queer smell of formaldehyde.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
Worcester Polytechnic
Most online education fails because it tries to transplant subjects to the screen that are best-suited for the classroom. But Professor Cyganski's class at Worcester Polytechnic Institute has an edge of relevance here, as it's all about telecommunications transmission technologies. Since I'm not an electrical engineer, most of the highly-technical content of this site eluded me, but its basic "learning is as learning does" mission comes through loud and clear: Engineers should not be afraid of their tools. Or, as the prof says, "This course is not for WIMPs (Whining Internet/Multi-media Phobes)." Some of the meatier areas of the site are available only to WPI accounts, alas.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Word Page
Well, let's award Word Page an "E" for effort - although I don't know how to factor an "E" into a GPA.
The purpose of this site is to help people learn 10 new words a week - an admirable enterprise. Unfortunately, it doesn't help if you already know the words the site's editor happened to pick. Also, the definitions provided are a little weak, consisting of a short phrase or sentence. It wouldn't take much effort, and certainly not much space, to include full dictionary definitions. And, finally, the misspellings littered throughout the site aren't going to impress any educators out there.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
World Association for Family and Education WAFE
WAFE's Web site is primarily a resource for the group to disseminate information on its conferences. Because WAFE is international, the Internet is probably a pretty good medium for it, saving substantial amounts of money on printing and mailing costs. WAFE's mission statement, which is published on the site, is a little bit spacy, and seems pretty narrow-minded with its emphasis that "Marriage, the only proper context for full expression of the love between one man and one woman, is the rock upon which the family rests."
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
World Education Exchange
World Education Exchange, a graduate student project, bills itself as a site that "explores the world of reform and information technology." It's a lofty description for a site which is little more than a repository of links (albeit interesting ones) on virtual education and Internet resources for teachers and kids. I suppose it's useful for someone to have done the research for you, but without a single shred of commentary or analysis, it feels like someone trying to profit from other people's work. After all, aren't Yahoo!, Lycos, and all the other search engines
use "wiredbrain" out there, for the purpose of categorizing and cataloguing information on the Internet?
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Rachel Saidman
World Game Institute
Despite its playful-sounding title, the World Game Institute is no joke. Inspired by noted scientist and social philosopher Buckminster Fuller, the Institute was founded to "provide the perspective and information needed to solve the critical problems facing global society,"
The site probes all these problems (famine, disease, overpopulation, deforestation and more) with incisive, well-documented research and data. Even skittery surfers should stop to check out the "What the World Wants (and how to pay for it)" chart. It's a powerful representation of the mixed-up priorities in our military-minded global economy.
The institute also conducts workshops and conferences in the corporate and educational communities.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
Yale University World Wide Web Front Door
The Yale University site is everything the Harvard site isn't. Just kidding! Though, quite honestly, Yale's Web set-up beats its historical nemesis'. At the top level are listings for P.R. information, search engines
use "wiredbrain", maps, academic department pages, student activities... Lots of stuff here. Thank god it's so well-organized! Running a search shows just how much there is: the word "racquetball" returned 10 pages, including news of the sports team, a description of the athletic facilities, and someone's experiments with the Connectix QuickCam, a video input device "about the size of a racquetball." Pretty good search engine, that!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
eWorld Learning Community
The eWorld Learning Community has gathered an impressive set of quality links under categories such as News Rack, Apple Education Resource, Museum, and School House. Unfortunately, links are pretty much all this site has to offer. It's a misnomer for eWorld to claim that this is its Learning Community.
The links belong to the Internet; the site should be called the Internet Learning Community. But enough on semantics.
The design is tasteful, but , save a search engine, there are no cool technical devices to add any pizzazz to this site.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Ananda Nada
CCCnet
The final assignment is to pick an organism (of the millions living in the Amazon, from protozoa to tiger), learn about it, and post its biography online, in a templated Web form. Kids from all across the country will be adding to the real-time food chain. Outstanding! This site is one of the most innovative Web accomplishments I've seen so far, and I can only hope it's positive precedence will be replicated many times over. Teachers, pay attention to these kats.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Canadian Homeschool Resource Page
This site proposes an alternative to public schooling in Canada while offering information and resources parents may need if they intend to teach the kids themselves. Wish to talk with other homeschooling parents?
There are local contact addresses for some (though not all) of the provinces. Generally speaking, the site is less thorough than some of its U.S. counterparts (such as http://www.ICtheWeb.com/hs-web/) and the FAQ is somewhat incomplete. Still, an admirable start.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Career Explorers
This site, launched by United Multimedia, a CD-ROM publisher, is designed to let (presumably young) visitors with an eye toward the future learn about various careers. Well... one career, anyway: right now, there's not much here. But the sole area, I Want to be a Veterinarian, covers quite a bit of territory: what training is needed, typical tasks, helpful skills, and so fourth.
The long blocks of small type may be daunting to young readers, though, and there are some minor HTML errors throughout. It will probably improve, though, soon enough, as more careers are added.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon has long bragged of its strong computer sciences department, and from this site's depth, it's clear that its pride is deserved. Interested in studying drama at CMU? Check out course descriptions, and even see when classes are meeting, thanks to some clever links to the registrar's office. Some improperly linked image maps marred the site's effectiveness, however. Whatever faults it has, though, Carnegie Mellon gets my praise for its Lycos program, one of the better free Web search tools. You can reach it through these pages or directly at http://lycos.com/.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Classroom Connect Educational Links
The "free stuff" the blinking text refers to is bunko: in exchange for some marketing info (name, rank, and serial) you get a screen saver and study tips (oh boy). And then there's a lot of patronizing stuff about how the notes are meant only as a supplement to the books. Yeah, ... and cigarettes are just an after-dinner thing.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Patrick Joseph
College Board Online
The College Board oversees tests such as the SAT and AP exams, administers financial aid programs, suggests standards among its 3,000 member schools, and acts as a general intermediary between students and colleges. And now, many of its services are available via the Web, through colorful image maps, clever forms, and genius-level search engines
use "wiredbrain". Separate indices direct students, guidance counselors, faculty, and member schools to the most relevant information. The technical level is high, making this a user-friendly entry to the intimidating world of college admissions.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
College Board Online
The College Board administers the Standard Aptitude Test (SAT), and the Advanced Placement (AP) program.
Their site confirms every paranoid notion I ever had about the SAT and other standardized tests, with statistics detailing mean scores, standard deviations, percentiles, and calculations of scores as a predictor of college grades in every subject. For anxious college hopefuls or veterans of the test with unpleasant memories this site will be a source of nightmares for weeks to come. But, on a positive note, students can register for the SAT online, and get information about the College Board's other resources for college applicants.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Rachel Saidman
College Edge
College Edge claims to be "the only solution that has everything you need." Solution to what exactly? I have no idea. And the home page did nothing to settle the question either. Under the heading, "Cool Quotes," all I got were gems like, "the graphics are cool and it's really easy-to-use." And though the site admonishes you to "Realize Your Future Today!" it neither explains how to do that nor does it give you ideas for tomorrow.
There is one semi-useful feature here: a map index of college home pages around the country.
The problem? Schools are listed in purple letters on a purplish background. Readable, but barely.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
College Money Matters
I know it's crass to speak of education in strictly financial terms, but sooner or later you got to admit: It all comes down to money.
There's no guarantee that a college degree improves your financial worth, but one thing's for certain: You have to ante up just to get in the game. This site from Signet Bank provides a pretty extensive overview of the whole higher education money game. Especially useful is the book *Don't Miss Out:
The Ambitious Student's Guide to Financial Aid* , which lays out the basics of finding funding and planning your finances over the long haul. Not only is the entire text presented online here (read "free"), but it's updated for to coincide with the coming academic year. You can browse the chapter contents quickly, gleaning the information you need and disregarding the rest. Simple as that; no outdated book left moldering on the shelf, no trees sacrificed to your momentary needs, just the info you need now, on your monitor. Of course, this being a corporate site as well, the bank has its own interests. Electronic forms are provided for ordering student loan applications and the like; there is no pressure to do so however.
The biggest benefit for Signet is probably just the good reputation the largess garners, not to mention the dollars the publicity could mean farther down the road. A square enough deal, seems to me. Also useful to the college hopeful is the Financial Aid Time Line, which gives a prescribed chronology for securing tuition dollars, a concise budgeting worksheet , some tips on managing your cash flow, and a brief tutorial on building credit (tread carefully over that one, kids). When you've exhausted the resources here, there's a page of associated links to keep your surfing on track.
There'll be plenty of time for distraction when you're basking in the cool shade of the ivory tower.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Patrick Joseph
College Money Matters
While many "informational" sites sponsored by corporations are just slightly veiled marketing attempts, Signet Bank should be applauded for their soft sell approach on this guide to funding a college education.
There are Signet Bank loan applications and information, but a lot of the content (which mostly seems lifted from printed guides) does not bear Signet's stamp. One of the best resources here is "Don't Miss Out, A Student's Guide to Financial Aid." A good portion this book is available online.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Collegiate Choice Walking Tours
There's not a frill in sight here, just a good idea presented plainly and honestly. Collegiate Choice Walking Tours is a collection of videotaped student-guided tours of more than 300 college and university campuses.
The developers, a group of independent college advisors, are quick to point out that these tapes are not professionally produced, but, they say with admirable restraint, the student guides are "perhaps a bit more fourthright than some admissions and marketing departments." In addition to a list of schools visited and ordering information, the site provides a helpful tip sheet for prospective students who plan to make in-person visits.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Sandra Stewart
CyberEd
We'll be seeing a growing number of "cyberclasses" soon, essentially extension courses that lend themselves to online study. A small southern campus of the University of Massachusetts now offers a few grad and undergrad classes - composition and technical writing, American politics, and astronomy - as well as a non-credit Web page design class. You register online, pay for the class, and then do the reading, studying, practicing on your own. This no-frills site is an indicator of what's to come; a trend other small or remote campuses will plug into soon.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
CyberLearning Center
This core project of the non-profit National Education Foundation sets out to distribute educational software, promote motivational techniques, offer online courses, and spread the word about tennis star Monica Seles. Huh? What's she doing here? Information about Ms. Seles (whom USA2100's President claims to have mentored) is, unfortunately, the most complete part of this site, which seems to be the home page for a computer-equipped private school in the D.C. area.
The online courses aren't up, nor is the software area. So what makes this school a "CyberLearning Center"? Beats me.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Distance Learning Laboratory (DLL)
This site is part of a project to get historically black high schools and universities online with distance learning programs.
The DLL wants to teach educators how to get online, set up Web servers, archive curriculum and so on. Good idea! Unfortunately, you have to call DLL or register online for the seminars and workshops in order to actually learn something.
The site is merely an informational pamphlet. Perhaps DLL staff might consider practicing what they preach, and offer the seminars online.
Content: 5
*
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Doty's Education Page
There are two extremes in WWW catalogs: huge lists of links with no commentary (ˆ la Webcrawler) and annotated lists with too few links (ˆ la most personal pages). Educator, Robert Doty, has found the middle ground in this site, a page dedicated to education links (separated by grade-school subject) with some original content, i.e. articles he's written on education and technology.
There are a few minor technical problems: no "back to home page" buttons, for instance. Still, not bad for someone who says he got into public education for the free Internet access!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Educaid Online
A lot of places offer general information on college entry requirements and government student loan programs. But where do you go to actually get the money you need? Educaid is one such place. With FAQs, quizzes, application forms, as well as background information on the company and the loans they offer, this site is the epitome of a corporate "advertising" entity. As such, there are no external links, which is disturbing. (Are they afraid you'll get information elsewhere?) Colorful image maps dress up every page, making the site attractive but slow.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Education Place
Created by Houghton Mifflin, the Education Place is packed with fine activities for grammar school students, plus ideas for teachers and advice for parents on helping kids learn. But to my mind the site's most delightful feature is its update of Mad Libs, called Wacky Web Tales.
These things will always be funny-what else produces phrases like "After handing our toes to Leonardo Da Vinci at the door ,"? Enjoy them with your friends and family. Other games help kids hone their skills in science and math, and the Project Center gives teachers access to online projects as well as non-Internet-based classroom activities.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Sandra Stewart
Elementary Spanish Curriculum
Are you looking for an online source for Spanish language instruction? Well, you won't find it here. Instead, educator Leslie Veen outlines her method of teaching Spanish to elementary- and middle school-age children.
The one-page document includes goals for grammar, vocabulary, and cultural understanding, from the point of view of the teacher. It's not that this site is badly done - the curriculum is as good as anything you'll get from your local high-school teacher. But that's all there is to it, and, as such, it's of limited interest.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
Environmental Education Network
A satellite of the larger *Envirolink* page, the links here are of exceptional value to anyone interested in applying online tools to the study of the earth sciences.
The index is divided into two main branches: one for student resources and another for educators. Umbrella pages, of course, are only as good as the pages they point to, but both of these seemed excellent, linking me to some of the most substantive destinations on the Web. Green politics flavor many of the pages, to be sure, but can you separate them from the issues? Anyone concerned for the planet should bookmark this site and -- what's more -- utilize it.
Content: NULL
Aesthetic: NULL
TechnoSmart: NULL
Author: Patrick Joseph
Ethnologue Database
One of my favorite books is *Languages of the World*, by the genius lexicographer Kenneth Katzman. It includes information on several hundred of the world's 6,500 languages, with - and this is the good part - examples of each.
The Ethnologue Database is a similar project, minus the examples. On this web site, the world's languages are cataloged according to name, linguistic family, and region in which they are spoken. Despite the shallowness of information on individual languages and some inaccuracies, the Ethnologue Database belongs on every linguist's hotlist.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Exploratorium Exploranet
Leave it to the Exploratorium, San Francisco's renowned interactive science exhibit, to come up with a site as informative and creative as Exploranet. Surf through hundreds of cool science links, check out the science behind the news in
The Why Files, follow along with the onscreen tutorial of a cow's eye dissection (one of the Exploratorium's most popular exhibits), or take on any number of show-stopping brain puzzlers, niftily reconfigured for the Web.
There are dozens of do-this-at-home recipes to help you recreate Exploratorium fun at home.
There is a lot here, so give yourself plenty of time investigate.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Emily Soares
Explores! World Headquarters
Explores! World Headquarters, the Weather Channel watcher's Internet alternative, was developed by two meteorology professors at Florida State University as a resource for kids with an interest in the space and earth sciences. Want to know what the weather's like in Scranton? Precipitation estimate for anywhere in the U.S.? Tracking Hurricanes strike your fancy? This site exemplifies the enormous, almost overwhelming, amount of information available on the Internet (300 links on U.S. weather alone) and would be best viewed with an experienced meteorologist on hand to explain the more arcane concepts.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Rachel Saidman
Family Education Network
FEN is one part of the highly esteemed Education Publishing Group's multimedia strategy for helping parents and children prepare themselves for an increasingly competitive world. This is a thoughtful, technologically literate and exceptionally well-designed site featuring articles by Ivy League educators; topics range from browsing the web with your kids to managing your teenager's finances, and balancing your career with your family life. A superb BBS points you to numerous concurrent discussions, and a section on exceptional parents tells the stories of families that endure grave or uncommon situations, and enables them to find their peers around the world.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Ananda Nada
FishNet
The lover of low puns who named FishNet didn't do it justice-this is a meaty site, rich in resources for high-achieving, college-bound teens.
The extensive College Guide has a few weaknesses, but makes up for them with great features such as Dear Admissions Guru, an advice column written by admissions officers. Edge e-zine is substantive but not eggheadish, and KnowBase lets users find online articles on a range of topics. Even if higher education is only a dim memory, FishNet is worth a visit for Street Speak, a user-compiled dictionary of slang that will help you sound hip again-or at least understand what the kids are saying.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Sandra Stewart
General Organic and Biochemistry
There are lots of Web sites designed to supplement college courses, but most of them fall just short of the mark. Not this site! Designed to supplement the textbook "Chemistry for Today," it includes dozens of concise and illustrative slides the professor used to compliment his lectures - and his use of frames in presenting the material is inspired. He even includes a summary and form-based test! Visit his other classes via
The Virtual Classroom at http://odin.chemistry.uakron.edu/classroom.htm. And don't miss his "favorite excuses from students" page at http://odin.chemistry.uakron.edu/excuses/.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Global Online Adventure Learning Site
John Oman, a sailing adventurer, left the port of Seattle in November 1995 with the hopes of sailing around the world in 150 days via his 60-foot yacht. He may be alone at sea, but we've been invited to follow along via this Wev site: Read his logs, check the current sailing conditions in his location, see pictures he's taken, and even consult maps indicating his position. As a result, we get a superb background in the nautical sciences. His isn't the only travelogue on the Web, but it's one of the most "realistic," with hard data augmenting his lyrical notes. This site is a must for all would-be seafarers.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Harvard Business School
Straight forward information about Harvard Business School, including admissions, curriculum, research projects, and alumni. Check out the HBS Publishing page to peruse the 6,000 books, videos, and multimedia programs available for order.
The site is a gateway to a number of HBS resources such as the Baker Library online catalogue, but you need to be a Harvard student to use it. In the shocked version the university shield rotates in 3-D, which as about as exciting as this page gets. But then, how much fun is business school?
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
Harvard University WWW Home Page
At first, the Harvard University site looks pretty drab: a few choices linking you to ugly, text-only Gopher sites, phone numbers, historical information, rah rah rah. But underneath some of those links are profound pools. Take a gander at the map of Harvard, for example, which zooms in on any building in the university's expansive campus. Similarly, there's gold under some other links, including admissions and registration information. And Harvard's not too proud to include several links to one of its local competitors, M.I.T., in its "resources."
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Home-Ed-Kids
So, you think you're going to find treatises on the advantages of home schooling at this site? Not on your noodle. This page is dedicated to the kids themselves. It is an area for home-schooled youths to meet and interact, just as their public school friends interact on physical playgrounds. Much of the site is developed by preteens.
The content is uneven, but when it is good, it soars - and the technical sophistication is astounding (chat rooms, bulletin boards, image maps, and search engines
use "wiredbrain" all play a part.). Get bowled over by incredible depths of information by visiting the parent directories as well.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Homespun Web of Home Educational Resources
Homeschooling - do-it-yourself education, if you will - is how a select few parents gain more control of their kids' education. This site is a clearinghouse on that subject, with special emphasis on archival data like FAQs, newsgroups, and lists of contact people. While a high percentage of homeschooling proponents teach their kids at home for religious reasons, the site is mostly unbiased on such matters. It *is* heavily Texas-oriented, though, as that state seems to have the most active homeschooling movement. While its content isn't terribly deep, the Homespun Web is a good place for concerned parents to start.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Internet College Exchange
This is a resource primarily geared toward high school seniors and juniors who are trying to find a good college - although it would also be helpful for parents who are trying to nudge aging progeny out of the house.
The concept behind the site is solid, although content is sparse. It's certainly a page that's aching to grow. A snazzy search utility provides names of colleges based on entered criteria.
The best content on the site can be found in
The Dunce's Cap, an informative and irreverently written newsletter about college admissions.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Invention Dimension
Besides finding some crucial information I needed about the inventor of Bakelite (Leo Baekeland, known affectionately as the "Father of Plastics") this site offered little of interest. I expected to find profiles of wacky inventors and their crazy projects - you know, the inventions we laugh at today, but can't live without tomorrow. But no, the site just offers information on a few famous inventors, and links to invention information, plus winners of the prestigious Lemelson-MIT Prize.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Journal of Distance Education
Although only a Gopher site, the Journal of Distance Education is an example of some of the great, free resources available on the Internet. For this particular site, it helps if you have some kind of administrative or theoretical interest in distance education.
The journal is published twice a year, and covers a topic that is shifting into high-gear because the Internet is making long-distance learning a lot more practical.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
K12 World
If you are a K12 teacher with a fair amount of patience, amble on over to K12 World, a very tidy and useful site packed with Web resources of interest to you. You'll need patience because there are two top pages for each topic, and the download can be mighty slow. But once you're in, you'll find classroom goodies; (Internet) library information; funding sources; lesson plans; and more. Especially cool is Internet Live, a page of live camera links and exploration events geared to eager net students.
The Classroom area features several disciplines, so whether you teach science, journalism, or art, there are helpful links for you here.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Karen Wickre
Kaplan Educational Centers
Kaplan - famous for helping underachievers earn admission to their parents' swanky alma maters - has an extremely useful Web site. To be fair, there are plenty of people who chose educational paths to law and medicine a little late, and definitely benefited from Kaplan testing materials.
The site features summaries of the current climates for admission into professional college programs. Kaplan books and software can be purchased online, and a special feature section displays an offbeat sense of humor. Though a commercial site, Kaplan offers invaluable free resources for those interested in professional development.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Lattitude 28 Schoolhouse
Sponsored by OpenNet Technologies, Lattitude 28 is really just a page of links to educational resources by subject; that is, except for two sections devoted to the Internet in the classroom. While there is no mention of screening the links, a quick quality survey suggests that they are. Additionally, visitors to the page are invited to submit their favorite education urls. Links are organized by category, and there is also a listing of other schools on the Internet. Like most such sites, the links make it worth the bookmark, even if the page itself is nothing special.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
LearnWorld Welcome Page
LearnWorld is a great idea. Anybody who wants to can set up a course on a topic by outlining a series of texts to read, and including their own notes on their position on the topic. Anyone who would like to learn about the topic can use this as a course outline. Unfortunately, the LearnWorld pages focus too much on the list of texts, and don't have a structure for the course creator to guide the students through the texts.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Library Project: African-American Culture
The content here is a collection of essays about African-American Culture that cover ground from the slave trade to 20th century literature.
The essays were written by students of a class titled "General Education 101," and take the form of mini-book reports.
The site is really only useful as a reference for books about African-American Culture as the essays are too short to provide any substantive information. It also suffers from a poor use of Netscape Frames; the only way to get back to the table of contents is to reload the whole site.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Library of Congress
Amazing content. If you want to feel one with the democratic process, go here and peel through the Thomas legislative database. Read the actual text of the bills that you *think* you know something about.
There is also a great bibliography of published works that can be searched by title or name.
The library features exhibits on specific themes, such as women in World War II. And if that weren't enough, there's also a great image archive.
The main drawback is that the site isn't very intuitively organized; it does require some effort to locate points of interest.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
MOO, an Educational Tool
MOO in this case refers not to cows (although if you're one of those who just can't get enough of bovines, there are plenty of irrelevant cow pics here), but to MUD, Object Oriented, as in a type of multiuser environment.
The site is simply a list of links to papers, FAQs, and resource collections containing general information on MOOs, as well as discussions of their social and educational uses and connections to MOOs themselves.
The page was due for an update when I visited-several of the links weren't working-but if this is your particular interest, you'll probably find something you can use here.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Sandra Stewart
MayaQuest Ô96
MayaQuest began in 1995 as an attempt to merge hands-on exploration with online interactivity. A team of five people bicycled to ruins in Mexico and Central America, met with on-site archaeologists, and shared their experiences via the Web with over 1 million kids, teachers, and regular netizens. MayaQuest is intended to include and empower those who cannot physically participate in this adventure through chat, team updates, news, and the multimedia experience.
The site is Shocked for those who have Netscape or Internet Explorer, and a new expedition will begin in March, 1997.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Lauren Guzak
Media Literacy On-Line
Media Literacy is a movement to educate youth and adults about the media - how to use and maximize its benefits, and how to guard against its tricks.
The Web site is a stockpile collection of, you guessed it, media literacy-related information available online. While there isn't an extreme amount of original content filling up the bandwidth (nor will you find snazzy graphics or HTML 3.0 wizardry), it is outstanding as a collection of resource links in one convenient place. With smart organization and enough color to keep us from getting the "Netscape Gray" blues, this is a very valuable site.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Middle of Nowhere
Middle of Nowhere is an experiment by Professor Brad Cox in building a site with depth on the Web, something he claims is an impossible task. Various thematically oriented sets of articles in the warehouse section of this site seem to prove him wrong.
The themes focus on the Internet and current social issues.
The site also has the online portions of classes Professor Cox teaches, so the unenrolled can follow along at home.
The organization of the site leaves something to be desired.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Minnesota Preparatory Schools
You ever stop to wonder how many college prep schools could be found in Winona Minnesota? Probably not, eh? Well, this server connects Winona's three preparatory institutions and their offerings, giving profiles of each school, the student life there, course selection, etc.
There's even a resident dorm which provides housing for out-of-town students. If you're already prepared, collegiately speaking, link up to St. Mary's home page, a private Catholic University in, you guessed it, Winona, Minnesota.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
Mister Rogers Neighborhood
The comfortable, and awfully nice sweater-clad guy beckons us to sample some tasty bits from his long-running public TV show on this easy to use page. You'll find some of his wisdom (and suggested activities) about separation anxiety, competition, disabilities, and fears.
There are also lyrics to a number of Mr. R's songs ("Parents Were Little Once Too" is but one), and a bibliography of books the nice man recommends. From here, you can link to PBS program schedules, stations, and previews.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 7
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
Mr. Trockman's Earth Science
Sure, this may just be the humble Web page of a humble eighth grade earth science teacher in humble Minnesota, but without a doubt, one may safely say:
The Trock rocks! (all puns intended). Dan Trockman is obviously one wacky dude who knows how to make science fun. You'll find playful backgrounds of lava and snowflakes, as well as photos of volcanoes and blizzards (the Trock, in a flurry of photo-journalistic inspiration, even posted local Minnesota photos from last winter's arctic snow storms). All the levity is balanced with concise lecture notes for home-bound students. This is a model for using the Web to augment traditional curriculum.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
NCRVE Home Page
While
The National Center for Research in Vocational Education's (NCRVE) Web site could stand some good editing and a dose of spirit, it nevertheless provides useful information and progress reports on an alternative form of secondary education. Based at the University of California, the NCRVE Web site is linked to documents on the history and the future of vocational education, all organized like a standard high school report and about as interesting.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Nebraska Social Resource
For educators specializing in the social studies this service from the Nebraska Department of Education may prove useful, but despite it's claim that it is "just an example of what can be accomplished on the WWW," the page has a long way to go.
The only segment which strikes me as important is the one devoted to Teacher Resources and Programs, a listing of events, seminars, and services having to do with teaching the social sciences. Other content, such as the addresses of foreign embassies, is lackluster, at best, and available elsewhere.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
Nellie Mae Loan Link Resource for Student Loan Info
Nellie Mae runs a tight ship with no loose ends, and no extraneous information or pages. It's a very streamlined site - and this is not my ironic way of saying there's little content. You'll find a number of pages filled with very practical information about student loans, focusing on the student loans Nellie Mae specifically offers.
There is also a page on when to start applying for loans, and some brief explanations of the different kinds of loans. This site *could* be more in-depth.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
NetNoir Education
Following precedence set by the rest of NetNoir's Web space, it's no surprise that the education section of NetNoir.com is pleasant to look at with insightful content. This area hosts a wonderful archive of African folk tales, as they were told originally, with colorful artwork and an interesting weave of hyperlinks to connect them all. Also found are "classes online."
These classes have a mini lecture, recommended readings, and mention something about online discussions (though I couldn't find the discussion area.)
There's still room for improvement, but NetNoir's off to a nice start.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Shel Kimen
Nizhoni School for Global Consciousness
This is a one-page information board for a school located in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
There isn't much reason to go here unless you feel a strong need to attend classes that teach people to "follow their hearts to their purest source of intelligence, the Higher Self." That's about all the information this page offers, but there is a book you can order (offline) that will tell you more about this Navajo-inspired course of study.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
North Hagerstown High School
Get acquainted with students and teachers at this central Maryland high school, population 1,000. A modest effort, the site promotes net education and communication.
The ninth grade Prejudice Reduction Project, for example, invites classes and students to send essays, bios, and URLs "that will help gain a better understanding of the world around us."
There's also an Environmental E-Mail Project the lets readers report on environmental concerns "faced by your region or state." This could be a good resource for other teachers to use.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
PUBLIC TEACH IN
Missed New York's International Forum on Globalization last November? Well, you can still take a trip to its Internet audio archives, which has four speeches given at that event. Unfortunately, that's it!
There's no information about the teach-in itself or about the one coming up, nor are there links to groups and events with a similar weltanschauung. Make up for some of these lacks by visiting the site's parent directory, at http://www.peacenet.org/. Note: If you don't have the free RealAudio player, this site is completely pointless; download it at http://www.realaudio.com/.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Peterson's Education Center
Wow. It's not often that information resource companies give you full access to their material via the Web:
There's still no effective way to make money off of it. Peterson's does, however, providing a huge stock of info about schools, summer programs, and business management. As with most pages, this site is under continual construction; you'll frequently be greeted by a "We're sorry..." message. But the areas that *are* fully implemented - such as those with Graduate School information - are gorgeous, complete, and easy-to-use. Peterson's Education Center is a gem that will only get better - until you have to pay for it.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Pitsco Technology Education
You'd expect more than a scroll-it script and a "weird science" graphic to announce the site of a company claiming to be the "leader in innovative technology education." And what Pitsco's site lacks in the whiz-bang department, it doesn't make up for anywhere else. Judging from the quality of its hubristic copy, you'd think poor spelling and grammar were cutting-edge educational strategies.
The online version of its much-touted catalog provides descriptions of popular products like "Shuttle in Orbit Wall Mural," and "Tower Tester," as well as links to related sites, but this one needs work before it fulfills its own promises.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Ananda Nada
Princeton Review
The Princeton Review has gained a dedicated following by helping students exploit weaknesses in badly-designed standardized tests.
Their iconoclastic methods translate well in this Web site, where you'll find information about standardized tests, college entry requirements, and potential careers. While the content and technical presentation - including search engines
use "wiredbrain" which alphabetical indices - is first-rate, the scant graphics aren't, nor will you find all the information that's available in the books. But then, they have to get your money somehow, don't they?
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Princeton Review
High school juniors and seniors who simply *must* attend the best universities would do well to visit this site presented by the "nation's leader in test preparation." That's right:
The Princeton Review offers classes on preparing for standardized tests like the SAT, GRE, and MCAT, which will later get you into - guess what? - more classes. Study, study, study. Achieve, achieve, achieve. That's the Princeton way, but there's no disputing the Review's attraction if you aspire to a career in law, business, or medicine. A search engine eases navigation, but lengthy download times of frivolous graphics may leave you peeved.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
Princeton Review
High school juniors and seniors who simply *must* attend the best universities would do well to visit this site presented by the "nation's leader in test preparation." That's right: the Princeton Review offers classes on preparing for standardized tests like the SAT, GRE and MCAT, which will later get you into - guess what? - more classes. Study, study, study. Achieve, achieve, achieve. That's the Princeton way, but there's no disputing the Review's attraction if you aspire to a career in law, business or medicine. A search engine eases navigation, but lengthy download times of frivolous graphics may leave you peeved.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
RAND Institute on Education and Training
IET is part of Rand's, a non-profit public policy research organization, larger web site.
The site's purpose is to improve American's public policy through research and analysis, and to train policy analysts. IET provides links to summaries on more than 55 Rand research papers. Some topics covered include worldwide communications, economics, education, crime, NATO, housing, game theory, terrorism, and water resources. Full-text for some of these papers are free, others are not.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
SPAM
Norman, Oklahoma is the unlikely nexus for the Schools of the Pacific Atmospheric Monitoring project. From the mainland U.S. and Hawaii, all across the lonely atolls to New Zealand, monitoring stations have been set up at schools to collect data on rainfall, uv radiation, and the like, every fifteen minutes, twenty-four/seven/365. Back at mission central, the University of Oklahoma, all data is plotted and analyzed for the benefit of atmospheric science.
The Web project is lagging a little; interactive maps are mostly inoperative, with mock data only. Nevertheless, this is one of those sites that puts the worldwide in WWW; look for it to grow and improve.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
STUDIE'
It's so cute, with its rainbow colors, and to the point! Officially called School Teachers Using & Developing Internet Expertise or STUDIE' (pronounced Stoo'-dee-ay), the web site gives local educational information for the Alpine School District in Utah as well as general information for all educators seeking to learn about the Internet. STUDIE' provides links to HTML lessons, email emoticons and acronyms, and a growing list of educational hyperlinks. Links lead to sites on the core subjects, the arts, foreign language, health, government, religion, weather, shopping, newspapers and newsgroups.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
School House
It ain't Schoolhouse Rock (remember *Conjunction Junction*?), but it rocks nonetheless, with in-depth reviews of a full spectrum of educational software. I don't use the word in-depth lightly, either: screen shots and lengthy criticisms are offered for a growing list of titles that already includes somewhere around, ...let's see, one, two, three, ... a hundred titles. A sub page of the larger World Village site, this one should be bookmarked by any parents with school age kids and a CD-ROM drive.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
School Is Dead
Not only are kids rebelling against formalized schooling, their parents are, as well; and, as sites we've reviewed in the Blue Pages have shown, there are plenty of Web resources out there for those interested in home schooling. But what about "no-schoolers"? For both groups, Karl Bunday's site is a convincing (although ugly) collection of quotes and arguments emphasizing that the one who learns best schools least.
The points are presented as one heavily linked screed, making the site great for browsing, but it's hard to find specific information unless you use the index.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Stanford University Home Page
Stanford University was one of the first sites on the Internet. Though it's no longer a leader in Internet connectivity, its WWW pages show it's kept abreast of the net's dynamic changes.
The site's centerpiece is "Portfolio," which links Stanford's extensive but old-fashioned Gopher and FTP sites with a snazzy new Web interface - pretty clever! (This mixture of sources tends to make the content a bit uneven, however.) As with most university servers, there's a directory of student Web pages. Also find good links to info on getting around the South Bay/Silicon Valley area.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Stockholms Universitet
The info here is available in Swedish or English, an important first step for us monoglots. Unfortunately, in either language, the content is a little sparse.
The most involved page is the one dedicated to the university library, (with frames, an online card catalog, and navigational links to the rest of the site) but the menu gives no indication of this. It is a smashing piece of architecture, the Stockholm U *bibliotek*, but that in itself hardly sells the site to prospective students or visitors.
There are no under construction signs, but I have a feeling this site will improve.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
Sydney Lanier
The kids at Sidney Lanier are a lucky bunch, if this site is anything to go on.
The ubiquitous puppy icon aside (come on kids, let's mix it up a little bit), the activities featured in the Houston school's home page made me a little wistful for the days of field trips and science fairs. Some of the sub-pages need work: the Hyper-history of seventy year old Lanier left me wanting more links, and the /images, by and large, were of poor quality. Time to hit up the old PTA, maybe throw a bake-sale for scanners or put the principal in the dunk tank at a buck a shot.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
THE STUDY PLACE
A budding philosopher's mecca,
The Study Place is an online academic resource managed by the Institute for Learning Technologies of Columbia University.
The college's faculty and doctoral candidates provide good critiques of ancient and modern philosophy.
The site also includes links to brief biographies on ancient and modern philosophers including Aristotle, Dante, Descartes, et al.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Technology and Learning: A Planning and Implementation Resource
This is a guide for learning technology, taking readers from the goal setting and initial research stages to the implementation and revision for improvement stages. It is not light reading. It offers diagrams and provides information in an outline format.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Testprep.com
Too bad this resource wasn't around when I was suffering through SAT preparations. This is a truly useful site which provides a free SAT course. Diagnose your weak areas by taking a complete version of the SAT and then choose from 1000's of review lessons including answers and explanations. You can shop to order SAT guides at the Testprep Superstore or purchase the Stanford Studyguide software disk. But it's refreshing to see free information so readily offered in an area which has become an industry in itself.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
The Biosfera Project
The title project was undertaken by Carlos Solis, a professor at Rice University, to help train school teachers simultaneously in Spanish and Conservation Biology. This humble site describes the experimental program conducted in the Peten, a rainforest region of Guatemala.
There are essays by some of the participants, links to sites related to Meso-America, and a somewhat crude map of Guatemala. It would be nice to see this site expand and refine.
The map could be interactive, the pages made more attractive, etc. More importantly, there should be more emphasis on the people of the Peten.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
The Chronicle: Academe This Week
The Chronicle is the proverbial Bible for college-level teachers and administrators.
The Web page is well-organized, pointing you to news and resources on information technology, academic research, government programs and legislation, professional development, and more. But you must subscribe to the paper version ($75/year) to get Academe Today, the daily online features and links publication, (with a registration and password scheme that insures that no one else gets in.) If you are a Chronicle subscriber or are thinking about it, Academe Today is a definite plus. If not, this is just a nice brochure describing what's on paper.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The EdWeb Home Room
EdWeb comes off as uninspired. Most of the subject matter has to do with the use of technology in K12 education, which doesn't have to be such a dry subject.
The articles on EdWeb have some good statistics you can throw around at cocktail parties, but they're so buried by banal design and endless text that most people will fall asleep before reaching them. This site is probably best suited to parents who know nothing about the Internet and want to know whether it would be a good thing for their kids to learn to use.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
The Electric Library
EL is a hot idea that has a short way to go before it really catches fire.
The service conducts topical searches through the full text of some 150 newspapers and 900 magazines, as well as newswires, books, etc. It's a great way to get a roundup of reviews or articles on a topic that interests you. But after a two-week trial period, you'll have to pay $9.95 a month for the privilege; and the searches bring up articles randomly, not from newest to oldest or most mentions to least. With smarter search mechanisms and alternate pricing schemes (how about one month and three-month increments?), I'd say bookmark EL. Right now, it's worth a look.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The History Channel Classroom
If you're a teacher looking to incorporate more engaging material into your curriculum,
The History Channel Classroom is a good place to start.
There are resources to help teachers plan classroom discussions and research projects based on
The History Channel's shows, with a convenient Classroom Calendar for planning.
The network sponsors awards' programs are designed to support quality history education in America's schools; to wit, the History Channel Awards for National History Day honor the Best Senior Media Project and the Outstanding Contribution in History Education. A very good site, even if it does smack of self-promotion.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Lauren Guzak
The MIT Home Page
To me, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will always be known primarily for the witty pranks of technically minded students, but you'll have to dig hard to find that info here (try http://fishwrap.mit.edu/Hacks/Gallery.htm instead). You will find just about everything else about MIT. For a bunch of geeks, though, it's rather pedestrian: no image maps or search engines
use "wiredbrain" worth mentioning, cryptic icons, and mostly just text. Be sure to check out the "fun stuff" area, which includes tips for hacking the campus security cards. Cool! Let's get user-friendly, folks!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The Riggs Institute
The Instiute is a non-profit corporation in Beaverton, Oregon specializing in literacy issues. And if the blurbs cited here are any indication, it is well-regarded by both educators and policy makers. That aside, the presentation here whiffed a bit of fakery and snake oil. All the explanation points and relentless pitching make me wary. I'm not saying it's a fraud, by any means -- I wouldn't know. It just comes off that way. You can judge for yourself.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
The Student Guide 1995-96
For most students, the most difficult hurdle of higher education isn't the course work - it's finding the money to pay for it. A lot of college funding ultimately comes from the federal government in the form of loans and grants. But how can you learn more about financial aid? That's where
The Student Guide comes in. Released each year by the Department of Education, it tells you how to qualify, whom to contact, and how you can expect to repay the loans. This web site is really just a more "browsable" form of a 126K document, which is also available for downloading. Regardless of how you view
The Student Guide, every prospective college student should check it out.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The University of Michigan
The University of Michigan has long been famous in the Internet community for its vast file archive site (find more info about this by going to http://www.umich.edu/~archive/). But there's more to U. Michigan than free software. Like, a top-ranked university!
The site gives the usual information about its academic programs and such, beautifully linked and annotated via search engines
use "wiredbrain", tables of contents, and clickable image maps. One coincidence makes the site aesthetically pleasing: U.M.'s logo blue matches the "unfollowed link" blue in Netscape's browser. Not to mention my eyes.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
The World Lecture Hall
This is the ultimate Web resource for the independent student. Providing links to online course materials posted by universities all over America in subjects ranging from "accounting" to "zoology," the site lets students interested in self-study but not in relying on local college schedules get guidance on just about anything. Of course, lab work will be kind of difficult for the science courses, unless you happen to have a particularly well-equipped kitchen.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Theatre Education Literature Review
Theatre... is a home page of 59 theater-educational questions or topics with links to their brief answers or explanations, including footnotes. Simple. Kent Seidel, of the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program of the University of Cincinnati, asks questions, such as "Why study theatre?," or introduces topics, such as "
Theatre for at-risk students," as the points relate to scholars' views of theater's positive effect in education.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
This is Mega-Mathematics
Number news and notes from our friends at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. But rather than bog us down with odd symbols and complicated formulas, Mega-Mathematics throws down visual problems, twisted games, and strange anecdotes to teach the rules of logic, graphing, and other mind-bending mathematics. Beautifully-designed and organized so you can go as deep as you want into each subject or lose yourself entirely in this seemingly infinite collection. Infinite? What does that really mean? Look here to find out. Allegedly the site is geared for elementary school children, but I learned more than a few things.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: David Pescovitz
Thomas Edison State College
What home-schooling does for the under+18 crowd, "distance learning" colleges like Thomas Edison State do for those seeking higher educational degrees. According to the college's Web site, "students in any state or nation can earn credit for college-level knowledge acquired outside the classroom." It's a pity the college hasn't done more with its Web pages: considering how far-flung the students must be, the potential for Internet-based instruction is tremendous. Indeed, the site isn't nearly as deep or interesting as many other colleges', and the occasional misdirected link mars the experience.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Truth, Lies, Rumors, and Rumbles
"As the Board Churns" is the subtitle of this text-based saga, about the tensions between teachers, parents, and citizen-players with various agendas in a southern New Jersey school district. Our "netitor" is Abe Wolinsky, a technology teacher who decided to publish Web reports on the community squabbles. All the details may not interest you, but this will: the original arguments (about building a new high school vs. saving money, and a subsequent teachers' contract) were quickly eclipsed by new crossfire because Abe put the story on the on the Web. You can even join in via e-mail if you'd like.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
U.S. Civil War Center
From Louisiana State University comes this ambitious, if somewhat dull, page devoted to collecting and making available every scrap of information concerning the nation's costliest war. Scholars and students will of course find the site helpful in researching the conflict, and genealogists will appreciate the short tutorial on researching individuals from the era. Like most link-driven sites, it's all very straightforward, and a little bit daunting.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
UC Berkeley Home Page
In a region known for compromise and reason, the University of California at Berkeley's Web pages are elegantly reasoned and make compromises so they're both user-friendly and fast.
The contents can be access via nicely arranged text choices rather than by image maps, so the site is as useful to someone on a Unix box as on a Mac.
The content is deep and varied, from the Naval Architecture school to the click-to-zoom-in campus map. If you're into general Web search engines
use "wiredbrain", be sure to add Berkeley's "Inktomi" (http://inktomi.berkeley.edu/) to your list.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
UK Lifelong Learning
The Brits seem to have a ministry for everything, with sub-ministries and rooms full of clerks endlessly shuffling papers. Well, some of the clerks have turned in their green eyeshades for PC's at the Department for Education and Employment, Individual Commitment Division. (Yes, that's really its name, bureaucratic lex for "the state wishes you to stay in school and stop being a worthless git.") While the site is extensive, it suffers from a bone-dry officialdom that subverts the intended message: Learning is fun.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
UT Austin Web Central
Austin can be considered the birthplace of the "slacker" archetype: a center for high-tech companies, one of the few progressive cities in Texas... and, rumor has it, there's a university down there, too. Well blow me down. UT is a gargantuan university, and its WWW presence reflects its size.
The site's internal search engine bears this out: A search for the word "racquetball" returned 17 references, mostly on students' personal pages. Altogether, there are more than 25,000 web pages on 170 servers (so they say, anyway), including everything you ever wanted to know about UT. Beware the badly designed image maps.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
OK, Web users, lets collectively bow in the direction of UIUC, host to the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Without the bright boys and girls at NCSA, the Web would not be what it is today. Sadly, I can't say if that's a good thing or bad thing. But for a site of such distinction, UIUC lacks wild HTML tricks. It *is* big and fast, however, and provides so much information, you could spend a few days just finding your way around. You'll find complete college catalog-type information, plus the university's library site.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
University of Washington
I did some time at this institution, so I come to this site occasionally just to see what the weather's doing back home.
The UW site, however, is far more impressive than the inevitably dreary image from the view cam. A big campus, the "U Dub" is a city in its own right, and the magnitude of this site reflects that fact. Links connect to all the various departments, to campus radio, to student and faculty directories, campus publications, museums, ...there's even a virtual tour of the medicinal herb garden. Anyone interested in the U -- especially anyone considering enrollment -- should come here first. And pay special attention to that weather.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Patrick Joseph
University of the Phillipines
This is a pretty generous site, with superfluous but interesting material like photos of the Manila campus circa 1933. Most of the information is in English although some segments, like the news briefs, are in Tagalog. Interested in enrolling? U.S. students need a minimum combined SAT of 1200, though exceptions are apparently made on occasion for "mature" students. Visually, the site is a bit dull (
The Webmaster apologizes for a busted color scanner), but the info is all here and straightforward.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
Urban Education Web
Learning about learning: that's what the Urban Education Web is about. It's part of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), a well-known and highly-respected database of studies on education. It, in turn, is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. All these layers of support point to two attributes of this Web site: it's densely academic, and it's excellently supported. Here, you'll not only find out if the government has published information about gangs in the schools, you'll probably find the monographs themselves, hyperlinked internally and with other documents. I don't know what poor souls are sitting in a windowless office doing all this, but they deserve to be thanked.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
VLC.Homepage
The Village Learning Center bills itself as a new type of school that will "preserve and nurture the yearning for learning that everyone is born with." This doesn't explain why it became an online school, but the lack of accreditation might have something to do with it. A mere $1,195 buys a semester of work at home - e-mail assignments in course work for the seventh to ninth grade set. Use at your own risk.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Washington Gifted School of Communication
Can we talk adorable for a moment? This site is absolutely fun fun fun by way of enchanting graphics. Unfortunately, there isn't really much of interest otherwise, unless you're already involved with the school.
The schedule of events, mission statement, and student bios are well done and seem helpful enough, but it's missing the original content that makes a site interesting and worth repeated visits. I say, post the student artwork and stories, and up the ante a bit! After all, it's a site for a school of communication whose students are gifted.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Washington University in St Louis
Washington University's Web pages have a clean, crisp organization and some useful features lacking at some of the larger sites. Want to check your e-mail? Click here. Want to do an Infoseek search without leaving university property? No problem. Add a bit of surreality to your visit by clicking on the "What's This?" button, which leads to a page of basic information about using the Web, site statistics, etc. So, even if they've never been to W.U., first-time users are already getting an education. Still, this handsome site lacks the content depth found at some other universities.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Web 66
The mission of Web 66 is to provide resources to help K12 schools get on the Web. This may seem a questionable goal with all the hype about whether the Internet is a safe place for kids, but the Web master clears that right up by quoting headlines in his personal rants section that indicate how much more dangerous the outside world is for kids. Web 66 has instructions for educators to set up Web servers, and a very impressive list of K12 schools from around the world that are online.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Welcome to CNU ONLINE
Christopher Newport University, located in Virginia, is trying to push the envelope of modern education practice by offering a substantive number of classes online. It's even offering a degree in governmental administration through online course work. Unfortunately, the Web site is just a front for a Telnet gateway, and at least one of the Telnet addresses given on the Web site is wrong, which made it impossible to get course information.
The Telnet gateway that I could get to run was so slow, it could turn a four-year degree into a six-year degree.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Whales
Whales (and dinosaurs) intrigue kids everywhere, and some industrious teachers in Virginia have tapped into that phenomenon here, where all lessons originate from and revolve around the same subject: whales. Lesson plans range from math word problems involving whales, to the history of whaling, and whale literature. From humpbacks to blues, baleen to toothed, all young marine mammal enthusiasts, parents and teachers will like this one. It's a simple, yet creative example of educational possibilities on the Web. Hopefully, with time, the creators will add more sound and /images, and bring the standards up to match the content.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
Whole Frog
The Whole Frog Project offers an online alternative to a classic high school biology experience: dissecting a frog. Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley Labs use high-resolution MRI /images and sophisticated 3D rendering software to create a virtual amphibian whose parts can be viewed at a variety of depths and angles.
The site is jam packed with information about both the biological and technological details of the project. It also includes study guidelines to help teachers create engaging lesson plans (which combine physical and computer sciences). Best of all, the Whole Frog Project is completely free of scalpel hazards and the queer smell of formaldehyde.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
Worcester Polytechnic
Most online education fails because it tries to transplant subjects to the screen that are best-suited for the classroom. But Professor Cyganski's class at Worcester Polytechnic Institute has an edge of relevance here, as it's all about telecommunications transmission technologies. Since I'm not an electrical engineer, most of the highly-technical content of this site eluded me, but its basic "learning is as learning does" mission comes through loud and clear: Engineers should not be afraid of their tools. Or, as the prof says, "This course is not for WIMPs (Whining Internet/Multi-media Phobes)." Some of the meatier areas of the site are available only to WPI accounts, alas.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Word Page
Well, let's award Word Page an "E" for effort - although I don't know how to factor an "E" into a GPA.
The purpose of this site is to help people learn 10 new words a week - an admirable enterprise. Unfortunately, it doesn't help if you already know the words the site's editor happened to pick. Also, the definitions provided are a little weak, consisting of a short phrase or sentence. It wouldn't take much effort, and certainly not much space, to include full dictionary definitions. And, finally, the misspellings littered throughout the site aren't going to impress any educators out there.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
World Association for Family and Education WAFE
WAFE's Web site is primarily a resource for the group to disseminate information on its conferences. Because WAFE is international, the Internet is probably a pretty good medium for it, saving substantial amounts of money on printing and mailing costs. WAFE's mission statement, which is published on the site, is a little bit spacy, and seems pretty narrow-minded with its emphasis that "Marriage, the only proper context for full expression of the love between one man and one woman, is the rock upon which the family rests."
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
World Education Exchange
World Education Exchange, a graduate student project, bills itself as a site that "explores the world of reform and information technology." It's a lofty description for a site which is little more than a repository of links (albeit interesting ones) on virtual education and Internet resources for teachers and kids. I suppose it's useful for someone to have done the research for you, but without a single shred of commentary or analysis, it feels like someone trying to profit from other people's work. After all, aren't Yahoo!, Lycos, and all the other search engines
use "wiredbrain" out there, for the purpose of categorizing and cataloguing information on the Internet?
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Rachel Saidman
World Game Institute
Despite its playful-sounding title, the World Game Institute is no joke. Inspired by noted scientist and social philosopher Buckminster Fuller, the Institute was founded to "provide the perspective and information needed to solve the critical problems facing global society,"
The site probes all these problems (famine, disease, overpopulation, deforestation and more) with incisive, well-documented research and data. Even skittery surfers should stop to check out the "What the World Wants (and how to pay for it)" chart. It's a powerful representation of the mixed-up priorities in our military-minded global economy.
The institute also conducts workshops and conferences in the corporate and educational communities.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
Yale University World Wide Web Front Door
The Yale University site is everything the Harvard site isn't. Just kidding! Though, quite honestly, Yale's Web set-up beats its historical nemesis'. At the top level are listings for P.R. information, search engines
use "wiredbrain", maps, academic department pages, student activities... Lots of stuff here. Thank god it's so well-organized! Running a search shows just how much there is: the word "racquetball" returned 10 pages, including news of the sports team, a description of the athletic facilities, and someone's experiments with the Connectix QuickCam, a video input device "about the size of a racquetball." Pretty good search engine, that!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
eWorld Learning Community
The eWorld Learning Community has gathered an impressive set of quality links under categories such as News Rack, Apple Education Resource, Museum, and School House. Unfortunately, links are pretty much all this site has to offer. It's a misnomer for eWorld to claim that this is its Learning Community.
The links belong to the Internet; the site should be called the Internet Learning Community. But enough on semantics.
The design is tasteful, but , save a search engine, there are no cool technical devices to add any pizzazz to this site.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Rachel Saidman
College Edge
The problem? Schools are listed in purple letters on a purplish background. Readable, but barely.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
College Money Matters
I know it's crass to speak of education in strictly financial terms, but sooner or later you got to admit: It all comes down to money.
There's no guarantee that a college degree improves your financial worth, but one thing's for certain: You have to ante up just to get in the game. This site from Signet Bank provides a pretty extensive overview of the whole higher education money game. Especially useful is the book *Don't Miss Out:
The Ambitious Student's Guide to Financial Aid* , which lays out the basics of finding funding and planning your finances over the long haul. Not only is the entire text presented online here (read "free"), but it's updated for to coincide with the coming academic year. You can browse the chapter contents quickly, gleaning the information you need and disregarding the rest. Simple as that; no outdated book left moldering on the shelf, no trees sacrificed to your momentary needs, just the info you need now, on your monitor. Of course, this being a corporate site as well, the bank has its own interests. Electronic forms are provided for ordering student loan applications and the like; there is no pressure to do so however.
The biggest benefit for Signet is probably just the good reputation the largess garners, not to mention the dollars the publicity could mean farther down the road. A square enough deal, seems to me. Also useful to the college hopeful is the Financial Aid Time Line, which gives a prescribed chronology for securing tuition dollars, a concise budgeting worksheet , some tips on managing your cash flow, and a brief tutorial on building credit (tread carefully over that one, kids). When you've exhausted the resources here, there's a page of associated links to keep your surfing on track.
There'll be plenty of time for distraction when you're basking in the cool shade of the ivory tower.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Patrick Joseph
College Money Matters
While many "informational" sites sponsored by corporations are just slightly veiled marketing attempts, Signet Bank should be applauded for their soft sell approach on this guide to funding a college education.
There are Signet Bank loan applications and information, but a lot of the content (which mostly seems lifted from printed guides) does not bear Signet's stamp. One of the best resources here is "Don't Miss Out, A Student's Guide to Financial Aid." A good portion this book is available online.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Collegiate Choice Walking Tours
There's not a frill in sight here, just a good idea presented plainly and honestly. Collegiate Choice Walking Tours is a collection of videotaped student-guided tours of more than 300 college and university campuses.
The developers, a group of independent college advisors, are quick to point out that these tapes are not professionally produced, but, they say with admirable restraint, the student guides are "perhaps a bit more fourthright than some admissions and marketing departments." In addition to a list of schools visited and ordering information, the site provides a helpful tip sheet for prospective students who plan to make in-person visits.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Sandra Stewart
CyberEd
We'll be seeing a growing number of "cyberclasses" soon, essentially extension courses that lend themselves to online study. A small southern campus of the University of Massachusetts now offers a few grad and undergrad classes - composition and technical writing, American politics, and astronomy - as well as a non-credit Web page design class. You register online, pay for the class, and then do the reading, studying, practicing on your own. This no-frills site is an indicator of what's to come; a trend other small or remote campuses will plug into soon.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
CyberLearning Center
This core project of the non-profit National Education Foundation sets out to distribute educational software, promote motivational techniques, offer online courses, and spread the word about tennis star Monica Seles. Huh? What's she doing here? Information about Ms. Seles (whom USA2100's President claims to have mentored) is, unfortunately, the most complete part of this site, which seems to be the home page for a computer-equipped private school in the D.C. area.
The online courses aren't up, nor is the software area. So what makes this school a "CyberLearning Center"? Beats me.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Distance Learning Laboratory (DLL)
This site is part of a project to get historically black high schools and universities online with distance learning programs.
The DLL wants to teach educators how to get online, set up Web servers, archive curriculum and so on. Good idea! Unfortunately, you have to call DLL or register online for the seminars and workshops in order to actually learn something.
The site is merely an informational pamphlet. Perhaps DLL staff might consider practicing what they preach, and offer the seminars online.
Content: 5
*
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Doty's Education Page
There are two extremes in WWW catalogs: huge lists of links with no commentary (ˆ la Webcrawler) and annotated lists with too few links (ˆ la most personal pages). Educator, Robert Doty, has found the middle ground in this site, a page dedicated to education links (separated by grade-school subject) with some original content, i.e. articles he's written on education and technology.
There are a few minor technical problems: no "back to home page" buttons, for instance. Still, not bad for someone who says he got into public education for the free Internet access!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Educaid Online
A lot of places offer general information on college entry requirements and government student loan programs. But where do you go to actually get the money you need? Educaid is one such place. With FAQs, quizzes, application forms, as well as background information on the company and the loans they offer, this site is the epitome of a corporate "advertising" entity. As such, there are no external links, which is disturbing. (Are they afraid you'll get information elsewhere?) Colorful image maps dress up every page, making the site attractive but slow.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Education Place
Created by Houghton Mifflin, the Education Place is packed with fine activities for grammar school students, plus ideas for teachers and advice for parents on helping kids learn. But to my mind the site's most delightful feature is its update of Mad Libs, called Wacky Web Tales.
These things will always be funny-what else produces phrases like "After handing our toes to Leonardo Da Vinci at the door ,"? Enjoy them with your friends and family. Other games help kids hone their skills in science and math, and the Project Center gives teachers access to online projects as well as non-Internet-based classroom activities.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Sandra Stewart
Elementary Spanish Curriculum
Are you looking for an online source for Spanish language instruction? Well, you won't find it here. Instead, educator Leslie Veen outlines her method of teaching Spanish to elementary- and middle school-age children.
The one-page document includes goals for grammar, vocabulary, and cultural understanding, from the point of view of the teacher. It's not that this site is badly done - the curriculum is as good as anything you'll get from your local high-school teacher. But that's all there is to it, and, as such, it's of limited interest.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
Environmental Education Network
A satellite of the larger *Envirolink* page, the links here are of exceptional value to anyone interested in applying online tools to the study of the earth sciences.
The index is divided into two main branches: one for student resources and another for educators. Umbrella pages, of course, are only as good as the pages they point to, but both of these seemed excellent, linking me to some of the most substantive destinations on the Web. Green politics flavor many of the pages, to be sure, but can you separate them from the issues? Anyone concerned for the planet should bookmark this site and -- what's more -- utilize it.
Content: NULL
Aesthetic: NULL
TechnoSmart: NULL
Author: Patrick Joseph
Ethnologue Database
One of my favorite books is *Languages of the World*, by the genius lexicographer Kenneth Katzman. It includes information on several hundred of the world's 6,500 languages, with - and this is the good part - examples of each.
The Ethnologue Database is a similar project, minus the examples. On this web site, the world's languages are cataloged according to name, linguistic family, and region in which they are spoken. Despite the shallowness of information on individual languages and some inaccuracies, the Ethnologue Database belongs on every linguist's hotlist.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Exploratorium Exploranet
Leave it to the Exploratorium, San Francisco's renowned interactive science exhibit, to come up with a site as informative and creative as Exploranet. Surf through hundreds of cool science links, check out the science behind the news in
The Why Files, follow along with the onscreen tutorial of a cow's eye dissection (one of the Exploratorium's most popular exhibits), or take on any number of show-stopping brain puzzlers, niftily reconfigured for the Web.
There are dozens of do-this-at-home recipes to help you recreate Exploratorium fun at home.
There is a lot here, so give yourself plenty of time investigate.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Emily Soares
Explores! World Headquarters
Explores! World Headquarters, the Weather Channel watcher's Internet alternative, was developed by two meteorology professors at Florida State University as a resource for kids with an interest in the space and earth sciences. Want to know what the weather's like in Scranton? Precipitation estimate for anywhere in the U.S.? Tracking Hurricanes strike your fancy? This site exemplifies the enormous, almost overwhelming, amount of information available on the Internet (300 links on U.S. weather alone) and would be best viewed with an experienced meteorologist on hand to explain the more arcane concepts.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Rachel Saidman
Family Education Network
FEN is one part of the highly esteemed Education Publishing Group's multimedia strategy for helping parents and children prepare themselves for an increasingly competitive world. This is a thoughtful, technologically literate and exceptionally well-designed site featuring articles by Ivy League educators; topics range from browsing the web with your kids to managing your teenager's finances, and balancing your career with your family life. A superb BBS points you to numerous concurrent discussions, and a section on exceptional parents tells the stories of families that endure grave or uncommon situations, and enables them to find their peers around the world.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Ananda Nada
FishNet
The lover of low puns who named FishNet didn't do it justice-this is a meaty site, rich in resources for high-achieving, college-bound teens.
The extensive College Guide has a few weaknesses, but makes up for them with great features such as Dear Admissions Guru, an advice column written by admissions officers. Edge e-zine is substantive but not eggheadish, and KnowBase lets users find online articles on a range of topics. Even if higher education is only a dim memory, FishNet is worth a visit for Street Speak, a user-compiled dictionary of slang that will help you sound hip again-or at least understand what the kids are saying.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Sandra Stewart
General Organic and Biochemistry
There are lots of Web sites designed to supplement college courses, but most of them fall just short of the mark. Not this site! Designed to supplement the textbook "Chemistry for Today," it includes dozens of concise and illustrative slides the professor used to compliment his lectures - and his use of frames in presenting the material is inspired. He even includes a summary and form-based test! Visit his other classes via
The Virtual Classroom at http://odin.chemistry.uakron.edu/classroom.htm. And don't miss his "favorite excuses from students" page at http://odin.chemistry.uakron.edu/excuses/.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Global Online Adventure Learning Site
John Oman, a sailing adventurer, left the port of Seattle in November 1995 with the hopes of sailing around the world in 150 days via his 60-foot yacht. He may be alone at sea, but we've been invited to follow along via this Wev site: Read his logs, check the current sailing conditions in his location, see pictures he's taken, and even consult maps indicating his position. As a result, we get a superb background in the nautical sciences. His isn't the only travelogue on the Web, but it's one of the most "realistic," with hard data augmenting his lyrical notes. This site is a must for all would-be seafarers.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Harvard Business School
Straight forward information about Harvard Business School, including admissions, curriculum, research projects, and alumni. Check out the HBS Publishing page to peruse the 6,000 books, videos, and multimedia programs available for order.
The site is a gateway to a number of HBS resources such as the Baker Library online catalogue, but you need to be a Harvard student to use it. In the shocked version the university shield rotates in 3-D, which as about as exciting as this page gets. But then, how much fun is business school?
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
Harvard University WWW Home Page
At first, the Harvard University site looks pretty drab: a few choices linking you to ugly, text-only Gopher sites, phone numbers, historical information, rah rah rah. But underneath some of those links are profound pools. Take a gander at the map of Harvard, for example, which zooms in on any building in the university's expansive campus. Similarly, there's gold under some other links, including admissions and registration information. And Harvard's not too proud to include several links to one of its local competitors, M.I.T., in its "resources."
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Home-Ed-Kids
So, you think you're going to find treatises on the advantages of home schooling at this site? Not on your noodle. This page is dedicated to the kids themselves. It is an area for home-schooled youths to meet and interact, just as their public school friends interact on physical playgrounds. Much of the site is developed by preteens.
The content is uneven, but when it is good, it soars - and the technical sophistication is astounding (chat rooms, bulletin boards, image maps, and search engines
use "wiredbrain" all play a part.). Get bowled over by incredible depths of information by visiting the parent directories as well.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Homespun Web of Home Educational Resources
Homeschooling - do-it-yourself education, if you will - is how a select few parents gain more control of their kids' education. This site is a clearinghouse on that subject, with special emphasis on archival data like FAQs, newsgroups, and lists of contact people. While a high percentage of homeschooling proponents teach their kids at home for religious reasons, the site is mostly unbiased on such matters. It *is* heavily Texas-oriented, though, as that state seems to have the most active homeschooling movement. While its content isn't terribly deep, the Homespun Web is a good place for concerned parents to start.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Internet College Exchange
This is a resource primarily geared toward high school seniors and juniors who are trying to find a good college - although it would also be helpful for parents who are trying to nudge aging progeny out of the house.
The concept behind the site is solid, although content is sparse. It's certainly a page that's aching to grow. A snazzy search utility provides names of colleges based on entered criteria.
The best content on the site can be found in
The Dunce's Cap, an informative and irreverently written newsletter about college admissions.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Invention Dimension
Besides finding some crucial information I needed about the inventor of Bakelite (Leo Baekeland, known affectionately as the "Father of Plastics") this site offered little of interest. I expected to find profiles of wacky inventors and their crazy projects - you know, the inventions we laugh at today, but can't live without tomorrow. But no, the site just offers information on a few famous inventors, and links to invention information, plus winners of the prestigious Lemelson-MIT Prize.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Journal of Distance Education
Although only a Gopher site, the Journal of Distance Education is an example of some of the great, free resources available on the Internet. For this particular site, it helps if you have some kind of administrative or theoretical interest in distance education.
The journal is published twice a year, and covers a topic that is shifting into high-gear because the Internet is making long-distance learning a lot more practical.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
K12 World
If you are a K12 teacher with a fair amount of patience, amble on over to K12 World, a very tidy and useful site packed with Web resources of interest to you. You'll need patience because there are two top pages for each topic, and the download can be mighty slow. But once you're in, you'll find classroom goodies; (Internet) library information; funding sources; lesson plans; and more. Especially cool is Internet Live, a page of live camera links and exploration events geared to eager net students.
The Classroom area features several disciplines, so whether you teach science, journalism, or art, there are helpful links for you here.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Karen Wickre
Kaplan Educational Centers
Kaplan - famous for helping underachievers earn admission to their parents' swanky alma maters - has an extremely useful Web site. To be fair, there are plenty of people who chose educational paths to law and medicine a little late, and definitely benefited from Kaplan testing materials.
The site features summaries of the current climates for admission into professional college programs. Kaplan books and software can be purchased online, and a special feature section displays an offbeat sense of humor. Though a commercial site, Kaplan offers invaluable free resources for those interested in professional development.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Lattitude 28 Schoolhouse
Sponsored by OpenNet Technologies, Lattitude 28 is really just a page of links to educational resources by subject; that is, except for two sections devoted to the Internet in the classroom. While there is no mention of screening the links, a quick quality survey suggests that they are. Additionally, visitors to the page are invited to submit their favorite education urls. Links are organized by category, and there is also a listing of other schools on the Internet. Like most such sites, the links make it worth the bookmark, even if the page itself is nothing special.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
LearnWorld Welcome Page
LearnWorld is a great idea. Anybody who wants to can set up a course on a topic by outlining a series of texts to read, and including their own notes on their position on the topic. Anyone who would like to learn about the topic can use this as a course outline. Unfortunately, the LearnWorld pages focus too much on the list of texts, and don't have a structure for the course creator to guide the students through the texts.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Library Project: African-American Culture
The content here is a collection of essays about African-American Culture that cover ground from the slave trade to 20th century literature.
The essays were written by students of a class titled "General Education 101," and take the form of mini-book reports.
The site is really only useful as a reference for books about African-American Culture as the essays are too short to provide any substantive information. It also suffers from a poor use of Netscape Frames; the only way to get back to the table of contents is to reload the whole site.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Library of Congress
Amazing content. If you want to feel one with the democratic process, go here and peel through the Thomas legislative database. Read the actual text of the bills that you *think* you know something about.
There is also a great bibliography of published works that can be searched by title or name.
The library features exhibits on specific themes, such as women in World War II. And if that weren't enough, there's also a great image archive.
The main drawback is that the site isn't very intuitively organized; it does require some effort to locate points of interest.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
MOO, an Educational Tool
MOO in this case refers not to cows (although if you're one of those who just can't get enough of bovines, there are plenty of irrelevant cow pics here), but to MUD, Object Oriented, as in a type of multiuser environment.
The site is simply a list of links to papers, FAQs, and resource collections containing general information on MOOs, as well as discussions of their social and educational uses and connections to MOOs themselves.
The page was due for an update when I visited-several of the links weren't working-but if this is your particular interest, you'll probably find something you can use here.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Sandra Stewart
MayaQuest Ô96
MayaQuest began in 1995 as an attempt to merge hands-on exploration with online interactivity. A team of five people bicycled to ruins in Mexico and Central America, met with on-site archaeologists, and shared their experiences via the Web with over 1 million kids, teachers, and regular netizens. MayaQuest is intended to include and empower those who cannot physically participate in this adventure through chat, team updates, news, and the multimedia experience.
The site is Shocked for those who have Netscape or Internet Explorer, and a new expedition will begin in March, 1997.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Lauren Guzak
Media Literacy On-Line
Media Literacy is a movement to educate youth and adults about the media - how to use and maximize its benefits, and how to guard against its tricks.
The Web site is a stockpile collection of, you guessed it, media literacy-related information available online. While there isn't an extreme amount of original content filling up the bandwidth (nor will you find snazzy graphics or HTML 3.0 wizardry), it is outstanding as a collection of resource links in one convenient place. With smart organization and enough color to keep us from getting the "Netscape Gray" blues, this is a very valuable site.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Middle of Nowhere
Middle of Nowhere is an experiment by Professor Brad Cox in building a site with depth on the Web, something he claims is an impossible task. Various thematically oriented sets of articles in the warehouse section of this site seem to prove him wrong.
The themes focus on the Internet and current social issues.
The site also has the online portions of classes Professor Cox teaches, so the unenrolled can follow along at home.
The organization of the site leaves something to be desired.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Minnesota Preparatory Schools
You ever stop to wonder how many college prep schools could be found in Winona Minnesota? Probably not, eh? Well, this server connects Winona's three preparatory institutions and their offerings, giving profiles of each school, the student life there, course selection, etc.
There's even a resident dorm which provides housing for out-of-town students. If you're already prepared, collegiately speaking, link up to St. Mary's home page, a private Catholic University in, you guessed it, Winona, Minnesota.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
Mister Rogers Neighborhood
The comfortable, and awfully nice sweater-clad guy beckons us to sample some tasty bits from his long-running public TV show on this easy to use page. You'll find some of his wisdom (and suggested activities) about separation anxiety, competition, disabilities, and fears.
There are also lyrics to a number of Mr. R's songs ("Parents Were Little Once Too" is but one), and a bibliography of books the nice man recommends. From here, you can link to PBS program schedules, stations, and previews.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 7
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
Mr. Trockman's Earth Science
Sure, this may just be the humble Web page of a humble eighth grade earth science teacher in humble Minnesota, but without a doubt, one may safely say:
The Trock rocks! (all puns intended). Dan Trockman is obviously one wacky dude who knows how to make science fun. You'll find playful backgrounds of lava and snowflakes, as well as photos of volcanoes and blizzards (the Trock, in a flurry of photo-journalistic inspiration, even posted local Minnesota photos from last winter's arctic snow storms). All the levity is balanced with concise lecture notes for home-bound students. This is a model for using the Web to augment traditional curriculum.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
NCRVE Home Page
While
The National Center for Research in Vocational Education's (NCRVE) Web site could stand some good editing and a dose of spirit, it nevertheless provides useful information and progress reports on an alternative form of secondary education. Based at the University of California, the NCRVE Web site is linked to documents on the history and the future of vocational education, all organized like a standard high school report and about as interesting.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Nebraska Social Resource
For educators specializing in the social studies this service from the Nebraska Department of Education may prove useful, but despite it's claim that it is "just an example of what can be accomplished on the WWW," the page has a long way to go.
The only segment which strikes me as important is the one devoted to Teacher Resources and Programs, a listing of events, seminars, and services having to do with teaching the social sciences. Other content, such as the addresses of foreign embassies, is lackluster, at best, and available elsewhere.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
Nellie Mae Loan Link Resource for Student Loan Info
Nellie Mae runs a tight ship with no loose ends, and no extraneous information or pages. It's a very streamlined site - and this is not my ironic way of saying there's little content. You'll find a number of pages filled with very practical information about student loans, focusing on the student loans Nellie Mae specifically offers.
There is also a page on when to start applying for loans, and some brief explanations of the different kinds of loans. This site *could* be more in-depth.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
NetNoir Education
Following precedence set by the rest of NetNoir's Web space, it's no surprise that the education section of NetNoir.com is pleasant to look at with insightful content. This area hosts a wonderful archive of African folk tales, as they were told originally, with colorful artwork and an interesting weave of hyperlinks to connect them all. Also found are "classes online."
These classes have a mini lecture, recommended readings, and mention something about online discussions (though I couldn't find the discussion area.)
There's still room for improvement, but NetNoir's off to a nice start.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Shel Kimen
Nizhoni School for Global Consciousness
This is a one-page information board for a school located in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
There isn't much reason to go here unless you feel a strong need to attend classes that teach people to "follow their hearts to their purest source of intelligence, the Higher Self." That's about all the information this page offers, but there is a book you can order (offline) that will tell you more about this Navajo-inspired course of study.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
North Hagerstown High School
Get acquainted with students and teachers at this central Maryland high school, population 1,000. A modest effort, the site promotes net education and communication.
The ninth grade Prejudice Reduction Project, for example, invites classes and students to send essays, bios, and URLs "that will help gain a better understanding of the world around us."
There's also an Environmental E-Mail Project the lets readers report on environmental concerns "faced by your region or state." This could be a good resource for other teachers to use.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
PUBLIC TEACH IN
Missed New York's International Forum on Globalization last November? Well, you can still take a trip to its Internet audio archives, which has four speeches given at that event. Unfortunately, that's it!
There's no information about the teach-in itself or about the one coming up, nor are there links to groups and events with a similar weltanschauung. Make up for some of these lacks by visiting the site's parent directory, at http://www.peacenet.org/. Note: If you don't have the free RealAudio player, this site is completely pointless; download it at http://www.realaudio.com/.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Peterson's Education Center
Wow. It's not often that information resource companies give you full access to their material via the Web:
There's still no effective way to make money off of it. Peterson's does, however, providing a huge stock of info about schools, summer programs, and business management. As with most pages, this site is under continual construction; you'll frequently be greeted by a "We're sorry..." message. But the areas that *are* fully implemented - such as those with Graduate School information - are gorgeous, complete, and easy-to-use. Peterson's Education Center is a gem that will only get better - until you have to pay for it.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Pitsco Technology Education
You'd expect more than a scroll-it script and a "weird science" graphic to announce the site of a company claiming to be the "leader in innovative technology education." And what Pitsco's site lacks in the whiz-bang department, it doesn't make up for anywhere else. Judging from the quality of its hubristic copy, you'd think poor spelling and grammar were cutting-edge educational strategies.
The online version of its much-touted catalog provides descriptions of popular products like "Shuttle in Orbit Wall Mural," and "Tower Tester," as well as links to related sites, but this one needs work before it fulfills its own promises.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Ananda Nada
Princeton Review
The Princeton Review has gained a dedicated following by helping students exploit weaknesses in badly-designed standardized tests.
Their iconoclastic methods translate well in this Web site, where you'll find information about standardized tests, college entry requirements, and potential careers. While the content and technical presentation - including search engines
use "wiredbrain" which alphabetical indices - is first-rate, the scant graphics aren't, nor will you find all the information that's available in the books. But then, they have to get your money somehow, don't they?
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Princeton Review
High school juniors and seniors who simply *must* attend the best universities would do well to visit this site presented by the "nation's leader in test preparation." That's right:
The Princeton Review offers classes on preparing for standardized tests like the SAT, GRE, and MCAT, which will later get you into - guess what? - more classes. Study, study, study. Achieve, achieve, achieve. That's the Princeton way, but there's no disputing the Review's attraction if you aspire to a career in law, business, or medicine. A search engine eases navigation, but lengthy download times of frivolous graphics may leave you peeved.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
Princeton Review
High school juniors and seniors who simply *must* attend the best universities would do well to visit this site presented by the "nation's leader in test preparation." That's right: the Princeton Review offers classes on preparing for standardized tests like the SAT, GRE and MCAT, which will later get you into - guess what? - more classes. Study, study, study. Achieve, achieve, achieve. That's the Princeton way, but there's no disputing the Review's attraction if you aspire to a career in law, business or medicine. A search engine eases navigation, but lengthy download times of frivolous graphics may leave you peeved.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
RAND Institute on Education and Training
IET is part of Rand's, a non-profit public policy research organization, larger web site.
The site's purpose is to improve American's public policy through research and analysis, and to train policy analysts. IET provides links to summaries on more than 55 Rand research papers. Some topics covered include worldwide communications, economics, education, crime, NATO, housing, game theory, terrorism, and water resources. Full-text for some of these papers are free, others are not.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
SPAM
Norman, Oklahoma is the unlikely nexus for the Schools of the Pacific Atmospheric Monitoring project. From the mainland U.S. and Hawaii, all across the lonely atolls to New Zealand, monitoring stations have been set up at schools to collect data on rainfall, uv radiation, and the like, every fifteen minutes, twenty-four/seven/365. Back at mission central, the University of Oklahoma, all data is plotted and analyzed for the benefit of atmospheric science.
The Web project is lagging a little; interactive maps are mostly inoperative, with mock data only. Nevertheless, this is one of those sites that puts the worldwide in WWW; look for it to grow and improve.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
STUDIE'
It's so cute, with its rainbow colors, and to the point! Officially called School Teachers Using & Developing Internet Expertise or STUDIE' (pronounced Stoo'-dee-ay), the web site gives local educational information for the Alpine School District in Utah as well as general information for all educators seeking to learn about the Internet. STUDIE' provides links to HTML lessons, email emoticons and acronyms, and a growing list of educational hyperlinks. Links lead to sites on the core subjects, the arts, foreign language, health, government, religion, weather, shopping, newspapers and newsgroups.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
School House
It ain't Schoolhouse Rock (remember *Conjunction Junction*?), but it rocks nonetheless, with in-depth reviews of a full spectrum of educational software. I don't use the word in-depth lightly, either: screen shots and lengthy criticisms are offered for a growing list of titles that already includes somewhere around, ...let's see, one, two, three, ... a hundred titles. A sub page of the larger World Village site, this one should be bookmarked by any parents with school age kids and a CD-ROM drive.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
School Is Dead
Not only are kids rebelling against formalized schooling, their parents are, as well; and, as sites we've reviewed in the Blue Pages have shown, there are plenty of Web resources out there for those interested in home schooling. But what about "no-schoolers"? For both groups, Karl Bunday's site is a convincing (although ugly) collection of quotes and arguments emphasizing that the one who learns best schools least.
The points are presented as one heavily linked screed, making the site great for browsing, but it's hard to find specific information unless you use the index.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Stanford University Home Page
Stanford University was one of the first sites on the Internet. Though it's no longer a leader in Internet connectivity, its WWW pages show it's kept abreast of the net's dynamic changes.
The site's centerpiece is "Portfolio," which links Stanford's extensive but old-fashioned Gopher and FTP sites with a snazzy new Web interface - pretty clever! (This mixture of sources tends to make the content a bit uneven, however.) As with most university servers, there's a directory of student Web pages. Also find good links to info on getting around the South Bay/Silicon Valley area.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Stockholms Universitet
The info here is available in Swedish or English, an important first step for us monoglots. Unfortunately, in either language, the content is a little sparse.
The most involved page is the one dedicated to the university library, (with frames, an online card catalog, and navigational links to the rest of the site) but the menu gives no indication of this. It is a smashing piece of architecture, the Stockholm U *bibliotek*, but that in itself hardly sells the site to prospective students or visitors.
There are no under construction signs, but I have a feeling this site will improve.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
Sydney Lanier
The kids at Sidney Lanier are a lucky bunch, if this site is anything to go on.
The ubiquitous puppy icon aside (come on kids, let's mix it up a little bit), the activities featured in the Houston school's home page made me a little wistful for the days of field trips and science fairs. Some of the sub-pages need work: the Hyper-history of seventy year old Lanier left me wanting more links, and the /images, by and large, were of poor quality. Time to hit up the old PTA, maybe throw a bake-sale for scanners or put the principal in the dunk tank at a buck a shot.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
THE STUDY PLACE
A budding philosopher's mecca,
The Study Place is an online academic resource managed by the Institute for Learning Technologies of Columbia University.
The college's faculty and doctoral candidates provide good critiques of ancient and modern philosophy.
The site also includes links to brief biographies on ancient and modern philosophers including Aristotle, Dante, Descartes, et al.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Technology and Learning: A Planning and Implementation Resource
This is a guide for learning technology, taking readers from the goal setting and initial research stages to the implementation and revision for improvement stages. It is not light reading. It offers diagrams and provides information in an outline format.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Testprep.com
Too bad this resource wasn't around when I was suffering through SAT preparations. This is a truly useful site which provides a free SAT course. Diagnose your weak areas by taking a complete version of the SAT and then choose from 1000's of review lessons including answers and explanations. You can shop to order SAT guides at the Testprep Superstore or purchase the Stanford Studyguide software disk. But it's refreshing to see free information so readily offered in an area which has become an industry in itself.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
The Biosfera Project
The title project was undertaken by Carlos Solis, a professor at Rice University, to help train school teachers simultaneously in Spanish and Conservation Biology. This humble site describes the experimental program conducted in the Peten, a rainforest region of Guatemala.
There are essays by some of the participants, links to sites related to Meso-America, and a somewhat crude map of Guatemala. It would be nice to see this site expand and refine.
The map could be interactive, the pages made more attractive, etc. More importantly, there should be more emphasis on the people of the Peten.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
The Chronicle: Academe This Week
The Chronicle is the proverbial Bible for college-level teachers and administrators.
The Web page is well-organized, pointing you to news and resources on information technology, academic research, government programs and legislation, professional development, and more. But you must subscribe to the paper version ($75/year) to get Academe Today, the daily online features and links publication, (with a registration and password scheme that insures that no one else gets in.) If you are a Chronicle subscriber or are thinking about it, Academe Today is a definite plus. If not, this is just a nice brochure describing what's on paper.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The EdWeb Home Room
EdWeb comes off as uninspired. Most of the subject matter has to do with the use of technology in K12 education, which doesn't have to be such a dry subject.
The articles on EdWeb have some good statistics you can throw around at cocktail parties, but they're so buried by banal design and endless text that most people will fall asleep before reaching them. This site is probably best suited to parents who know nothing about the Internet and want to know whether it would be a good thing for their kids to learn to use.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
The Electric Library
EL is a hot idea that has a short way to go before it really catches fire.
The service conducts topical searches through the full text of some 150 newspapers and 900 magazines, as well as newswires, books, etc. It's a great way to get a roundup of reviews or articles on a topic that interests you. But after a two-week trial period, you'll have to pay $9.95 a month for the privilege; and the searches bring up articles randomly, not from newest to oldest or most mentions to least. With smarter search mechanisms and alternate pricing schemes (how about one month and three-month increments?), I'd say bookmark EL. Right now, it's worth a look.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The History Channel Classroom
If you're a teacher looking to incorporate more engaging material into your curriculum,
The History Channel Classroom is a good place to start.
There are resources to help teachers plan classroom discussions and research projects based on
The History Channel's shows, with a convenient Classroom Calendar for planning.
The network sponsors awards' programs are designed to support quality history education in America's schools; to wit, the History Channel Awards for National History Day honor the Best Senior Media Project and the Outstanding Contribution in History Education. A very good site, even if it does smack of self-promotion.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Lauren Guzak
The MIT Home Page
To me, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will always be known primarily for the witty pranks of technically minded students, but you'll have to dig hard to find that info here (try http://fishwrap.mit.edu/Hacks/Gallery.htm instead). You will find just about everything else about MIT. For a bunch of geeks, though, it's rather pedestrian: no image maps or search engines
use "wiredbrain" worth mentioning, cryptic icons, and mostly just text. Be sure to check out the "fun stuff" area, which includes tips for hacking the campus security cards. Cool! Let's get user-friendly, folks!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The Riggs Institute
The Instiute is a non-profit corporation in Beaverton, Oregon specializing in literacy issues. And if the blurbs cited here are any indication, it is well-regarded by both educators and policy makers. That aside, the presentation here whiffed a bit of fakery and snake oil. All the explanation points and relentless pitching make me wary. I'm not saying it's a fraud, by any means -- I wouldn't know. It just comes off that way. You can judge for yourself.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
The Student Guide 1995-96
For most students, the most difficult hurdle of higher education isn't the course work - it's finding the money to pay for it. A lot of college funding ultimately comes from the federal government in the form of loans and grants. But how can you learn more about financial aid? That's where
The Student Guide comes in. Released each year by the Department of Education, it tells you how to qualify, whom to contact, and how you can expect to repay the loans. This web site is really just a more "browsable" form of a 126K document, which is also available for downloading. Regardless of how you view
The Student Guide, every prospective college student should check it out.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The University of Michigan
The University of Michigan has long been famous in the Internet community for its vast file archive site (find more info about this by going to http://www.umich.edu/~archive/). But there's more to U. Michigan than free software. Like, a top-ranked university!
The site gives the usual information about its academic programs and such, beautifully linked and annotated via search engines
use "wiredbrain", tables of contents, and clickable image maps. One coincidence makes the site aesthetically pleasing: U.M.'s logo blue matches the "unfollowed link" blue in Netscape's browser. Not to mention my eyes.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
The World Lecture Hall
This is the ultimate Web resource for the independent student. Providing links to online course materials posted by universities all over America in subjects ranging from "accounting" to "zoology," the site lets students interested in self-study but not in relying on local college schedules get guidance on just about anything. Of course, lab work will be kind of difficult for the science courses, unless you happen to have a particularly well-equipped kitchen.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Theatre Education Literature Review
Theatre... is a home page of 59 theater-educational questions or topics with links to their brief answers or explanations, including footnotes. Simple. Kent Seidel, of the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program of the University of Cincinnati, asks questions, such as "Why study theatre?," or introduces topics, such as "
Theatre for at-risk students," as the points relate to scholars' views of theater's positive effect in education.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
This is Mega-Mathematics
Number news and notes from our friends at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. But rather than bog us down with odd symbols and complicated formulas, Mega-Mathematics throws down visual problems, twisted games, and strange anecdotes to teach the rules of logic, graphing, and other mind-bending mathematics. Beautifully-designed and organized so you can go as deep as you want into each subject or lose yourself entirely in this seemingly infinite collection. Infinite? What does that really mean? Look here to find out. Allegedly the site is geared for elementary school children, but I learned more than a few things.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: David Pescovitz
Thomas Edison State College
What home-schooling does for the under+18 crowd, "distance learning" colleges like Thomas Edison State do for those seeking higher educational degrees. According to the college's Web site, "students in any state or nation can earn credit for college-level knowledge acquired outside the classroom." It's a pity the college hasn't done more with its Web pages: considering how far-flung the students must be, the potential for Internet-based instruction is tremendous. Indeed, the site isn't nearly as deep or interesting as many other colleges', and the occasional misdirected link mars the experience.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Truth, Lies, Rumors, and Rumbles
"As the Board Churns" is the subtitle of this text-based saga, about the tensions between teachers, parents, and citizen-players with various agendas in a southern New Jersey school district. Our "netitor" is Abe Wolinsky, a technology teacher who decided to publish Web reports on the community squabbles. All the details may not interest you, but this will: the original arguments (about building a new high school vs. saving money, and a subsequent teachers' contract) were quickly eclipsed by new crossfire because Abe put the story on the on the Web. You can even join in via e-mail if you'd like.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
U.S. Civil War Center
From Louisiana State University comes this ambitious, if somewhat dull, page devoted to collecting and making available every scrap of information concerning the nation's costliest war. Scholars and students will of course find the site helpful in researching the conflict, and genealogists will appreciate the short tutorial on researching individuals from the era. Like most link-driven sites, it's all very straightforward, and a little bit daunting.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
UC Berkeley Home Page
In a region known for compromise and reason, the University of California at Berkeley's Web pages are elegantly reasoned and make compromises so they're both user-friendly and fast.
The contents can be access via nicely arranged text choices rather than by image maps, so the site is as useful to someone on a Unix box as on a Mac.
The content is deep and varied, from the Naval Architecture school to the click-to-zoom-in campus map. If you're into general Web search engines
use "wiredbrain", be sure to add Berkeley's "Inktomi" (http://inktomi.berkeley.edu/) to your list.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
UK Lifelong Learning
The Brits seem to have a ministry for everything, with sub-ministries and rooms full of clerks endlessly shuffling papers. Well, some of the clerks have turned in their green eyeshades for PC's at the Department for Education and Employment, Individual Commitment Division. (Yes, that's really its name, bureaucratic lex for "the state wishes you to stay in school and stop being a worthless git.") While the site is extensive, it suffers from a bone-dry officialdom that subverts the intended message: Learning is fun.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
UT Austin Web Central
Austin can be considered the birthplace of the "slacker" archetype: a center for high-tech companies, one of the few progressive cities in Texas... and, rumor has it, there's a university down there, too. Well blow me down. UT is a gargantuan university, and its WWW presence reflects its size.
The site's internal search engine bears this out: A search for the word "racquetball" returned 17 references, mostly on students' personal pages. Altogether, there are more than 25,000 web pages on 170 servers (so they say, anyway), including everything you ever wanted to know about UT. Beware the badly designed image maps.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
OK, Web users, lets collectively bow in the direction of UIUC, host to the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Without the bright boys and girls at NCSA, the Web would not be what it is today. Sadly, I can't say if that's a good thing or bad thing. But for a site of such distinction, UIUC lacks wild HTML tricks. It *is* big and fast, however, and provides so much information, you could spend a few days just finding your way around. You'll find complete college catalog-type information, plus the university's library site.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
University of Washington
I did some time at this institution, so I come to this site occasionally just to see what the weather's doing back home.
The UW site, however, is far more impressive than the inevitably dreary image from the view cam. A big campus, the "U Dub" is a city in its own right, and the magnitude of this site reflects that fact. Links connect to all the various departments, to campus radio, to student and faculty directories, campus publications, museums, ...there's even a virtual tour of the medicinal herb garden. Anyone interested in the U -- especially anyone considering enrollment -- should come here first. And pay special attention to that weather.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Patrick Joseph
University of the Phillipines
This is a pretty generous site, with superfluous but interesting material like photos of the Manila campus circa 1933. Most of the information is in English although some segments, like the news briefs, are in Tagalog. Interested in enrolling? U.S. students need a minimum combined SAT of 1200, though exceptions are apparently made on occasion for "mature" students. Visually, the site is a bit dull (
The Webmaster apologizes for a busted color scanner), but the info is all here and straightforward.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
Urban Education Web
Learning about learning: that's what the Urban Education Web is about. It's part of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), a well-known and highly-respected database of studies on education. It, in turn, is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. All these layers of support point to two attributes of this Web site: it's densely academic, and it's excellently supported. Here, you'll not only find out if the government has published information about gangs in the schools, you'll probably find the monographs themselves, hyperlinked internally and with other documents. I don't know what poor souls are sitting in a windowless office doing all this, but they deserve to be thanked.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
VLC.Homepage
The Village Learning Center bills itself as a new type of school that will "preserve and nurture the yearning for learning that everyone is born with." This doesn't explain why it became an online school, but the lack of accreditation might have something to do with it. A mere $1,195 buys a semester of work at home - e-mail assignments in course work for the seventh to ninth grade set. Use at your own risk.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Washington Gifted School of Communication
Can we talk adorable for a moment? This site is absolutely fun fun fun by way of enchanting graphics. Unfortunately, there isn't really much of interest otherwise, unless you're already involved with the school.
The schedule of events, mission statement, and student bios are well done and seem helpful enough, but it's missing the original content that makes a site interesting and worth repeated visits. I say, post the student artwork and stories, and up the ante a bit! After all, it's a site for a school of communication whose students are gifted.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Washington University in St Louis
Washington University's Web pages have a clean, crisp organization and some useful features lacking at some of the larger sites. Want to check your e-mail? Click here. Want to do an Infoseek search without leaving university property? No problem. Add a bit of surreality to your visit by clicking on the "What's This?" button, which leads to a page of basic information about using the Web, site statistics, etc. So, even if they've never been to W.U., first-time users are already getting an education. Still, this handsome site lacks the content depth found at some other universities.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Web 66
The mission of Web 66 is to provide resources to help K12 schools get on the Web. This may seem a questionable goal with all the hype about whether the Internet is a safe place for kids, but the Web master clears that right up by quoting headlines in his personal rants section that indicate how much more dangerous the outside world is for kids. Web 66 has instructions for educators to set up Web servers, and a very impressive list of K12 schools from around the world that are online.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Welcome to CNU ONLINE
Christopher Newport University, located in Virginia, is trying to push the envelope of modern education practice by offering a substantive number of classes online. It's even offering a degree in governmental administration through online course work. Unfortunately, the Web site is just a front for a Telnet gateway, and at least one of the Telnet addresses given on the Web site is wrong, which made it impossible to get course information.
The Telnet gateway that I could get to run was so slow, it could turn a four-year degree into a six-year degree.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Whales
Whales (and dinosaurs) intrigue kids everywhere, and some industrious teachers in Virginia have tapped into that phenomenon here, where all lessons originate from and revolve around the same subject: whales. Lesson plans range from math word problems involving whales, to the history of whaling, and whale literature. From humpbacks to blues, baleen to toothed, all young marine mammal enthusiasts, parents and teachers will like this one. It's a simple, yet creative example of educational possibilities on the Web. Hopefully, with time, the creators will add more sound and /images, and bring the standards up to match the content.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
Whole Frog
The Whole Frog Project offers an online alternative to a classic high school biology experience: dissecting a frog. Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley Labs use high-resolution MRI /images and sophisticated 3D rendering software to create a virtual amphibian whose parts can be viewed at a variety of depths and angles.
The site is jam packed with information about both the biological and technological details of the project. It also includes study guidelines to help teachers create engaging lesson plans (which combine physical and computer sciences). Best of all, the Whole Frog Project is completely free of scalpel hazards and the queer smell of formaldehyde.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
Worcester Polytechnic
Most online education fails because it tries to transplant subjects to the screen that are best-suited for the classroom. But Professor Cyganski's class at Worcester Polytechnic Institute has an edge of relevance here, as it's all about telecommunications transmission technologies. Since I'm not an electrical engineer, most of the highly-technical content of this site eluded me, but its basic "learning is as learning does" mission comes through loud and clear: Engineers should not be afraid of their tools. Or, as the prof says, "This course is not for WIMPs (Whining Internet/Multi-media Phobes)." Some of the meatier areas of the site are available only to WPI accounts, alas.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Word Page
Well, let's award Word Page an "E" for effort - although I don't know how to factor an "E" into a GPA.
The purpose of this site is to help people learn 10 new words a week - an admirable enterprise. Unfortunately, it doesn't help if you already know the words the site's editor happened to pick. Also, the definitions provided are a little weak, consisting of a short phrase or sentence. It wouldn't take much effort, and certainly not much space, to include full dictionary definitions. And, finally, the misspellings littered throughout the site aren't going to impress any educators out there.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
World Association for Family and Education WAFE
WAFE's Web site is primarily a resource for the group to disseminate information on its conferences. Because WAFE is international, the Internet is probably a pretty good medium for it, saving substantial amounts of money on printing and mailing costs. WAFE's mission statement, which is published on the site, is a little bit spacy, and seems pretty narrow-minded with its emphasis that "Marriage, the only proper context for full expression of the love between one man and one woman, is the rock upon which the family rests."
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
World Education Exchange
World Education Exchange, a graduate student project, bills itself as a site that "explores the world of reform and information technology." It's a lofty description for a site which is little more than a repository of links (albeit interesting ones) on virtual education and Internet resources for teachers and kids. I suppose it's useful for someone to have done the research for you, but without a single shred of commentary or analysis, it feels like someone trying to profit from other people's work. After all, aren't Yahoo!, Lycos, and all the other search engines
use "wiredbrain" out there, for the purpose of categorizing and cataloguing information on the Internet?
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Rachel Saidman
World Game Institute
Despite its playful-sounding title, the World Game Institute is no joke. Inspired by noted scientist and social philosopher Buckminster Fuller, the Institute was founded to "provide the perspective and information needed to solve the critical problems facing global society,"
The site probes all these problems (famine, disease, overpopulation, deforestation and more) with incisive, well-documented research and data. Even skittery surfers should stop to check out the "What the World Wants (and how to pay for it)" chart. It's a powerful representation of the mixed-up priorities in our military-minded global economy.
The institute also conducts workshops and conferences in the corporate and educational communities.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
Yale University World Wide Web Front Door
The Yale University site is everything the Harvard site isn't. Just kidding! Though, quite honestly, Yale's Web set-up beats its historical nemesis'. At the top level are listings for P.R. information, search engines
use "wiredbrain", maps, academic department pages, student activities... Lots of stuff here. Thank god it's so well-organized! Running a search shows just how much there is: the word "racquetball" returned 10 pages, including news of the sports team, a description of the athletic facilities, and someone's experiments with the Connectix QuickCam, a video input device "about the size of a racquetball." Pretty good search engine, that!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
eWorld Learning Community
The eWorld Learning Community has gathered an impressive set of quality links under categories such as News Rack, Apple Education Resource, Museum, and School House. Unfortunately, links are pretty much all this site has to offer. It's a misnomer for eWorld to claim that this is its Learning Community.
The links belong to the Internet; the site should be called the Internet Learning Community. But enough on semantics.
The design is tasteful, but , save a search engine, there are no cool technical devices to add any pizzazz to this site.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
The biggest benefit for Signet is probably just the good reputation the largess garners, not to mention the dollars the publicity could mean farther down the road. A square enough deal, seems to me. Also useful to the college hopeful is the Financial Aid Time Line, which gives a prescribed chronology for securing tuition dollars, a concise budgeting worksheet , some tips on managing your cash flow, and a brief tutorial on building credit (tread carefully over that one, kids). When you've exhausted the resources here, there's a page of associated links to keep your surfing on track.
There'll be plenty of time for distraction when you're basking in the cool shade of the ivory tower.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Patrick Joseph
College Money Matters
While many "informational" sites sponsored by corporations are just slightly veiled marketing attempts, Signet Bank should be applauded for their soft sell approach on this guide to funding a college education.
There are Signet Bank loan applications and information, but a lot of the content (which mostly seems lifted from printed guides) does not bear Signet's stamp. One of the best resources here is "Don't Miss Out, A Student's Guide to Financial Aid." A good portion this book is available online.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Collegiate Choice Walking Tours
There's not a frill in sight here, just a good idea presented plainly and honestly. Collegiate Choice Walking Tours is a collection of videotaped student-guided tours of more than 300 college and university campuses.
The developers, a group of independent college advisors, are quick to point out that these tapes are not professionally produced, but, they say with admirable restraint, the student guides are "perhaps a bit more fourthright than some admissions and marketing departments." In addition to a list of schools visited and ordering information, the site provides a helpful tip sheet for prospective students who plan to make in-person visits.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Sandra Stewart
CyberEd
We'll be seeing a growing number of "cyberclasses" soon, essentially extension courses that lend themselves to online study. A small southern campus of the University of Massachusetts now offers a few grad and undergrad classes - composition and technical writing, American politics, and astronomy - as well as a non-credit Web page design class. You register online, pay for the class, and then do the reading, studying, practicing on your own. This no-frills site is an indicator of what's to come; a trend other small or remote campuses will plug into soon.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
CyberLearning Center
This core project of the non-profit National Education Foundation sets out to distribute educational software, promote motivational techniques, offer online courses, and spread the word about tennis star Monica Seles. Huh? What's she doing here? Information about Ms. Seles (whom USA2100's President claims to have mentored) is, unfortunately, the most complete part of this site, which seems to be the home page for a computer-equipped private school in the D.C. area.
The online courses aren't up, nor is the software area. So what makes this school a "CyberLearning Center"? Beats me.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Distance Learning Laboratory (DLL)
This site is part of a project to get historically black high schools and universities online with distance learning programs.
The DLL wants to teach educators how to get online, set up Web servers, archive curriculum and so on. Good idea! Unfortunately, you have to call DLL or register online for the seminars and workshops in order to actually learn something.
The site is merely an informational pamphlet. Perhaps DLL staff might consider practicing what they preach, and offer the seminars online.
Content: 5
*
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Doty's Education Page
There are two extremes in WWW catalogs: huge lists of links with no commentary (ˆ la Webcrawler) and annotated lists with too few links (ˆ la most personal pages). Educator, Robert Doty, has found the middle ground in this site, a page dedicated to education links (separated by grade-school subject) with some original content, i.e. articles he's written on education and technology.
There are a few minor technical problems: no "back to home page" buttons, for instance. Still, not bad for someone who says he got into public education for the free Internet access!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Educaid Online
A lot of places offer general information on college entry requirements and government student loan programs. But where do you go to actually get the money you need? Educaid is one such place. With FAQs, quizzes, application forms, as well as background information on the company and the loans they offer, this site is the epitome of a corporate "advertising" entity. As such, there are no external links, which is disturbing. (Are they afraid you'll get information elsewhere?) Colorful image maps dress up every page, making the site attractive but slow.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Education Place
Created by Houghton Mifflin, the Education Place is packed with fine activities for grammar school students, plus ideas for teachers and advice for parents on helping kids learn. But to my mind the site's most delightful feature is its update of Mad Libs, called Wacky Web Tales.
These things will always be funny-what else produces phrases like "After handing our toes to Leonardo Da Vinci at the door ,"? Enjoy them with your friends and family. Other games help kids hone their skills in science and math, and the Project Center gives teachers access to online projects as well as non-Internet-based classroom activities.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Sandra Stewart
Elementary Spanish Curriculum
Are you looking for an online source for Spanish language instruction? Well, you won't find it here. Instead, educator Leslie Veen outlines her method of teaching Spanish to elementary- and middle school-age children.
The one-page document includes goals for grammar, vocabulary, and cultural understanding, from the point of view of the teacher. It's not that this site is badly done - the curriculum is as good as anything you'll get from your local high-school teacher. But that's all there is to it, and, as such, it's of limited interest.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
Environmental Education Network
A satellite of the larger *Envirolink* page, the links here are of exceptional value to anyone interested in applying online tools to the study of the earth sciences.
The index is divided into two main branches: one for student resources and another for educators. Umbrella pages, of course, are only as good as the pages they point to, but both of these seemed excellent, linking me to some of the most substantive destinations on the Web. Green politics flavor many of the pages, to be sure, but can you separate them from the issues? Anyone concerned for the planet should bookmark this site and -- what's more -- utilize it.
Content: NULL
Aesthetic: NULL
TechnoSmart: NULL
Author: Patrick Joseph
Ethnologue Database
One of my favorite books is *Languages of the World*, by the genius lexicographer Kenneth Katzman. It includes information on several hundred of the world's 6,500 languages, with - and this is the good part - examples of each.
The Ethnologue Database is a similar project, minus the examples. On this web site, the world's languages are cataloged according to name, linguistic family, and region in which they are spoken. Despite the shallowness of information on individual languages and some inaccuracies, the Ethnologue Database belongs on every linguist's hotlist.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Exploratorium Exploranet
Leave it to the Exploratorium, San Francisco's renowned interactive science exhibit, to come up with a site as informative and creative as Exploranet. Surf through hundreds of cool science links, check out the science behind the news in
The Why Files, follow along with the onscreen tutorial of a cow's eye dissection (one of the Exploratorium's most popular exhibits), or take on any number of show-stopping brain puzzlers, niftily reconfigured for the Web.
There are dozens of do-this-at-home recipes to help you recreate Exploratorium fun at home.
There is a lot here, so give yourself plenty of time investigate.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Emily Soares
Explores! World Headquarters
Explores! World Headquarters, the Weather Channel watcher's Internet alternative, was developed by two meteorology professors at Florida State University as a resource for kids with an interest in the space and earth sciences. Want to know what the weather's like in Scranton? Precipitation estimate for anywhere in the U.S.? Tracking Hurricanes strike your fancy? This site exemplifies the enormous, almost overwhelming, amount of information available on the Internet (300 links on U.S. weather alone) and would be best viewed with an experienced meteorologist on hand to explain the more arcane concepts.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Rachel Saidman
Family Education Network
FEN is one part of the highly esteemed Education Publishing Group's multimedia strategy for helping parents and children prepare themselves for an increasingly competitive world. This is a thoughtful, technologically literate and exceptionally well-designed site featuring articles by Ivy League educators; topics range from browsing the web with your kids to managing your teenager's finances, and balancing your career with your family life. A superb BBS points you to numerous concurrent discussions, and a section on exceptional parents tells the stories of families that endure grave or uncommon situations, and enables them to find their peers around the world.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Ananda Nada
FishNet
The lover of low puns who named FishNet didn't do it justice-this is a meaty site, rich in resources for high-achieving, college-bound teens.
The extensive College Guide has a few weaknesses, but makes up for them with great features such as Dear Admissions Guru, an advice column written by admissions officers. Edge e-zine is substantive but not eggheadish, and KnowBase lets users find online articles on a range of topics. Even if higher education is only a dim memory, FishNet is worth a visit for Street Speak, a user-compiled dictionary of slang that will help you sound hip again-or at least understand what the kids are saying.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Sandra Stewart
General Organic and Biochemistry
There are lots of Web sites designed to supplement college courses, but most of them fall just short of the mark. Not this site! Designed to supplement the textbook "Chemistry for Today," it includes dozens of concise and illustrative slides the professor used to compliment his lectures - and his use of frames in presenting the material is inspired. He even includes a summary and form-based test! Visit his other classes via
The Virtual Classroom at http://odin.chemistry.uakron.edu/classroom.htm. And don't miss his "favorite excuses from students" page at http://odin.chemistry.uakron.edu/excuses/.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Global Online Adventure Learning Site
John Oman, a sailing adventurer, left the port of Seattle in November 1995 with the hopes of sailing around the world in 150 days via his 60-foot yacht. He may be alone at sea, but we've been invited to follow along via this Wev site: Read his logs, check the current sailing conditions in his location, see pictures he's taken, and even consult maps indicating his position. As a result, we get a superb background in the nautical sciences. His isn't the only travelogue on the Web, but it's one of the most "realistic," with hard data augmenting his lyrical notes. This site is a must for all would-be seafarers.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Harvard Business School
Straight forward information about Harvard Business School, including admissions, curriculum, research projects, and alumni. Check out the HBS Publishing page to peruse the 6,000 books, videos, and multimedia programs available for order.
The site is a gateway to a number of HBS resources such as the Baker Library online catalogue, but you need to be a Harvard student to use it. In the shocked version the university shield rotates in 3-D, which as about as exciting as this page gets. But then, how much fun is business school?
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
Harvard University WWW Home Page
At first, the Harvard University site looks pretty drab: a few choices linking you to ugly, text-only Gopher sites, phone numbers, historical information, rah rah rah. But underneath some of those links are profound pools. Take a gander at the map of Harvard, for example, which zooms in on any building in the university's expansive campus. Similarly, there's gold under some other links, including admissions and registration information. And Harvard's not too proud to include several links to one of its local competitors, M.I.T., in its "resources."
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Home-Ed-Kids
So, you think you're going to find treatises on the advantages of home schooling at this site? Not on your noodle. This page is dedicated to the kids themselves. It is an area for home-schooled youths to meet and interact, just as their public school friends interact on physical playgrounds. Much of the site is developed by preteens.
The content is uneven, but when it is good, it soars - and the technical sophistication is astounding (chat rooms, bulletin boards, image maps, and search engines
use "wiredbrain" all play a part.). Get bowled over by incredible depths of information by visiting the parent directories as well.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Homespun Web of Home Educational Resources
Homeschooling - do-it-yourself education, if you will - is how a select few parents gain more control of their kids' education. This site is a clearinghouse on that subject, with special emphasis on archival data like FAQs, newsgroups, and lists of contact people. While a high percentage of homeschooling proponents teach their kids at home for religious reasons, the site is mostly unbiased on such matters. It *is* heavily Texas-oriented, though, as that state seems to have the most active homeschooling movement. While its content isn't terribly deep, the Homespun Web is a good place for concerned parents to start.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Internet College Exchange
This is a resource primarily geared toward high school seniors and juniors who are trying to find a good college - although it would also be helpful for parents who are trying to nudge aging progeny out of the house.
The concept behind the site is solid, although content is sparse. It's certainly a page that's aching to grow. A snazzy search utility provides names of colleges based on entered criteria.
The best content on the site can be found in
The Dunce's Cap, an informative and irreverently written newsletter about college admissions.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Invention Dimension
Besides finding some crucial information I needed about the inventor of Bakelite (Leo Baekeland, known affectionately as the "Father of Plastics") this site offered little of interest. I expected to find profiles of wacky inventors and their crazy projects - you know, the inventions we laugh at today, but can't live without tomorrow. But no, the site just offers information on a few famous inventors, and links to invention information, plus winners of the prestigious Lemelson-MIT Prize.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Journal of Distance Education
Although only a Gopher site, the Journal of Distance Education is an example of some of the great, free resources available on the Internet. For this particular site, it helps if you have some kind of administrative or theoretical interest in distance education.
The journal is published twice a year, and covers a topic that is shifting into high-gear because the Internet is making long-distance learning a lot more practical.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
K12 World
If you are a K12 teacher with a fair amount of patience, amble on over to K12 World, a very tidy and useful site packed with Web resources of interest to you. You'll need patience because there are two top pages for each topic, and the download can be mighty slow. But once you're in, you'll find classroom goodies; (Internet) library information; funding sources; lesson plans; and more. Especially cool is Internet Live, a page of live camera links and exploration events geared to eager net students.
The Classroom area features several disciplines, so whether you teach science, journalism, or art, there are helpful links for you here.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Karen Wickre
Kaplan Educational Centers
Kaplan - famous for helping underachievers earn admission to their parents' swanky alma maters - has an extremely useful Web site. To be fair, there are plenty of people who chose educational paths to law and medicine a little late, and definitely benefited from Kaplan testing materials.
The site features summaries of the current climates for admission into professional college programs. Kaplan books and software can be purchased online, and a special feature section displays an offbeat sense of humor. Though a commercial site, Kaplan offers invaluable free resources for those interested in professional development.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Lattitude 28 Schoolhouse
Sponsored by OpenNet Technologies, Lattitude 28 is really just a page of links to educational resources by subject; that is, except for two sections devoted to the Internet in the classroom. While there is no mention of screening the links, a quick quality survey suggests that they are. Additionally, visitors to the page are invited to submit their favorite education urls. Links are organized by category, and there is also a listing of other schools on the Internet. Like most such sites, the links make it worth the bookmark, even if the page itself is nothing special.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
LearnWorld Welcome Page
LearnWorld is a great idea. Anybody who wants to can set up a course on a topic by outlining a series of texts to read, and including their own notes on their position on the topic. Anyone who would like to learn about the topic can use this as a course outline. Unfortunately, the LearnWorld pages focus too much on the list of texts, and don't have a structure for the course creator to guide the students through the texts.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Library Project: African-American Culture
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Patrick Joseph
College Money Matters
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Collegiate Choice Walking Tours
The developers, a group of independent college advisors, are quick to point out that these tapes are not professionally produced, but, they say with admirable restraint, the student guides are "perhaps a bit more fourthright than some admissions and marketing departments." In addition to a list of schools visited and ordering information, the site provides a helpful tip sheet for prospective students who plan to make in-person visits.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Sandra Stewart
CyberEd
We'll be seeing a growing number of "cyberclasses" soon, essentially extension courses that lend themselves to online study. A small southern campus of the University of Massachusetts now offers a few grad and undergrad classes - composition and technical writing, American politics, and astronomy - as well as a non-credit Web page design class. You register online, pay for the class, and then do the reading, studying, practicing on your own. This no-frills site is an indicator of what's to come; a trend other small or remote campuses will plug into soon.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
CyberLearning Center
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Distance Learning Laboratory (DLL)
The site is merely an informational pamphlet. Perhaps DLL staff might consider practicing what they preach, and offer the seminars online.
Content: 5
*
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Doty's Education Page
There are two extremes in WWW catalogs: huge lists of links with no commentary (ˆ la Webcrawler) and annotated lists with too few links (ˆ la most personal pages). Educator, Robert Doty, has found the middle ground in this site, a page dedicated to education links (separated by grade-school subject) with some original content, i.e. articles he's written on education and technology.
There are a few minor technical problems: no "back to home page" buttons, for instance. Still, not bad for someone who says he got into public education for the free Internet access!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Educaid Online
A lot of places offer general information on college entry requirements and government student loan programs. But where do you go to actually get the money you need? Educaid is one such place. With FAQs, quizzes, application forms, as well as background information on the company and the loans they offer, this site is the epitome of a corporate "advertising" entity. As such, there are no external links, which is disturbing. (Are they afraid you'll get information elsewhere?) Colorful image maps dress up every page, making the site attractive but slow.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Education Place
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Educaid Online
Created by Houghton Mifflin, the Education Place is packed with fine activities for grammar school students, plus ideas for teachers and advice for parents on helping kids learn. But to my mind the site's most delightful feature is its update of Mad Libs, called Wacky Web Tales.
These things will always be funny-what else produces phrases like "After handing our toes to Leonardo Da Vinci at the door ,"? Enjoy them with your friends and family. Other games help kids hone their skills in science and math, and the Project Center gives teachers access to online projects as well as non-Internet-based classroom activities.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Sandra Stewart
Elementary Spanish Curriculum
Are you looking for an online source for Spanish language instruction? Well, you won't find it here. Instead, educator Leslie Veen outlines her method of teaching Spanish to elementary- and middle school-age children.
The one-page document includes goals for grammar, vocabulary, and cultural understanding, from the point of view of the teacher. It's not that this site is badly done - the curriculum is as good as anything you'll get from your local high-school teacher. But that's all there is to it, and, as such, it's of limited interest.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
Environmental Education Network
A satellite of the larger *Envirolink* page, the links here are of exceptional value to anyone interested in applying online tools to the study of the earth sciences.
The index is divided into two main branches: one for student resources and another for educators. Umbrella pages, of course, are only as good as the pages they point to, but both of these seemed excellent, linking me to some of the most substantive destinations on the Web. Green politics flavor many of the pages, to be sure, but can you separate them from the issues? Anyone concerned for the planet should bookmark this site and -- what's more -- utilize it.
Content: NULL
Aesthetic: NULL
TechnoSmart: NULL
Author: Patrick Joseph
Ethnologue Database
One of my favorite books is *Languages of the World*, by the genius lexicographer Kenneth Katzman. It includes information on several hundred of the world's 6,500 languages, with - and this is the good part - examples of each.
The Ethnologue Database is a similar project, minus the examples. On this web site, the world's languages are cataloged according to name, linguistic family, and region in which they are spoken. Despite the shallowness of information on individual languages and some inaccuracies, the Ethnologue Database belongs on every linguist's hotlist.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Exploratorium Exploranet
Leave it to the Exploratorium, San Francisco's renowned interactive science exhibit, to come up with a site as informative and creative as Exploranet. Surf through hundreds of cool science links, check out the science behind the news in
The Why Files, follow along with the onscreen tutorial of a cow's eye dissection (one of the Exploratorium's most popular exhibits), or take on any number of show-stopping brain puzzlers, niftily reconfigured for the Web.
There are dozens of do-this-at-home recipes to help you recreate Exploratorium fun at home.
There is a lot here, so give yourself plenty of time investigate.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Emily Soares
Explores! World Headquarters
Explores! World Headquarters, the Weather Channel watcher's Internet alternative, was developed by two meteorology professors at Florida State University as a resource for kids with an interest in the space and earth sciences. Want to know what the weather's like in Scranton? Precipitation estimate for anywhere in the U.S.? Tracking Hurricanes strike your fancy? This site exemplifies the enormous, almost overwhelming, amount of information available on the Internet (300 links on U.S. weather alone) and would be best viewed with an experienced meteorologist on hand to explain the more arcane concepts.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Rachel Saidman
Family Education Network
FEN is one part of the highly esteemed Education Publishing Group's multimedia strategy for helping parents and children prepare themselves for an increasingly competitive world. This is a thoughtful, technologically literate and exceptionally well-designed site featuring articles by Ivy League educators; topics range from browsing the web with your kids to managing your teenager's finances, and balancing your career with your family life. A superb BBS points you to numerous concurrent discussions, and a section on exceptional parents tells the stories of families that endure grave or uncommon situations, and enables them to find their peers around the world.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Ananda Nada
FishNet
There is a lot here, so give yourself plenty of time investigate.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Emily Soares
Explores! World Headquarters
Explores! World Headquarters, the Weather Channel watcher's Internet alternative, was developed by two meteorology professors at Florida State University as a resource for kids with an interest in the space and earth sciences. Want to know what the weather's like in Scranton? Precipitation estimate for anywhere in the U.S.? Tracking Hurricanes strike your fancy? This site exemplifies the enormous, almost overwhelming, amount of information available on the Internet (300 links on U.S. weather alone) and would be best viewed with an experienced meteorologist on hand to explain the more arcane concepts.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Rachel Saidman
Family Education Network
The lover of low puns who named FishNet didn't do it justice-this is a meaty site, rich in resources for high-achieving, college-bound teens.
The extensive College Guide has a few weaknesses, but makes up for them with great features such as Dear Admissions Guru, an advice column written by admissions officers. Edge e-zine is substantive but not eggheadish, and KnowBase lets users find online articles on a range of topics. Even if higher education is only a dim memory, FishNet is worth a visit for Street Speak, a user-compiled dictionary of slang that will help you sound hip again-or at least understand what the kids are saying.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Sandra Stewart
General Organic and Biochemistry
There are lots of Web sites designed to supplement college courses, but most of them fall just short of the mark. Not this site! Designed to supplement the textbook "Chemistry for Today," it includes dozens of concise and illustrative slides the professor used to compliment his lectures - and his use of frames in presenting the material is inspired. He even includes a summary and form-based test! Visit his other classes via
The Virtual Classroom at http://odin.chemistry.uakron.edu/classroom.htm. And don't miss his "favorite excuses from students" page at http://odin.chemistry.uakron.edu/excuses/.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Global Online Adventure Learning Site
John Oman, a sailing adventurer, left the port of Seattle in November 1995 with the hopes of sailing around the world in 150 days via his 60-foot yacht. He may be alone at sea, but we've been invited to follow along via this Wev site: Read his logs, check the current sailing conditions in his location, see pictures he's taken, and even consult maps indicating his position. As a result, we get a superb background in the nautical sciences. His isn't the only travelogue on the Web, but it's one of the most "realistic," with hard data augmenting his lyrical notes. This site is a must for all would-be seafarers.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Harvard Business School
Straight forward information about Harvard Business School, including admissions, curriculum, research projects, and alumni. Check out the HBS Publishing page to peruse the 6,000 books, videos, and multimedia programs available for order.
The site is a gateway to a number of HBS resources such as the Baker Library online catalogue, but you need to be a Harvard student to use it. In the shocked version the university shield rotates in 3-D, which as about as exciting as this page gets. But then, how much fun is business school?
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
Harvard University WWW Home Page
At first, the Harvard University site looks pretty drab: a few choices linking you to ugly, text-only Gopher sites, phone numbers, historical information, rah rah rah. But underneath some of those links are profound pools. Take a gander at the map of Harvard, for example, which zooms in on any building in the university's expansive campus. Similarly, there's gold under some other links, including admissions and registration information. And Harvard's not too proud to include several links to one of its local competitors, M.I.T., in its "resources."
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Home-Ed-Kids
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Sandra Stewart
General Organic and Biochemistry
The Virtual Classroom at http://odin.chemistry.uakron.edu/classroom.htm. And don't miss his "favorite excuses from students" page at http://odin.chemistry.uakron.edu/excuses/.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Global Online Adventure Learning Site
John Oman, a sailing adventurer, left the port of Seattle in November 1995 with the hopes of sailing around the world in 150 days via his 60-foot yacht. He may be alone at sea, but we've been invited to follow along via this Wev site: Read his logs, check the current sailing conditions in his location, see pictures he's taken, and even consult maps indicating his position. As a result, we get a superb background in the nautical sciences. His isn't the only travelogue on the Web, but it's one of the most "realistic," with hard data augmenting his lyrical notes. This site is a must for all would-be seafarers.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Harvard Business School
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
Harvard University WWW Home Page
So, you think you're going to find treatises on the advantages of home schooling at this site? Not on your noodle. This page is dedicated to the kids themselves. It is an area for home-schooled youths to meet and interact, just as their public school friends interact on physical playgrounds. Much of the site is developed by preteens.
The content is uneven, but when it is good, it soars - and the technical sophistication is astounding (chat rooms, bulletin boards, image maps, and search engines
use "wiredbrain" all play a part.). Get bowled over by incredible depths of information by visiting the parent directories as well.Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Homespun Web of Home Educational Resources
Homeschooling - do-it-yourself education, if you will - is how a select few parents gain more control of their kids' education. This site is a clearinghouse on that subject, with special emphasis on archival data like FAQs, newsgroups, and lists of contact people. While a high percentage of homeschooling proponents teach their kids at home for religious reasons, the site is mostly unbiased on such matters. It *is* heavily Texas-oriented, though, as that state seems to have the most active homeschooling movement. While its content isn't terribly deep, the Homespun Web is a good place for concerned parents to start.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Internet College Exchange
The best content on the site can be found in
The Dunce's Cap, an informative and irreverently written newsletter about college admissions.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Invention Dimension
Besides finding some crucial information I needed about the inventor of Bakelite (Leo Baekeland, known affectionately as the "Father of Plastics") this site offered little of interest. I expected to find profiles of wacky inventors and their crazy projects - you know, the inventions we laugh at today, but can't live without tomorrow. But no, the site just offers information on a few famous inventors, and links to invention information, plus winners of the prestigious Lemelson-MIT Prize.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Journal of Distance Education
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Invention Dimension
Although only a Gopher site, the Journal of Distance Education is an example of some of the great, free resources available on the Internet. For this particular site, it helps if you have some kind of administrative or theoretical interest in distance education.
The journal is published twice a year, and covers a topic that is shifting into high-gear because the Internet is making long-distance learning a lot more practical.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
K12 World
If you are a K12 teacher with a fair amount of patience, amble on over to K12 World, a very tidy and useful site packed with Web resources of interest to you. You'll need patience because there are two top pages for each topic, and the download can be mighty slow. But once you're in, you'll find classroom goodies; (Internet) library information; funding sources; lesson plans; and more. Especially cool is Internet Live, a page of live camera links and exploration events geared to eager net students.
The Classroom area features several disciplines, so whether you teach science, journalism, or art, there are helpful links for you here.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Karen Wickre
Kaplan Educational Centers
Kaplan - famous for helping underachievers earn admission to their parents' swanky alma maters - has an extremely useful Web site. To be fair, there are plenty of people who chose educational paths to law and medicine a little late, and definitely benefited from Kaplan testing materials.
The site features summaries of the current climates for admission into professional college programs. Kaplan books and software can be purchased online, and a special feature section displays an offbeat sense of humor. Though a commercial site, Kaplan offers invaluable free resources for those interested in professional development.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Lattitude 28 Schoolhouse
Sponsored by OpenNet Technologies, Lattitude 28 is really just a page of links to educational resources by subject; that is, except for two sections devoted to the Internet in the classroom. While there is no mention of screening the links, a quick quality survey suggests that they are. Additionally, visitors to the page are invited to submit their favorite education urls. Links are organized by category, and there is also a listing of other schools on the Internet. Like most such sites, the links make it worth the bookmark, even if the page itself is nothing special.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
LearnWorld Welcome Page
The content here is a collection of essays about African-American Culture that cover ground from the slave trade to 20th century literature.
The essays were written by students of a class titled "General Education 101," and take the form of mini-book reports.
The site is really only useful as a reference for books about African-American Culture as the essays are too short to provide any substantive information. It also suffers from a poor use of Netscape Frames; the only way to get back to the table of contents is to reload the whole site.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Library of Congress
Amazing content. If you want to feel one with the democratic process, go here and peel through the Thomas legislative database. Read the actual text of the bills that you *think* you know something about.
There is also a great bibliography of published works that can be searched by title or name.
The library features exhibits on specific themes, such as women in World War II. And if that weren't enough, there's also a great image archive.
The main drawback is that the site isn't very intuitively organized; it does require some effort to locate points of interest.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
MOO, an Educational Tool
MOO in this case refers not to cows (although if you're one of those who just can't get enough of bovines, there are plenty of irrelevant cow pics here), but to MUD, Object Oriented, as in a type of multiuser environment.
The site is simply a list of links to papers, FAQs, and resource collections containing general information on MOOs, as well as discussions of their social and educational uses and connections to MOOs themselves.
The page was due for an update when I visited-several of the links weren't working-but if this is your particular interest, you'll probably find something you can use here.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Sandra Stewart
MayaQuest Ô96
MayaQuest began in 1995 as an attempt to merge hands-on exploration with online interactivity. A team of five people bicycled to ruins in Mexico and Central America, met with on-site archaeologists, and shared their experiences via the Web with over 1 million kids, teachers, and regular netizens. MayaQuest is intended to include and empower those who cannot physically participate in this adventure through chat, team updates, news, and the multimedia experience.
The site is Shocked for those who have Netscape or Internet Explorer, and a new expedition will begin in March, 1997.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Lauren Guzak
Media Literacy On-Line
Media Literacy is a movement to educate youth and adults about the media - how to use and maximize its benefits, and how to guard against its tricks.
The Web site is a stockpile collection of, you guessed it, media literacy-related information available online. While there isn't an extreme amount of original content filling up the bandwidth (nor will you find snazzy graphics or HTML 3.0 wizardry), it is outstanding as a collection of resource links in one convenient place. With smart organization and enough color to keep us from getting the "Netscape Gray" blues, this is a very valuable site.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Middle of Nowhere
Middle of Nowhere is an experiment by Professor Brad Cox in building a site with depth on the Web, something he claims is an impossible task. Various thematically oriented sets of articles in the warehouse section of this site seem to prove him wrong.
The themes focus on the Internet and current social issues.
The site also has the online portions of classes Professor Cox teaches, so the unenrolled can follow along at home.
The organization of the site leaves something to be desired.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Minnesota Preparatory Schools
You ever stop to wonder how many college prep schools could be found in Winona Minnesota? Probably not, eh? Well, this server connects Winona's three preparatory institutions and their offerings, giving profiles of each school, the student life there, course selection, etc.
There's even a resident dorm which provides housing for out-of-town students. If you're already prepared, collegiately speaking, link up to St. Mary's home page, a private Catholic University in, you guessed it, Winona, Minnesota.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
Mister Rogers Neighborhood
The comfortable, and awfully nice sweater-clad guy beckons us to sample some tasty bits from his long-running public TV show on this easy to use page. You'll find some of his wisdom (and suggested activities) about separation anxiety, competition, disabilities, and fears.
There are also lyrics to a number of Mr. R's songs ("Parents Were Little Once Too" is but one), and a bibliography of books the nice man recommends. From here, you can link to PBS program schedules, stations, and previews.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 7
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
Mr. Trockman's Earth Science
Sure, this may just be the humble Web page of a humble eighth grade earth science teacher in humble Minnesota, but without a doubt, one may safely say:
The Trock rocks! (all puns intended). Dan Trockman is obviously one wacky dude who knows how to make science fun. You'll find playful backgrounds of lava and snowflakes, as well as photos of volcanoes and blizzards (the Trock, in a flurry of photo-journalistic inspiration, even posted local Minnesota photos from last winter's arctic snow storms). All the levity is balanced with concise lecture notes for home-bound students. This is a model for using the Web to augment traditional curriculum.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
NCRVE Home Page
While
The National Center for Research in Vocational Education's (NCRVE) Web site could stand some good editing and a dose of spirit, it nevertheless provides useful information and progress reports on an alternative form of secondary education. Based at the University of California, the NCRVE Web site is linked to documents on the history and the future of vocational education, all organized like a standard high school report and about as interesting.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Nebraska Social Resource
For educators specializing in the social studies this service from the Nebraska Department of Education may prove useful, but despite it's claim that it is "just an example of what can be accomplished on the WWW," the page has a long way to go.
The only segment which strikes me as important is the one devoted to Teacher Resources and Programs, a listing of events, seminars, and services having to do with teaching the social sciences. Other content, such as the addresses of foreign embassies, is lackluster, at best, and available elsewhere.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
Nellie Mae Loan Link Resource for Student Loan Info
Nellie Mae runs a tight ship with no loose ends, and no extraneous information or pages. It's a very streamlined site - and this is not my ironic way of saying there's little content. You'll find a number of pages filled with very practical information about student loans, focusing on the student loans Nellie Mae specifically offers.
There is also a page on when to start applying for loans, and some brief explanations of the different kinds of loans. This site *could* be more in-depth.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
NetNoir Education
Following precedence set by the rest of NetNoir's Web space, it's no surprise that the education section of NetNoir.com is pleasant to look at with insightful content. This area hosts a wonderful archive of African folk tales, as they were told originally, with colorful artwork and an interesting weave of hyperlinks to connect them all. Also found are "classes online."
These classes have a mini lecture, recommended readings, and mention something about online discussions (though I couldn't find the discussion area.)
There's still room for improvement, but NetNoir's off to a nice start.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Shel Kimen
Nizhoni School for Global Consciousness
This is a one-page information board for a school located in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
There isn't much reason to go here unless you feel a strong need to attend classes that teach people to "follow their hearts to their purest source of intelligence, the Higher Self." That's about all the information this page offers, but there is a book you can order (offline) that will tell you more about this Navajo-inspired course of study.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
North Hagerstown High School
Get acquainted with students and teachers at this central Maryland high school, population 1,000. A modest effort, the site promotes net education and communication.
The ninth grade Prejudice Reduction Project, for example, invites classes and students to send essays, bios, and URLs "that will help gain a better understanding of the world around us."
There's also an Environmental E-Mail Project the lets readers report on environmental concerns "faced by your region or state." This could be a good resource for other teachers to use.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
PUBLIC TEACH IN
Missed New York's International Forum on Globalization last November? Well, you can still take a trip to its Internet audio archives, which has four speeches given at that event. Unfortunately, that's it!
There's no information about the teach-in itself or about the one coming up, nor are there links to groups and events with a similar weltanschauung. Make up for some of these lacks by visiting the site's parent directory, at http://www.peacenet.org/. Note: If you don't have the free RealAudio player, this site is completely pointless; download it at http://www.realaudio.com/.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Peterson's Education Center
Wow. It's not often that information resource companies give you full access to their material via the Web:
There's still no effective way to make money off of it. Peterson's does, however, providing a huge stock of info about schools, summer programs, and business management. As with most pages, this site is under continual construction; you'll frequently be greeted by a "We're sorry..." message. But the areas that *are* fully implemented - such as those with Graduate School information - are gorgeous, complete, and easy-to-use. Peterson's Education Center is a gem that will only get better - until you have to pay for it.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Pitsco Technology Education
You'd expect more than a scroll-it script and a "weird science" graphic to announce the site of a company claiming to be the "leader in innovative technology education." And what Pitsco's site lacks in the whiz-bang department, it doesn't make up for anywhere else. Judging from the quality of its hubristic copy, you'd think poor spelling and grammar were cutting-edge educational strategies.
The online version of its much-touted catalog provides descriptions of popular products like "Shuttle in Orbit Wall Mural," and "Tower Tester," as well as links to related sites, but this one needs work before it fulfills its own promises.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Ananda Nada
Princeton Review
The Princeton Review has gained a dedicated following by helping students exploit weaknesses in badly-designed standardized tests.
Their iconoclastic methods translate well in this Web site, where you'll find information about standardized tests, college entry requirements, and potential careers. While the content and technical presentation - including search engines
use "wiredbrain" which alphabetical indices - is first-rate, the scant graphics aren't, nor will you find all the information that's available in the books. But then, they have to get your money somehow, don't they?
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Princeton Review
High school juniors and seniors who simply *must* attend the best universities would do well to visit this site presented by the "nation's leader in test preparation." That's right:
The Princeton Review offers classes on preparing for standardized tests like the SAT, GRE, and MCAT, which will later get you into - guess what? - more classes. Study, study, study. Achieve, achieve, achieve. That's the Princeton way, but there's no disputing the Review's attraction if you aspire to a career in law, business, or medicine. A search engine eases navigation, but lengthy download times of frivolous graphics may leave you peeved.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
Princeton Review
High school juniors and seniors who simply *must* attend the best universities would do well to visit this site presented by the "nation's leader in test preparation." That's right: the Princeton Review offers classes on preparing for standardized tests like the SAT, GRE and MCAT, which will later get you into - guess what? - more classes. Study, study, study. Achieve, achieve, achieve. That's the Princeton way, but there's no disputing the Review's attraction if you aspire to a career in law, business or medicine. A search engine eases navigation, but lengthy download times of frivolous graphics may leave you peeved.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
RAND Institute on Education and Training
IET is part of Rand's, a non-profit public policy research organization, larger web site.
The site's purpose is to improve American's public policy through research and analysis, and to train policy analysts. IET provides links to summaries on more than 55 Rand research papers. Some topics covered include worldwide communications, economics, education, crime, NATO, housing, game theory, terrorism, and water resources. Full-text for some of these papers are free, others are not.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
SPAM
Norman, Oklahoma is the unlikely nexus for the Schools of the Pacific Atmospheric Monitoring project. From the mainland U.S. and Hawaii, all across the lonely atolls to New Zealand, monitoring stations have been set up at schools to collect data on rainfall, uv radiation, and the like, every fifteen minutes, twenty-four/seven/365. Back at mission central, the University of Oklahoma, all data is plotted and analyzed for the benefit of atmospheric science.
The Web project is lagging a little; interactive maps are mostly inoperative, with mock data only. Nevertheless, this is one of those sites that puts the worldwide in WWW; look for it to grow and improve.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
STUDIE'
It's so cute, with its rainbow colors, and to the point! Officially called School Teachers Using & Developing Internet Expertise or STUDIE' (pronounced Stoo'-dee-ay), the web site gives local educational information for the Alpine School District in Utah as well as general information for all educators seeking to learn about the Internet. STUDIE' provides links to HTML lessons, email emoticons and acronyms, and a growing list of educational hyperlinks. Links lead to sites on the core subjects, the arts, foreign language, health, government, religion, weather, shopping, newspapers and newsgroups.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
School House
It ain't Schoolhouse Rock (remember *Conjunction Junction*?), but it rocks nonetheless, with in-depth reviews of a full spectrum of educational software. I don't use the word in-depth lightly, either: screen shots and lengthy criticisms are offered for a growing list of titles that already includes somewhere around, ...let's see, one, two, three, ... a hundred titles. A sub page of the larger World Village site, this one should be bookmarked by any parents with school age kids and a CD-ROM drive.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
School Is Dead
Not only are kids rebelling against formalized schooling, their parents are, as well; and, as sites we've reviewed in the Blue Pages have shown, there are plenty of Web resources out there for those interested in home schooling. But what about "no-schoolers"? For both groups, Karl Bunday's site is a convincing (although ugly) collection of quotes and arguments emphasizing that the one who learns best schools least.
The points are presented as one heavily linked screed, making the site great for browsing, but it's hard to find specific information unless you use the index.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Stanford University Home Page
Stanford University was one of the first sites on the Internet. Though it's no longer a leader in Internet connectivity, its WWW pages show it's kept abreast of the net's dynamic changes.
The site's centerpiece is "Portfolio," which links Stanford's extensive but old-fashioned Gopher and FTP sites with a snazzy new Web interface - pretty clever! (This mixture of sources tends to make the content a bit uneven, however.) As with most university servers, there's a directory of student Web pages. Also find good links to info on getting around the South Bay/Silicon Valley area.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Stockholms Universitet
The info here is available in Swedish or English, an important first step for us monoglots. Unfortunately, in either language, the content is a little sparse.
The most involved page is the one dedicated to the university library, (with frames, an online card catalog, and navigational links to the rest of the site) but the menu gives no indication of this. It is a smashing piece of architecture, the Stockholm U *bibliotek*, but that in itself hardly sells the site to prospective students or visitors.
There are no under construction signs, but I have a feeling this site will improve.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
Sydney Lanier
The kids at Sidney Lanier are a lucky bunch, if this site is anything to go on.
The ubiquitous puppy icon aside (come on kids, let's mix it up a little bit), the activities featured in the Houston school's home page made me a little wistful for the days of field trips and science fairs. Some of the sub-pages need work: the Hyper-history of seventy year old Lanier left me wanting more links, and the /images, by and large, were of poor quality. Time to hit up the old PTA, maybe throw a bake-sale for scanners or put the principal in the dunk tank at a buck a shot.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
THE STUDY PLACE
A budding philosopher's mecca,
The Study Place is an online academic resource managed by the Institute for Learning Technologies of Columbia University.
The college's faculty and doctoral candidates provide good critiques of ancient and modern philosophy.
The site also includes links to brief biographies on ancient and modern philosophers including Aristotle, Dante, Descartes, et al.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Technology and Learning: A Planning and Implementation Resource
This is a guide for learning technology, taking readers from the goal setting and initial research stages to the implementation and revision for improvement stages. It is not light reading. It offers diagrams and provides information in an outline format.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Testprep.com
Too bad this resource wasn't around when I was suffering through SAT preparations. This is a truly useful site which provides a free SAT course. Diagnose your weak areas by taking a complete version of the SAT and then choose from 1000's of review lessons including answers and explanations. You can shop to order SAT guides at the Testprep Superstore or purchase the Stanford Studyguide software disk. But it's refreshing to see free information so readily offered in an area which has become an industry in itself.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
The Biosfera Project
The title project was undertaken by Carlos Solis, a professor at Rice University, to help train school teachers simultaneously in Spanish and Conservation Biology. This humble site describes the experimental program conducted in the Peten, a rainforest region of Guatemala.
There are essays by some of the participants, links to sites related to Meso-America, and a somewhat crude map of Guatemala. It would be nice to see this site expand and refine.
The map could be interactive, the pages made more attractive, etc. More importantly, there should be more emphasis on the people of the Peten.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
The Chronicle: Academe This Week
The Chronicle is the proverbial Bible for college-level teachers and administrators.
The Web page is well-organized, pointing you to news and resources on information technology, academic research, government programs and legislation, professional development, and more. But you must subscribe to the paper version ($75/year) to get Academe Today, the daily online features and links publication, (with a registration and password scheme that insures that no one else gets in.) If you are a Chronicle subscriber or are thinking about it, Academe Today is a definite plus. If not, this is just a nice brochure describing what's on paper.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The EdWeb Home Room
EdWeb comes off as uninspired. Most of the subject matter has to do with the use of technology in K12 education, which doesn't have to be such a dry subject.
The articles on EdWeb have some good statistics you can throw around at cocktail parties, but they're so buried by banal design and endless text that most people will fall asleep before reaching them. This site is probably best suited to parents who know nothing about the Internet and want to know whether it would be a good thing for their kids to learn to use.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
The Electric Library
EL is a hot idea that has a short way to go before it really catches fire.
The service conducts topical searches through the full text of some 150 newspapers and 900 magazines, as well as newswires, books, etc. It's a great way to get a roundup of reviews or articles on a topic that interests you. But after a two-week trial period, you'll have to pay $9.95 a month for the privilege; and the searches bring up articles randomly, not from newest to oldest or most mentions to least. With smarter search mechanisms and alternate pricing schemes (how about one month and three-month increments?), I'd say bookmark EL. Right now, it's worth a look.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The History Channel Classroom
If you're a teacher looking to incorporate more engaging material into your curriculum,
The History Channel Classroom is a good place to start.
There are resources to help teachers plan classroom discussions and research projects based on
The History Channel's shows, with a convenient Classroom Calendar for planning.
The network sponsors awards' programs are designed to support quality history education in America's schools; to wit, the History Channel Awards for National History Day honor the Best Senior Media Project and the Outstanding Contribution in History Education. A very good site, even if it does smack of self-promotion.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Lauren Guzak
The MIT Home Page
To me, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will always be known primarily for the witty pranks of technically minded students, but you'll have to dig hard to find that info here (try http://fishwrap.mit.edu/Hacks/Gallery.htm instead). You will find just about everything else about MIT. For a bunch of geeks, though, it's rather pedestrian: no image maps or search engines
use "wiredbrain" worth mentioning, cryptic icons, and mostly just text. Be sure to check out the "fun stuff" area, which includes tips for hacking the campus security cards. Cool! Let's get user-friendly, folks!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The Riggs Institute
The Instiute is a non-profit corporation in Beaverton, Oregon specializing in literacy issues. And if the blurbs cited here are any indication, it is well-regarded by both educators and policy makers. That aside, the presentation here whiffed a bit of fakery and snake oil. All the explanation points and relentless pitching make me wary. I'm not saying it's a fraud, by any means -- I wouldn't know. It just comes off that way. You can judge for yourself.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
The Student Guide 1995-96
For most students, the most difficult hurdle of higher education isn't the course work - it's finding the money to pay for it. A lot of college funding ultimately comes from the federal government in the form of loans and grants. But how can you learn more about financial aid? That's where
The Student Guide comes in. Released each year by the Department of Education, it tells you how to qualify, whom to contact, and how you can expect to repay the loans. This web site is really just a more "browsable" form of a 126K document, which is also available for downloading. Regardless of how you view
The Student Guide, every prospective college student should check it out.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The University of Michigan
The University of Michigan has long been famous in the Internet community for its vast file archive site (find more info about this by going to http://www.umich.edu/~archive/). But there's more to U. Michigan than free software. Like, a top-ranked university!
The site gives the usual information about its academic programs and such, beautifully linked and annotated via search engines
use "wiredbrain", tables of contents, and clickable image maps. One coincidence makes the site aesthetically pleasing: U.M.'s logo blue matches the "unfollowed link" blue in Netscape's browser. Not to mention my eyes.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
The World Lecture Hall
This is the ultimate Web resource for the independent student. Providing links to online course materials posted by universities all over America in subjects ranging from "accounting" to "zoology," the site lets students interested in self-study but not in relying on local college schedules get guidance on just about anything. Of course, lab work will be kind of difficult for the science courses, unless you happen to have a particularly well-equipped kitchen.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Theatre Education Literature Review
Theatre... is a home page of 59 theater-educational questions or topics with links to their brief answers or explanations, including footnotes. Simple. Kent Seidel, of the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program of the University of Cincinnati, asks questions, such as "Why study theatre?," or introduces topics, such as "
Theatre for at-risk students," as the points relate to scholars' views of theater's positive effect in education.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
This is Mega-Mathematics
Number news and notes from our friends at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. But rather than bog us down with odd symbols and complicated formulas, Mega-Mathematics throws down visual problems, twisted games, and strange anecdotes to teach the rules of logic, graphing, and other mind-bending mathematics. Beautifully-designed and organized so you can go as deep as you want into each subject or lose yourself entirely in this seemingly infinite collection. Infinite? What does that really mean? Look here to find out. Allegedly the site is geared for elementary school children, but I learned more than a few things.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: David Pescovitz
Thomas Edison State College
What home-schooling does for the under+18 crowd, "distance learning" colleges like Thomas Edison State do for those seeking higher educational degrees. According to the college's Web site, "students in any state or nation can earn credit for college-level knowledge acquired outside the classroom." It's a pity the college hasn't done more with its Web pages: considering how far-flung the students must be, the potential for Internet-based instruction is tremendous. Indeed, the site isn't nearly as deep or interesting as many other colleges', and the occasional misdirected link mars the experience.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Truth, Lies, Rumors, and Rumbles
"As the Board Churns" is the subtitle of this text-based saga, about the tensions between teachers, parents, and citizen-players with various agendas in a southern New Jersey school district. Our "netitor" is Abe Wolinsky, a technology teacher who decided to publish Web reports on the community squabbles. All the details may not interest you, but this will: the original arguments (about building a new high school vs. saving money, and a subsequent teachers' contract) were quickly eclipsed by new crossfire because Abe put the story on the on the Web. You can even join in via e-mail if you'd like.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
U.S. Civil War Center
From Louisiana State University comes this ambitious, if somewhat dull, page devoted to collecting and making available every scrap of information concerning the nation's costliest war. Scholars and students will of course find the site helpful in researching the conflict, and genealogists will appreciate the short tutorial on researching individuals from the era. Like most link-driven sites, it's all very straightforward, and a little bit daunting.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
UC Berkeley Home Page
In a region known for compromise and reason, the University of California at Berkeley's Web pages are elegantly reasoned and make compromises so they're both user-friendly and fast.
The contents can be access via nicely arranged text choices rather than by image maps, so the site is as useful to someone on a Unix box as on a Mac.
The content is deep and varied, from the Naval Architecture school to the click-to-zoom-in campus map. If you're into general Web search engines
use "wiredbrain", be sure to add Berkeley's "Inktomi" (http://inktomi.berkeley.edu/) to your list.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
UK Lifelong Learning
The Brits seem to have a ministry for everything, with sub-ministries and rooms full of clerks endlessly shuffling papers. Well, some of the clerks have turned in their green eyeshades for PC's at the Department for Education and Employment, Individual Commitment Division. (Yes, that's really its name, bureaucratic lex for "the state wishes you to stay in school and stop being a worthless git.") While the site is extensive, it suffers from a bone-dry officialdom that subverts the intended message: Learning is fun.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
UT Austin Web Central
Austin can be considered the birthplace of the "slacker" archetype: a center for high-tech companies, one of the few progressive cities in Texas... and, rumor has it, there's a university down there, too. Well blow me down. UT is a gargantuan university, and its WWW presence reflects its size.
The site's internal search engine bears this out: A search for the word "racquetball" returned 17 references, mostly on students' personal pages. Altogether, there are more than 25,000 web pages on 170 servers (so they say, anyway), including everything you ever wanted to know about UT. Beware the badly designed image maps.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
OK, Web users, lets collectively bow in the direction of UIUC, host to the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Without the bright boys and girls at NCSA, the Web would not be what it is today. Sadly, I can't say if that's a good thing or bad thing. But for a site of such distinction, UIUC lacks wild HTML tricks. It *is* big and fast, however, and provides so much information, you could spend a few days just finding your way around. You'll find complete college catalog-type information, plus the university's library site.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
University of Washington
I did some time at this institution, so I come to this site occasionally just to see what the weather's doing back home.
The UW site, however, is far more impressive than the inevitably dreary image from the view cam. A big campus, the "U Dub" is a city in its own right, and the magnitude of this site reflects that fact. Links connect to all the various departments, to campus radio, to student and faculty directories, campus publications, museums, ...there's even a virtual tour of the medicinal herb garden. Anyone interested in the U -- especially anyone considering enrollment -- should come here first. And pay special attention to that weather.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Patrick Joseph
University of the Phillipines
This is a pretty generous site, with superfluous but interesting material like photos of the Manila campus circa 1933. Most of the information is in English although some segments, like the news briefs, are in Tagalog. Interested in enrolling? U.S. students need a minimum combined SAT of 1200, though exceptions are apparently made on occasion for "mature" students. Visually, the site is a bit dull (
The Webmaster apologizes for a busted color scanner), but the info is all here and straightforward.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
Urban Education Web
Learning about learning: that's what the Urban Education Web is about. It's part of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), a well-known and highly-respected database of studies on education. It, in turn, is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. All these layers of support point to two attributes of this Web site: it's densely academic, and it's excellently supported. Here, you'll not only find out if the government has published information about gangs in the schools, you'll probably find the monographs themselves, hyperlinked internally and with other documents. I don't know what poor souls are sitting in a windowless office doing all this, but they deserve to be thanked.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
VLC.Homepage
The Village Learning Center bills itself as a new type of school that will "preserve and nurture the yearning for learning that everyone is born with." This doesn't explain why it became an online school, but the lack of accreditation might have something to do with it. A mere $1,195 buys a semester of work at home - e-mail assignments in course work for the seventh to ninth grade set. Use at your own risk.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Washington Gifted School of Communication
Can we talk adorable for a moment? This site is absolutely fun fun fun by way of enchanting graphics. Unfortunately, there isn't really much of interest otherwise, unless you're already involved with the school.
The schedule of events, mission statement, and student bios are well done and seem helpful enough, but it's missing the original content that makes a site interesting and worth repeated visits. I say, post the student artwork and stories, and up the ante a bit! After all, it's a site for a school of communication whose students are gifted.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Washington University in St Louis
Washington University's Web pages have a clean, crisp organization and some useful features lacking at some of the larger sites. Want to check your e-mail? Click here. Want to do an Infoseek search without leaving university property? No problem. Add a bit of surreality to your visit by clicking on the "What's This?" button, which leads to a page of basic information about using the Web, site statistics, etc. So, even if they've never been to W.U., first-time users are already getting an education. Still, this handsome site lacks the content depth found at some other universities.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Web 66
The mission of Web 66 is to provide resources to help K12 schools get on the Web. This may seem a questionable goal with all the hype about whether the Internet is a safe place for kids, but the Web master clears that right up by quoting headlines in his personal rants section that indicate how much more dangerous the outside world is for kids. Web 66 has instructions for educators to set up Web servers, and a very impressive list of K12 schools from around the world that are online.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Welcome to CNU ONLINE
Christopher Newport University, located in Virginia, is trying to push the envelope of modern education practice by offering a substantive number of classes online. It's even offering a degree in governmental administration through online course work. Unfortunately, the Web site is just a front for a Telnet gateway, and at least one of the Telnet addresses given on the Web site is wrong, which made it impossible to get course information.
The Telnet gateway that I could get to run was so slow, it could turn a four-year degree into a six-year degree.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Whales
Whales (and dinosaurs) intrigue kids everywhere, and some industrious teachers in Virginia have tapped into that phenomenon here, where all lessons originate from and revolve around the same subject: whales. Lesson plans range from math word problems involving whales, to the history of whaling, and whale literature. From humpbacks to blues, baleen to toothed, all young marine mammal enthusiasts, parents and teachers will like this one. It's a simple, yet creative example of educational possibilities on the Web. Hopefully, with time, the creators will add more sound and /images, and bring the standards up to match the content.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
Whole Frog
The Whole Frog Project offers an online alternative to a classic high school biology experience: dissecting a frog. Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley Labs use high-resolution MRI /images and sophisticated 3D rendering software to create a virtual amphibian whose parts can be viewed at a variety of depths and angles.
The site is jam packed with information about both the biological and technological details of the project. It also includes study guidelines to help teachers create engaging lesson plans (which combine physical and computer sciences). Best of all, the Whole Frog Project is completely free of scalpel hazards and the queer smell of formaldehyde.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
Worcester Polytechnic
Most online education fails because it tries to transplant subjects to the screen that are best-suited for the classroom. But Professor Cyganski's class at Worcester Polytechnic Institute has an edge of relevance here, as it's all about telecommunications transmission technologies. Since I'm not an electrical engineer, most of the highly-technical content of this site eluded me, but its basic "learning is as learning does" mission comes through loud and clear: Engineers should not be afraid of their tools. Or, as the prof says, "This course is not for WIMPs (Whining Internet/Multi-media Phobes)." Some of the meatier areas of the site are available only to WPI accounts, alas.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Word Page
Well, let's award Word Page an "E" for effort - although I don't know how to factor an "E" into a GPA.
The purpose of this site is to help people learn 10 new words a week - an admirable enterprise. Unfortunately, it doesn't help if you already know the words the site's editor happened to pick. Also, the definitions provided are a little weak, consisting of a short phrase or sentence. It wouldn't take much effort, and certainly not much space, to include full dictionary definitions. And, finally, the misspellings littered throughout the site aren't going to impress any educators out there.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
World Association for Family and Education WAFE
WAFE's Web site is primarily a resource for the group to disseminate information on its conferences. Because WAFE is international, the Internet is probably a pretty good medium for it, saving substantial amounts of money on printing and mailing costs. WAFE's mission statement, which is published on the site, is a little bit spacy, and seems pretty narrow-minded with its emphasis that "Marriage, the only proper context for full expression of the love between one man and one woman, is the rock upon which the family rests."
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
World Education Exchange
World Education Exchange, a graduate student project, bills itself as a site that "explores the world of reform and information technology." It's a lofty description for a site which is little more than a repository of links (albeit interesting ones) on virtual education and Internet resources for teachers and kids. I suppose it's useful for someone to have done the research for you, but without a single shred of commentary or analysis, it feels like someone trying to profit from other people's work. After all, aren't Yahoo!, Lycos, and all the other search engines
use "wiredbrain" out there, for the purpose of categorizing and cataloguing information on the Internet?
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Rachel Saidman
World Game Institute
Despite its playful-sounding title, the World Game Institute is no joke. Inspired by noted scientist and social philosopher Buckminster Fuller, the Institute was founded to "provide the perspective and information needed to solve the critical problems facing global society,"
The site probes all these problems (famine, disease, overpopulation, deforestation and more) with incisive, well-documented research and data. Even skittery surfers should stop to check out the "What the World Wants (and how to pay for it)" chart. It's a powerful representation of the mixed-up priorities in our military-minded global economy.
The institute also conducts workshops and conferences in the corporate and educational communities.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
Yale University World Wide Web Front Door
The Yale University site is everything the Harvard site isn't. Just kidding! Though, quite honestly, Yale's Web set-up beats its historical nemesis'. At the top level are listings for P.R. information, search engines
use "wiredbrain", maps, academic department pages, student activities... Lots of stuff here. Thank god it's so well-organized! Running a search shows just how much there is: the word "racquetball" returned 10 pages, including news of the sports team, a description of the athletic facilities, and someone's experiments with the Connectix QuickCam, a video input device "about the size of a racquetball." Pretty good search engine, that!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
eWorld Learning Community
The eWorld Learning Community has gathered an impressive set of quality links under categories such as News Rack, Apple Education Resource, Museum, and School House. Unfortunately, links are pretty much all this site has to offer. It's a misnomer for eWorld to claim that this is its Learning Community.
The links belong to the Internet; the site should be called the Internet Learning Community. But enough on semantics.
The design is tasteful, but , save a search engine, there are no cool technical devices to add any pizzazz to this site.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
The site is really only useful as a reference for books about African-American Culture as the essays are too short to provide any substantive information. It also suffers from a poor use of Netscape Frames; the only way to get back to the table of contents is to reload the whole site.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Library of Congress
Amazing content. If you want to feel one with the democratic process, go here and peel through the Thomas legislative database. Read the actual text of the bills that you *think* you know something about.
There is also a great bibliography of published works that can be searched by title or name.
The library features exhibits on specific themes, such as women in World War II. And if that weren't enough, there's also a great image archive.
The main drawback is that the site isn't very intuitively organized; it does require some effort to locate points of interest.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
MOO, an Educational Tool
MOO in this case refers not to cows (although if you're one of those who just can't get enough of bovines, there are plenty of irrelevant cow pics here), but to MUD, Object Oriented, as in a type of multiuser environment.
The site is simply a list of links to papers, FAQs, and resource collections containing general information on MOOs, as well as discussions of their social and educational uses and connections to MOOs themselves.
The page was due for an update when I visited-several of the links weren't working-but if this is your particular interest, you'll probably find something you can use here.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Sandra Stewart
MayaQuest Ô96
MayaQuest began in 1995 as an attempt to merge hands-on exploration with online interactivity. A team of five people bicycled to ruins in Mexico and Central America, met with on-site archaeologists, and shared their experiences via the Web with over 1 million kids, teachers, and regular netizens. MayaQuest is intended to include and empower those who cannot physically participate in this adventure through chat, team updates, news, and the multimedia experience.
The site is Shocked for those who have Netscape or Internet Explorer, and a new expedition will begin in March, 1997.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Lauren Guzak
Media Literacy On-Line
Media Literacy is a movement to educate youth and adults about the media - how to use and maximize its benefits, and how to guard against its tricks.
The Web site is a stockpile collection of, you guessed it, media literacy-related information available online. While there isn't an extreme amount of original content filling up the bandwidth (nor will you find snazzy graphics or HTML 3.0 wizardry), it is outstanding as a collection of resource links in one convenient place. With smart organization and enough color to keep us from getting the "Netscape Gray" blues, this is a very valuable site.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Middle of Nowhere
Middle of Nowhere is an experiment by Professor Brad Cox in building a site with depth on the Web, something he claims is an impossible task. Various thematically oriented sets of articles in the warehouse section of this site seem to prove him wrong.
The themes focus on the Internet and current social issues.
The site also has the online portions of classes Professor Cox teaches, so the unenrolled can follow along at home.
The organization of the site leaves something to be desired.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Minnesota Preparatory Schools
You ever stop to wonder how many college prep schools could be found in Winona Minnesota? Probably not, eh? Well, this server connects Winona's three preparatory institutions and their offerings, giving profiles of each school, the student life there, course selection, etc.
There's even a resident dorm which provides housing for out-of-town students. If you're already prepared, collegiately speaking, link up to St. Mary's home page, a private Catholic University in, you guessed it, Winona, Minnesota.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
Mister Rogers Neighborhood
The comfortable, and awfully nice sweater-clad guy beckons us to sample some tasty bits from his long-running public TV show on this easy to use page. You'll find some of his wisdom (and suggested activities) about separation anxiety, competition, disabilities, and fears.
There are also lyrics to a number of Mr. R's songs ("Parents Were Little Once Too" is but one), and a bibliography of books the nice man recommends. From here, you can link to PBS program schedules, stations, and previews.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 7
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
Mr. Trockman's Earth Science
Sure, this may just be the humble Web page of a humble eighth grade earth science teacher in humble Minnesota, but without a doubt, one may safely say:
The Trock rocks! (all puns intended). Dan Trockman is obviously one wacky dude who knows how to make science fun. You'll find playful backgrounds of lava and snowflakes, as well as photos of volcanoes and blizzards (the Trock, in a flurry of photo-journalistic inspiration, even posted local Minnesota photos from last winter's arctic snow storms). All the levity is balanced with concise lecture notes for home-bound students. This is a model for using the Web to augment traditional curriculum.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
NCRVE Home Page
While
The National Center for Research in Vocational Education's (NCRVE) Web site could stand some good editing and a dose of spirit, it nevertheless provides useful information and progress reports on an alternative form of secondary education. Based at the University of California, the NCRVE Web site is linked to documents on the history and the future of vocational education, all organized like a standard high school report and about as interesting.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Nebraska Social Resource
For educators specializing in the social studies this service from the Nebraska Department of Education may prove useful, but despite it's claim that it is "just an example of what can be accomplished on the WWW," the page has a long way to go.
The only segment which strikes me as important is the one devoted to Teacher Resources and Programs, a listing of events, seminars, and services having to do with teaching the social sciences. Other content, such as the addresses of foreign embassies, is lackluster, at best, and available elsewhere.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
Nellie Mae Loan Link Resource for Student Loan Info
Nellie Mae runs a tight ship with no loose ends, and no extraneous information or pages. It's a very streamlined site - and this is not my ironic way of saying there's little content. You'll find a number of pages filled with very practical information about student loans, focusing on the student loans Nellie Mae specifically offers.
There is also a page on when to start applying for loans, and some brief explanations of the different kinds of loans. This site *could* be more in-depth.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
NetNoir Education
Following precedence set by the rest of NetNoir's Web space, it's no surprise that the education section of NetNoir.com is pleasant to look at with insightful content. This area hosts a wonderful archive of African folk tales, as they were told originally, with colorful artwork and an interesting weave of hyperlinks to connect them all. Also found are "classes online."
These classes have a mini lecture, recommended readings, and mention something about online discussions (though I couldn't find the discussion area.)
There's still room for improvement, but NetNoir's off to a nice start.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Shel Kimen
Nizhoni School for Global Consciousness
This is a one-page information board for a school located in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
There isn't much reason to go here unless you feel a strong need to attend classes that teach people to "follow their hearts to their purest source of intelligence, the Higher Self." That's about all the information this page offers, but there is a book you can order (offline) that will tell you more about this Navajo-inspired course of study.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
North Hagerstown High School
Get acquainted with students and teachers at this central Maryland high school, population 1,000. A modest effort, the site promotes net education and communication.
The ninth grade Prejudice Reduction Project, for example, invites classes and students to send essays, bios, and URLs "that will help gain a better understanding of the world around us."
There's also an Environmental E-Mail Project the lets readers report on environmental concerns "faced by your region or state." This could be a good resource for other teachers to use.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
PUBLIC TEACH IN
Missed New York's International Forum on Globalization last November? Well, you can still take a trip to its Internet audio archives, which has four speeches given at that event. Unfortunately, that's it!
There's no information about the teach-in itself or about the one coming up, nor are there links to groups and events with a similar weltanschauung. Make up for some of these lacks by visiting the site's parent directory, at http://www.peacenet.org/. Note: If you don't have the free RealAudio player, this site is completely pointless; download it at http://www.realaudio.com/.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Peterson's Education Center
Wow. It's not often that information resource companies give you full access to their material via the Web:
There's still no effective way to make money off of it. Peterson's does, however, providing a huge stock of info about schools, summer programs, and business management. As with most pages, this site is under continual construction; you'll frequently be greeted by a "We're sorry..." message. But the areas that *are* fully implemented - such as those with Graduate School information - are gorgeous, complete, and easy-to-use. Peterson's Education Center is a gem that will only get better - until you have to pay for it.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Pitsco Technology Education
You'd expect more than a scroll-it script and a "weird science" graphic to announce the site of a company claiming to be the "leader in innovative technology education." And what Pitsco's site lacks in the whiz-bang department, it doesn't make up for anywhere else. Judging from the quality of its hubristic copy, you'd think poor spelling and grammar were cutting-edge educational strategies.
The online version of its much-touted catalog provides descriptions of popular products like "Shuttle in Orbit Wall Mural," and "Tower Tester," as well as links to related sites, but this one needs work before it fulfills its own promises.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Ananda Nada
Princeton Review
The Princeton Review has gained a dedicated following by helping students exploit weaknesses in badly-designed standardized tests.
Their iconoclastic methods translate well in this Web site, where you'll find information about standardized tests, college entry requirements, and potential careers. While the content and technical presentation - including search engines
use "wiredbrain" which alphabetical indices - is first-rate, the scant graphics aren't, nor will you find all the information that's available in the books. But then, they have to get your money somehow, don't they?
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Princeton Review
High school juniors and seniors who simply *must* attend the best universities would do well to visit this site presented by the "nation's leader in test preparation." That's right:
The Princeton Review offers classes on preparing for standardized tests like the SAT, GRE, and MCAT, which will later get you into - guess what? - more classes. Study, study, study. Achieve, achieve, achieve. That's the Princeton way, but there's no disputing the Review's attraction if you aspire to a career in law, business, or medicine. A search engine eases navigation, but lengthy download times of frivolous graphics may leave you peeved.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
Princeton Review
High school juniors and seniors who simply *must* attend the best universities would do well to visit this site presented by the "nation's leader in test preparation." That's right: the Princeton Review offers classes on preparing for standardized tests like the SAT, GRE and MCAT, which will later get you into - guess what? - more classes. Study, study, study. Achieve, achieve, achieve. That's the Princeton way, but there's no disputing the Review's attraction if you aspire to a career in law, business or medicine. A search engine eases navigation, but lengthy download times of frivolous graphics may leave you peeved.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
RAND Institute on Education and Training
IET is part of Rand's, a non-profit public policy research organization, larger web site.
The site's purpose is to improve American's public policy through research and analysis, and to train policy analysts. IET provides links to summaries on more than 55 Rand research papers. Some topics covered include worldwide communications, economics, education, crime, NATO, housing, game theory, terrorism, and water resources. Full-text for some of these papers are free, others are not.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
SPAM
Norman, Oklahoma is the unlikely nexus for the Schools of the Pacific Atmospheric Monitoring project. From the mainland U.S. and Hawaii, all across the lonely atolls to New Zealand, monitoring stations have been set up at schools to collect data on rainfall, uv radiation, and the like, every fifteen minutes, twenty-four/seven/365. Back at mission central, the University of Oklahoma, all data is plotted and analyzed for the benefit of atmospheric science.
The Web project is lagging a little; interactive maps are mostly inoperative, with mock data only. Nevertheless, this is one of those sites that puts the worldwide in WWW; look for it to grow and improve.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
STUDIE'
It's so cute, with its rainbow colors, and to the point! Officially called School Teachers Using & Developing Internet Expertise or STUDIE' (pronounced Stoo'-dee-ay), the web site gives local educational information for the Alpine School District in Utah as well as general information for all educators seeking to learn about the Internet. STUDIE' provides links to HTML lessons, email emoticons and acronyms, and a growing list of educational hyperlinks. Links lead to sites on the core subjects, the arts, foreign language, health, government, religion, weather, shopping, newspapers and newsgroups.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
School House
It ain't Schoolhouse Rock (remember *Conjunction Junction*?), but it rocks nonetheless, with in-depth reviews of a full spectrum of educational software. I don't use the word in-depth lightly, either: screen shots and lengthy criticisms are offered for a growing list of titles that already includes somewhere around, ...let's see, one, two, three, ... a hundred titles. A sub page of the larger World Village site, this one should be bookmarked by any parents with school age kids and a CD-ROM drive.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
School Is Dead
Not only are kids rebelling against formalized schooling, their parents are, as well; and, as sites we've reviewed in the Blue Pages have shown, there are plenty of Web resources out there for those interested in home schooling. But what about "no-schoolers"? For both groups, Karl Bunday's site is a convincing (although ugly) collection of quotes and arguments emphasizing that the one who learns best schools least.
The points are presented as one heavily linked screed, making the site great for browsing, but it's hard to find specific information unless you use the index.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Stanford University Home Page
Stanford University was one of the first sites on the Internet. Though it's no longer a leader in Internet connectivity, its WWW pages show it's kept abreast of the net's dynamic changes.
The site's centerpiece is "Portfolio," which links Stanford's extensive but old-fashioned Gopher and FTP sites with a snazzy new Web interface - pretty clever! (This mixture of sources tends to make the content a bit uneven, however.) As with most university servers, there's a directory of student Web pages. Also find good links to info on getting around the South Bay/Silicon Valley area.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Stockholms Universitet
The info here is available in Swedish or English, an important first step for us monoglots. Unfortunately, in either language, the content is a little sparse.
The most involved page is the one dedicated to the university library, (with frames, an online card catalog, and navigational links to the rest of the site) but the menu gives no indication of this. It is a smashing piece of architecture, the Stockholm U *bibliotek*, but that in itself hardly sells the site to prospective students or visitors.
There are no under construction signs, but I have a feeling this site will improve.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
Sydney Lanier
The kids at Sidney Lanier are a lucky bunch, if this site is anything to go on.
The ubiquitous puppy icon aside (come on kids, let's mix it up a little bit), the activities featured in the Houston school's home page made me a little wistful for the days of field trips and science fairs. Some of the sub-pages need work: the Hyper-history of seventy year old Lanier left me wanting more links, and the /images, by and large, were of poor quality. Time to hit up the old PTA, maybe throw a bake-sale for scanners or put the principal in the dunk tank at a buck a shot.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
THE STUDY PLACE
A budding philosopher's mecca,
The Study Place is an online academic resource managed by the Institute for Learning Technologies of Columbia University.
The college's faculty and doctoral candidates provide good critiques of ancient and modern philosophy.
The site also includes links to brief biographies on ancient and modern philosophers including Aristotle, Dante, Descartes, et al.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Technology and Learning: A Planning and Implementation Resource
This is a guide for learning technology, taking readers from the goal setting and initial research stages to the implementation and revision for improvement stages. It is not light reading. It offers diagrams and provides information in an outline format.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Testprep.com
Too bad this resource wasn't around when I was suffering through SAT preparations. This is a truly useful site which provides a free SAT course. Diagnose your weak areas by taking a complete version of the SAT and then choose from 1000's of review lessons including answers and explanations. You can shop to order SAT guides at the Testprep Superstore or purchase the Stanford Studyguide software disk. But it's refreshing to see free information so readily offered in an area which has become an industry in itself.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
The Biosfera Project
The title project was undertaken by Carlos Solis, a professor at Rice University, to help train school teachers simultaneously in Spanish and Conservation Biology. This humble site describes the experimental program conducted in the Peten, a rainforest region of Guatemala.
There are essays by some of the participants, links to sites related to Meso-America, and a somewhat crude map of Guatemala. It would be nice to see this site expand and refine.
The map could be interactive, the pages made more attractive, etc. More importantly, there should be more emphasis on the people of the Peten.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
The Chronicle: Academe This Week
The Chronicle is the proverbial Bible for college-level teachers and administrators.
The Web page is well-organized, pointing you to news and resources on information technology, academic research, government programs and legislation, professional development, and more. But you must subscribe to the paper version ($75/year) to get Academe Today, the daily online features and links publication, (with a registration and password scheme that insures that no one else gets in.) If you are a Chronicle subscriber or are thinking about it, Academe Today is a definite plus. If not, this is just a nice brochure describing what's on paper.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The EdWeb Home Room
EdWeb comes off as uninspired. Most of the subject matter has to do with the use of technology in K12 education, which doesn't have to be such a dry subject.
The articles on EdWeb have some good statistics you can throw around at cocktail parties, but they're so buried by banal design and endless text that most people will fall asleep before reaching them. This site is probably best suited to parents who know nothing about the Internet and want to know whether it would be a good thing for their kids to learn to use.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
The Electric Library
EL is a hot idea that has a short way to go before it really catches fire.
The service conducts topical searches through the full text of some 150 newspapers and 900 magazines, as well as newswires, books, etc. It's a great way to get a roundup of reviews or articles on a topic that interests you. But after a two-week trial period, you'll have to pay $9.95 a month for the privilege; and the searches bring up articles randomly, not from newest to oldest or most mentions to least. With smarter search mechanisms and alternate pricing schemes (how about one month and three-month increments?), I'd say bookmark EL. Right now, it's worth a look.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The History Channel Classroom
If you're a teacher looking to incorporate more engaging material into your curriculum,
The History Channel Classroom is a good place to start.
There are resources to help teachers plan classroom discussions and research projects based on
The History Channel's shows, with a convenient Classroom Calendar for planning.
The network sponsors awards' programs are designed to support quality history education in America's schools; to wit, the History Channel Awards for National History Day honor the Best Senior Media Project and the Outstanding Contribution in History Education. A very good site, even if it does smack of self-promotion.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Lauren Guzak
The MIT Home Page
To me, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will always be known primarily for the witty pranks of technically minded students, but you'll have to dig hard to find that info here (try http://fishwrap.mit.edu/Hacks/Gallery.htm instead). You will find just about everything else about MIT. For a bunch of geeks, though, it's rather pedestrian: no image maps or search engines
use "wiredbrain" worth mentioning, cryptic icons, and mostly just text. Be sure to check out the "fun stuff" area, which includes tips for hacking the campus security cards. Cool! Let's get user-friendly, folks!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The Riggs Institute
The Instiute is a non-profit corporation in Beaverton, Oregon specializing in literacy issues. And if the blurbs cited here are any indication, it is well-regarded by both educators and policy makers. That aside, the presentation here whiffed a bit of fakery and snake oil. All the explanation points and relentless pitching make me wary. I'm not saying it's a fraud, by any means -- I wouldn't know. It just comes off that way. You can judge for yourself.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
The Student Guide 1995-96
For most students, the most difficult hurdle of higher education isn't the course work - it's finding the money to pay for it. A lot of college funding ultimately comes from the federal government in the form of loans and grants. But how can you learn more about financial aid? That's where
The Student Guide comes in. Released each year by the Department of Education, it tells you how to qualify, whom to contact, and how you can expect to repay the loans. This web site is really just a more "browsable" form of a 126K document, which is also available for downloading. Regardless of how you view
The Student Guide, every prospective college student should check it out.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The University of Michigan
The University of Michigan has long been famous in the Internet community for its vast file archive site (find more info about this by going to http://www.umich.edu/~archive/). But there's more to U. Michigan than free software. Like, a top-ranked university!
The site gives the usual information about its academic programs and such, beautifully linked and annotated via search engines
use "wiredbrain", tables of contents, and clickable image maps. One coincidence makes the site aesthetically pleasing: U.M.'s logo blue matches the "unfollowed link" blue in Netscape's browser. Not to mention my eyes.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
The World Lecture Hall
This is the ultimate Web resource for the independent student. Providing links to online course materials posted by universities all over America in subjects ranging from "accounting" to "zoology," the site lets students interested in self-study but not in relying on local college schedules get guidance on just about anything. Of course, lab work will be kind of difficult for the science courses, unless you happen to have a particularly well-equipped kitchen.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Theatre Education Literature Review
Theatre... is a home page of 59 theater-educational questions or topics with links to their brief answers or explanations, including footnotes. Simple. Kent Seidel, of the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program of the University of Cincinnati, asks questions, such as "Why study theatre?," or introduces topics, such as "
Theatre for at-risk students," as the points relate to scholars' views of theater's positive effect in education.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
This is Mega-Mathematics
Number news and notes from our friends at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. But rather than bog us down with odd symbols and complicated formulas, Mega-Mathematics throws down visual problems, twisted games, and strange anecdotes to teach the rules of logic, graphing, and other mind-bending mathematics. Beautifully-designed and organized so you can go as deep as you want into each subject or lose yourself entirely in this seemingly infinite collection. Infinite? What does that really mean? Look here to find out. Allegedly the site is geared for elementary school children, but I learned more than a few things.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: David Pescovitz
Thomas Edison State College
What home-schooling does for the under+18 crowd, "distance learning" colleges like Thomas Edison State do for those seeking higher educational degrees. According to the college's Web site, "students in any state or nation can earn credit for college-level knowledge acquired outside the classroom." It's a pity the college hasn't done more with its Web pages: considering how far-flung the students must be, the potential for Internet-based instruction is tremendous. Indeed, the site isn't nearly as deep or interesting as many other colleges', and the occasional misdirected link mars the experience.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Truth, Lies, Rumors, and Rumbles
"As the Board Churns" is the subtitle of this text-based saga, about the tensions between teachers, parents, and citizen-players with various agendas in a southern New Jersey school district. Our "netitor" is Abe Wolinsky, a technology teacher who decided to publish Web reports on the community squabbles. All the details may not interest you, but this will: the original arguments (about building a new high school vs. saving money, and a subsequent teachers' contract) were quickly eclipsed by new crossfire because Abe put the story on the on the Web. You can even join in via e-mail if you'd like.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
U.S. Civil War Center
From Louisiana State University comes this ambitious, if somewhat dull, page devoted to collecting and making available every scrap of information concerning the nation's costliest war. Scholars and students will of course find the site helpful in researching the conflict, and genealogists will appreciate the short tutorial on researching individuals from the era. Like most link-driven sites, it's all very straightforward, and a little bit daunting.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
UC Berkeley Home Page
In a region known for compromise and reason, the University of California at Berkeley's Web pages are elegantly reasoned and make compromises so they're both user-friendly and fast.
The contents can be access via nicely arranged text choices rather than by image maps, so the site is as useful to someone on a Unix box as on a Mac.
The content is deep and varied, from the Naval Architecture school to the click-to-zoom-in campus map. If you're into general Web search engines
use "wiredbrain", be sure to add Berkeley's "Inktomi" (http://inktomi.berkeley.edu/) to your list.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
UK Lifelong Learning
The Brits seem to have a ministry for everything, with sub-ministries and rooms full of clerks endlessly shuffling papers. Well, some of the clerks have turned in their green eyeshades for PC's at the Department for Education and Employment, Individual Commitment Division. (Yes, that's really its name, bureaucratic lex for "the state wishes you to stay in school and stop being a worthless git.") While the site is extensive, it suffers from a bone-dry officialdom that subverts the intended message: Learning is fun.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
UT Austin Web Central
Austin can be considered the birthplace of the "slacker" archetype: a center for high-tech companies, one of the few progressive cities in Texas... and, rumor has it, there's a university down there, too. Well blow me down. UT is a gargantuan university, and its WWW presence reflects its size.
The site's internal search engine bears this out: A search for the word "racquetball" returned 17 references, mostly on students' personal pages. Altogether, there are more than 25,000 web pages on 170 servers (so they say, anyway), including everything you ever wanted to know about UT. Beware the badly designed image maps.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
OK, Web users, lets collectively bow in the direction of UIUC, host to the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Without the bright boys and girls at NCSA, the Web would not be what it is today. Sadly, I can't say if that's a good thing or bad thing. But for a site of such distinction, UIUC lacks wild HTML tricks. It *is* big and fast, however, and provides so much information, you could spend a few days just finding your way around. You'll find complete college catalog-type information, plus the university's library site.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
University of Washington
I did some time at this institution, so I come to this site occasionally just to see what the weather's doing back home.
The UW site, however, is far more impressive than the inevitably dreary image from the view cam. A big campus, the "U Dub" is a city in its own right, and the magnitude of this site reflects that fact. Links connect to all the various departments, to campus radio, to student and faculty directories, campus publications, museums, ...there's even a virtual tour of the medicinal herb garden. Anyone interested in the U -- especially anyone considering enrollment -- should come here first. And pay special attention to that weather.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Patrick Joseph
University of the Phillipines
This is a pretty generous site, with superfluous but interesting material like photos of the Manila campus circa 1933. Most of the information is in English although some segments, like the news briefs, are in Tagalog. Interested in enrolling? U.S. students need a minimum combined SAT of 1200, though exceptions are apparently made on occasion for "mature" students. Visually, the site is a bit dull (
The Webmaster apologizes for a busted color scanner), but the info is all here and straightforward.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
Urban Education Web
Learning about learning: that's what the Urban Education Web is about. It's part of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), a well-known and highly-respected database of studies on education. It, in turn, is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. All these layers of support point to two attributes of this Web site: it's densely academic, and it's excellently supported. Here, you'll not only find out if the government has published information about gangs in the schools, you'll probably find the monographs themselves, hyperlinked internally and with other documents. I don't know what poor souls are sitting in a windowless office doing all this, but they deserve to be thanked.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
VLC.Homepage
The Village Learning Center bills itself as a new type of school that will "preserve and nurture the yearning for learning that everyone is born with." This doesn't explain why it became an online school, but the lack of accreditation might have something to do with it. A mere $1,195 buys a semester of work at home - e-mail assignments in course work for the seventh to ninth grade set. Use at your own risk.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Washington Gifted School of Communication
Can we talk adorable for a moment? This site is absolutely fun fun fun by way of enchanting graphics. Unfortunately, there isn't really much of interest otherwise, unless you're already involved with the school.
The schedule of events, mission statement, and student bios are well done and seem helpful enough, but it's missing the original content that makes a site interesting and worth repeated visits. I say, post the student artwork and stories, and up the ante a bit! After all, it's a site for a school of communication whose students are gifted.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Washington University in St Louis
Washington University's Web pages have a clean, crisp organization and some useful features lacking at some of the larger sites. Want to check your e-mail? Click here. Want to do an Infoseek search without leaving university property? No problem. Add a bit of surreality to your visit by clicking on the "What's This?" button, which leads to a page of basic information about using the Web, site statistics, etc. So, even if they've never been to W.U., first-time users are already getting an education. Still, this handsome site lacks the content depth found at some other universities.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Web 66
The mission of Web 66 is to provide resources to help K12 schools get on the Web. This may seem a questionable goal with all the hype about whether the Internet is a safe place for kids, but the Web master clears that right up by quoting headlines in his personal rants section that indicate how much more dangerous the outside world is for kids. Web 66 has instructions for educators to set up Web servers, and a very impressive list of K12 schools from around the world that are online.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Welcome to CNU ONLINE
Christopher Newport University, located in Virginia, is trying to push the envelope of modern education practice by offering a substantive number of classes online. It's even offering a degree in governmental administration through online course work. Unfortunately, the Web site is just a front for a Telnet gateway, and at least one of the Telnet addresses given on the Web site is wrong, which made it impossible to get course information.
The Telnet gateway that I could get to run was so slow, it could turn a four-year degree into a six-year degree.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Whales
Whales (and dinosaurs) intrigue kids everywhere, and some industrious teachers in Virginia have tapped into that phenomenon here, where all lessons originate from and revolve around the same subject: whales. Lesson plans range from math word problems involving whales, to the history of whaling, and whale literature. From humpbacks to blues, baleen to toothed, all young marine mammal enthusiasts, parents and teachers will like this one. It's a simple, yet creative example of educational possibilities on the Web. Hopefully, with time, the creators will add more sound and /images, and bring the standards up to match the content.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
Whole Frog
The Whole Frog Project offers an online alternative to a classic high school biology experience: dissecting a frog. Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley Labs use high-resolution MRI /images and sophisticated 3D rendering software to create a virtual amphibian whose parts can be viewed at a variety of depths and angles.
The site is jam packed with information about both the biological and technological details of the project. It also includes study guidelines to help teachers create engaging lesson plans (which combine physical and computer sciences). Best of all, the Whole Frog Project is completely free of scalpel hazards and the queer smell of formaldehyde.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
Worcester Polytechnic
Most online education fails because it tries to transplant subjects to the screen that are best-suited for the classroom. But Professor Cyganski's class at Worcester Polytechnic Institute has an edge of relevance here, as it's all about telecommunications transmission technologies. Since I'm not an electrical engineer, most of the highly-technical content of this site eluded me, but its basic "learning is as learning does" mission comes through loud and clear: Engineers should not be afraid of their tools. Or, as the prof says, "This course is not for WIMPs (Whining Internet/Multi-media Phobes)." Some of the meatier areas of the site are available only to WPI accounts, alas.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Word Page
Well, let's award Word Page an "E" for effort - although I don't know how to factor an "E" into a GPA.
The purpose of this site is to help people learn 10 new words a week - an admirable enterprise. Unfortunately, it doesn't help if you already know the words the site's editor happened to pick. Also, the definitions provided are a little weak, consisting of a short phrase or sentence. It wouldn't take much effort, and certainly not much space, to include full dictionary definitions. And, finally, the misspellings littered throughout the site aren't going to impress any educators out there.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
World Association for Family and Education WAFE
WAFE's Web site is primarily a resource for the group to disseminate information on its conferences. Because WAFE is international, the Internet is probably a pretty good medium for it, saving substantial amounts of money on printing and mailing costs. WAFE's mission statement, which is published on the site, is a little bit spacy, and seems pretty narrow-minded with its emphasis that "Marriage, the only proper context for full expression of the love between one man and one woman, is the rock upon which the family rests."
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
World Education Exchange
World Education Exchange, a graduate student project, bills itself as a site that "explores the world of reform and information technology." It's a lofty description for a site which is little more than a repository of links (albeit interesting ones) on virtual education and Internet resources for teachers and kids. I suppose it's useful for someone to have done the research for you, but without a single shred of commentary or analysis, it feels like someone trying to profit from other people's work. After all, aren't Yahoo!, Lycos, and all the other search engines
use "wiredbrain" out there, for the purpose of categorizing and cataloguing information on the Internet?
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Rachel Saidman
World Game Institute
Despite its playful-sounding title, the World Game Institute is no joke. Inspired by noted scientist and social philosopher Buckminster Fuller, the Institute was founded to "provide the perspective and information needed to solve the critical problems facing global society,"
The site probes all these problems (famine, disease, overpopulation, deforestation and more) with incisive, well-documented research and data. Even skittery surfers should stop to check out the "What the World Wants (and how to pay for it)" chart. It's a powerful representation of the mixed-up priorities in our military-minded global economy.
The institute also conducts workshops and conferences in the corporate and educational communities.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
Yale University World Wide Web Front Door
The Yale University site is everything the Harvard site isn't. Just kidding! Though, quite honestly, Yale's Web set-up beats its historical nemesis'. At the top level are listings for P.R. information, search engines
use "wiredbrain", maps, academic department pages, student activities... Lots of stuff here. Thank god it's so well-organized! Running a search shows just how much there is: the word "racquetball" returned 10 pages, including news of the sports team, a description of the athletic facilities, and someone's experiments with the Connectix QuickCam, a video input device "about the size of a racquetball." Pretty good search engine, that!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
eWorld Learning Community
The eWorld Learning Community has gathered an impressive set of quality links under categories such as News Rack, Apple Education Resource, Museum, and School House. Unfortunately, links are pretty much all this site has to offer. It's a misnomer for eWorld to claim that this is its Learning Community.
The links belong to the Internet; the site should be called the Internet Learning Community. But enough on semantics.
The design is tasteful, but , save a search engine, there are no cool technical devices to add any pizzazz to this site.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
The main drawback is that the site isn't very intuitively organized; it does require some effort to locate points of interest.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
MOO, an Educational Tool
MOO in this case refers not to cows (although if you're one of those who just can't get enough of bovines, there are plenty of irrelevant cow pics here), but to MUD, Object Oriented, as in a type of multiuser environment.
The site is simply a list of links to papers, FAQs, and resource collections containing general information on MOOs, as well as discussions of their social and educational uses and connections to MOOs themselves.
The page was due for an update when I visited-several of the links weren't working-but if this is your particular interest, you'll probably find something you can use here.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Sandra Stewart
MayaQuest Ô96
MayaQuest began in 1995 as an attempt to merge hands-on exploration with online interactivity. A team of five people bicycled to ruins in Mexico and Central America, met with on-site archaeologists, and shared their experiences via the Web with over 1 million kids, teachers, and regular netizens. MayaQuest is intended to include and empower those who cannot physically participate in this adventure through chat, team updates, news, and the multimedia experience.
The site is Shocked for those who have Netscape or Internet Explorer, and a new expedition will begin in March, 1997.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Lauren Guzak
Media Literacy On-Line
Media Literacy is a movement to educate youth and adults about the media - how to use and maximize its benefits, and how to guard against its tricks.
The Web site is a stockpile collection of, you guessed it, media literacy-related information available online. While there isn't an extreme amount of original content filling up the bandwidth (nor will you find snazzy graphics or HTML 3.0 wizardry), it is outstanding as a collection of resource links in one convenient place. With smart organization and enough color to keep us from getting the "Netscape Gray" blues, this is a very valuable site.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Middle of Nowhere
Middle of Nowhere is an experiment by Professor Brad Cox in building a site with depth on the Web, something he claims is an impossible task. Various thematically oriented sets of articles in the warehouse section of this site seem to prove him wrong.
The themes focus on the Internet and current social issues.
The site also has the online portions of classes Professor Cox teaches, so the unenrolled can follow along at home.
The organization of the site leaves something to be desired.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Minnesota Preparatory Schools
You ever stop to wonder how many college prep schools could be found in Winona Minnesota? Probably not, eh? Well, this server connects Winona's three preparatory institutions and their offerings, giving profiles of each school, the student life there, course selection, etc.
There's even a resident dorm which provides housing for out-of-town students. If you're already prepared, collegiately speaking, link up to St. Mary's home page, a private Catholic University in, you guessed it, Winona, Minnesota.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
Mister Rogers Neighborhood
The comfortable, and awfully nice sweater-clad guy beckons us to sample some tasty bits from his long-running public TV show on this easy to use page. You'll find some of his wisdom (and suggested activities) about separation anxiety, competition, disabilities, and fears.
There are also lyrics to a number of Mr. R's songs ("Parents Were Little Once Too" is but one), and a bibliography of books the nice man recommends. From here, you can link to PBS program schedules, stations, and previews.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 7
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
Mr. Trockman's Earth Science
Sure, this may just be the humble Web page of a humble eighth grade earth science teacher in humble Minnesota, but without a doubt, one may safely say:
The Trock rocks! (all puns intended). Dan Trockman is obviously one wacky dude who knows how to make science fun. You'll find playful backgrounds of lava and snowflakes, as well as photos of volcanoes and blizzards (the Trock, in a flurry of photo-journalistic inspiration, even posted local Minnesota photos from last winter's arctic snow storms). All the levity is balanced with concise lecture notes for home-bound students. This is a model for using the Web to augment traditional curriculum.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
NCRVE Home Page
While
The National Center for Research in Vocational Education's (NCRVE) Web site could stand some good editing and a dose of spirit, it nevertheless provides useful information and progress reports on an alternative form of secondary education. Based at the University of California, the NCRVE Web site is linked to documents on the history and the future of vocational education, all organized like a standard high school report and about as interesting.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Nebraska Social Resource
For educators specializing in the social studies this service from the Nebraska Department of Education may prove useful, but despite it's claim that it is "just an example of what can be accomplished on the WWW," the page has a long way to go.
The only segment which strikes me as important is the one devoted to Teacher Resources and Programs, a listing of events, seminars, and services having to do with teaching the social sciences. Other content, such as the addresses of foreign embassies, is lackluster, at best, and available elsewhere.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
Nellie Mae Loan Link Resource for Student Loan Info
Nellie Mae runs a tight ship with no loose ends, and no extraneous information or pages. It's a very streamlined site - and this is not my ironic way of saying there's little content. You'll find a number of pages filled with very practical information about student loans, focusing on the student loans Nellie Mae specifically offers.
There is also a page on when to start applying for loans, and some brief explanations of the different kinds of loans. This site *could* be more in-depth.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
NetNoir Education
Following precedence set by the rest of NetNoir's Web space, it's no surprise that the education section of NetNoir.com is pleasant to look at with insightful content. This area hosts a wonderful archive of African folk tales, as they were told originally, with colorful artwork and an interesting weave of hyperlinks to connect them all. Also found are "classes online."
These classes have a mini lecture, recommended readings, and mention something about online discussions (though I couldn't find the discussion area.)
There's still room for improvement, but NetNoir's off to a nice start.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Shel Kimen
Nizhoni School for Global Consciousness
This is a one-page information board for a school located in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
There isn't much reason to go here unless you feel a strong need to attend classes that teach people to "follow their hearts to their purest source of intelligence, the Higher Self." That's about all the information this page offers, but there is a book you can order (offline) that will tell you more about this Navajo-inspired course of study.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
North Hagerstown High School
Get acquainted with students and teachers at this central Maryland high school, population 1,000. A modest effort, the site promotes net education and communication.
The ninth grade Prejudice Reduction Project, for example, invites classes and students to send essays, bios, and URLs "that will help gain a better understanding of the world around us."
There's also an Environmental E-Mail Project the lets readers report on environmental concerns "faced by your region or state." This could be a good resource for other teachers to use.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
PUBLIC TEACH IN
Missed New York's International Forum on Globalization last November? Well, you can still take a trip to its Internet audio archives, which has four speeches given at that event. Unfortunately, that's it!
There's no information about the teach-in itself or about the one coming up, nor are there links to groups and events with a similar weltanschauung. Make up for some of these lacks by visiting the site's parent directory, at http://www.peacenet.org/. Note: If you don't have the free RealAudio player, this site is completely pointless; download it at http://www.realaudio.com/.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Peterson's Education Center
Wow. It's not often that information resource companies give you full access to their material via the Web:
There's still no effective way to make money off of it. Peterson's does, however, providing a huge stock of info about schools, summer programs, and business management. As with most pages, this site is under continual construction; you'll frequently be greeted by a "We're sorry..." message. But the areas that *are* fully implemented - such as those with Graduate School information - are gorgeous, complete, and easy-to-use. Peterson's Education Center is a gem that will only get better - until you have to pay for it.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Pitsco Technology Education
You'd expect more than a scroll-it script and a "weird science" graphic to announce the site of a company claiming to be the "leader in innovative technology education." And what Pitsco's site lacks in the whiz-bang department, it doesn't make up for anywhere else. Judging from the quality of its hubristic copy, you'd think poor spelling and grammar were cutting-edge educational strategies.
The online version of its much-touted catalog provides descriptions of popular products like "Shuttle in Orbit Wall Mural," and "Tower Tester," as well as links to related sites, but this one needs work before it fulfills its own promises.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Ananda Nada
Princeton Review
The Princeton Review has gained a dedicated following by helping students exploit weaknesses in badly-designed standardized tests.
Their iconoclastic methods translate well in this Web site, where you'll find information about standardized tests, college entry requirements, and potential careers. While the content and technical presentation - including search engines
use "wiredbrain" which alphabetical indices - is first-rate, the scant graphics aren't, nor will you find all the information that's available in the books. But then, they have to get your money somehow, don't they?
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Princeton Review
High school juniors and seniors who simply *must* attend the best universities would do well to visit this site presented by the "nation's leader in test preparation." That's right:
The Princeton Review offers classes on preparing for standardized tests like the SAT, GRE, and MCAT, which will later get you into - guess what? - more classes. Study, study, study. Achieve, achieve, achieve. That's the Princeton way, but there's no disputing the Review's attraction if you aspire to a career in law, business, or medicine. A search engine eases navigation, but lengthy download times of frivolous graphics may leave you peeved.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
Princeton Review
High school juniors and seniors who simply *must* attend the best universities would do well to visit this site presented by the "nation's leader in test preparation." That's right: the Princeton Review offers classes on preparing for standardized tests like the SAT, GRE and MCAT, which will later get you into - guess what? - more classes. Study, study, study. Achieve, achieve, achieve. That's the Princeton way, but there's no disputing the Review's attraction if you aspire to a career in law, business or medicine. A search engine eases navigation, but lengthy download times of frivolous graphics may leave you peeved.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
RAND Institute on Education and Training
IET is part of Rand's, a non-profit public policy research organization, larger web site.
The site's purpose is to improve American's public policy through research and analysis, and to train policy analysts. IET provides links to summaries on more than 55 Rand research papers. Some topics covered include worldwide communications, economics, education, crime, NATO, housing, game theory, terrorism, and water resources. Full-text for some of these papers are free, others are not.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
SPAM
Norman, Oklahoma is the unlikely nexus for the Schools of the Pacific Atmospheric Monitoring project. From the mainland U.S. and Hawaii, all across the lonely atolls to New Zealand, monitoring stations have been set up at schools to collect data on rainfall, uv radiation, and the like, every fifteen minutes, twenty-four/seven/365. Back at mission central, the University of Oklahoma, all data is plotted and analyzed for the benefit of atmospheric science.
The Web project is lagging a little; interactive maps are mostly inoperative, with mock data only. Nevertheless, this is one of those sites that puts the worldwide in WWW; look for it to grow and improve.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
STUDIE'
It's so cute, with its rainbow colors, and to the point! Officially called School Teachers Using & Developing Internet Expertise or STUDIE' (pronounced Stoo'-dee-ay), the web site gives local educational information for the Alpine School District in Utah as well as general information for all educators seeking to learn about the Internet. STUDIE' provides links to HTML lessons, email emoticons and acronyms, and a growing list of educational hyperlinks. Links lead to sites on the core subjects, the arts, foreign language, health, government, religion, weather, shopping, newspapers and newsgroups.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
School House
It ain't Schoolhouse Rock (remember *Conjunction Junction*?), but it rocks nonetheless, with in-depth reviews of a full spectrum of educational software. I don't use the word in-depth lightly, either: screen shots and lengthy criticisms are offered for a growing list of titles that already includes somewhere around, ...let's see, one, two, three, ... a hundred titles. A sub page of the larger World Village site, this one should be bookmarked by any parents with school age kids and a CD-ROM drive.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
School Is Dead
Not only are kids rebelling against formalized schooling, their parents are, as well; and, as sites we've reviewed in the Blue Pages have shown, there are plenty of Web resources out there for those interested in home schooling. But what about "no-schoolers"? For both groups, Karl Bunday's site is a convincing (although ugly) collection of quotes and arguments emphasizing that the one who learns best schools least.
The points are presented as one heavily linked screed, making the site great for browsing, but it's hard to find specific information unless you use the index.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Stanford University Home Page
Stanford University was one of the first sites on the Internet. Though it's no longer a leader in Internet connectivity, its WWW pages show it's kept abreast of the net's dynamic changes.
The site's centerpiece is "Portfolio," which links Stanford's extensive but old-fashioned Gopher and FTP sites with a snazzy new Web interface - pretty clever! (This mixture of sources tends to make the content a bit uneven, however.) As with most university servers, there's a directory of student Web pages. Also find good links to info on getting around the South Bay/Silicon Valley area.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Stockholms Universitet
The info here is available in Swedish or English, an important first step for us monoglots. Unfortunately, in either language, the content is a little sparse.
The most involved page is the one dedicated to the university library, (with frames, an online card catalog, and navigational links to the rest of the site) but the menu gives no indication of this. It is a smashing piece of architecture, the Stockholm U *bibliotek*, but that in itself hardly sells the site to prospective students or visitors.
There are no under construction signs, but I have a feeling this site will improve.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
Sydney Lanier
The kids at Sidney Lanier are a lucky bunch, if this site is anything to go on.
The ubiquitous puppy icon aside (come on kids, let's mix it up a little bit), the activities featured in the Houston school's home page made me a little wistful for the days of field trips and science fairs. Some of the sub-pages need work: the Hyper-history of seventy year old Lanier left me wanting more links, and the /images, by and large, were of poor quality. Time to hit up the old PTA, maybe throw a bake-sale for scanners or put the principal in the dunk tank at a buck a shot.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
THE STUDY PLACE
A budding philosopher's mecca,
The Study Place is an online academic resource managed by the Institute for Learning Technologies of Columbia University.
The college's faculty and doctoral candidates provide good critiques of ancient and modern philosophy.
The site also includes links to brief biographies on ancient and modern philosophers including Aristotle, Dante, Descartes, et al.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Technology and Learning: A Planning and Implementation Resource
This is a guide for learning technology, taking readers from the goal setting and initial research stages to the implementation and revision for improvement stages. It is not light reading. It offers diagrams and provides information in an outline format.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Testprep.com
Too bad this resource wasn't around when I was suffering through SAT preparations. This is a truly useful site which provides a free SAT course. Diagnose your weak areas by taking a complete version of the SAT and then choose from 1000's of review lessons including answers and explanations. You can shop to order SAT guides at the Testprep Superstore or purchase the Stanford Studyguide software disk. But it's refreshing to see free information so readily offered in an area which has become an industry in itself.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
The Biosfera Project
The title project was undertaken by Carlos Solis, a professor at Rice University, to help train school teachers simultaneously in Spanish and Conservation Biology. This humble site describes the experimental program conducted in the Peten, a rainforest region of Guatemala.
There are essays by some of the participants, links to sites related to Meso-America, and a somewhat crude map of Guatemala. It would be nice to see this site expand and refine.
The map could be interactive, the pages made more attractive, etc. More importantly, there should be more emphasis on the people of the Peten.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
The Chronicle: Academe This Week
The Chronicle is the proverbial Bible for college-level teachers and administrators.
The Web page is well-organized, pointing you to news and resources on information technology, academic research, government programs and legislation, professional development, and more. But you must subscribe to the paper version ($75/year) to get Academe Today, the daily online features and links publication, (with a registration and password scheme that insures that no one else gets in.) If you are a Chronicle subscriber or are thinking about it, Academe Today is a definite plus. If not, this is just a nice brochure describing what's on paper.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The EdWeb Home Room
EdWeb comes off as uninspired. Most of the subject matter has to do with the use of technology in K12 education, which doesn't have to be such a dry subject.
The articles on EdWeb have some good statistics you can throw around at cocktail parties, but they're so buried by banal design and endless text that most people will fall asleep before reaching them. This site is probably best suited to parents who know nothing about the Internet and want to know whether it would be a good thing for their kids to learn to use.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
The Electric Library
EL is a hot idea that has a short way to go before it really catches fire.
The service conducts topical searches through the full text of some 150 newspapers and 900 magazines, as well as newswires, books, etc. It's a great way to get a roundup of reviews or articles on a topic that interests you. But after a two-week trial period, you'll have to pay $9.95 a month for the privilege; and the searches bring up articles randomly, not from newest to oldest or most mentions to least. With smarter search mechanisms and alternate pricing schemes (how about one month and three-month increments?), I'd say bookmark EL. Right now, it's worth a look.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The History Channel Classroom
If you're a teacher looking to incorporate more engaging material into your curriculum,
The History Channel Classroom is a good place to start.
There are resources to help teachers plan classroom discussions and research projects based on
The History Channel's shows, with a convenient Classroom Calendar for planning.
The network sponsors awards' programs are designed to support quality history education in America's schools; to wit, the History Channel Awards for National History Day honor the Best Senior Media Project and the Outstanding Contribution in History Education. A very good site, even if it does smack of self-promotion.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Lauren Guzak
The MIT Home Page
To me, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will always be known primarily for the witty pranks of technically minded students, but you'll have to dig hard to find that info here (try http://fishwrap.mit.edu/Hacks/Gallery.htm instead). You will find just about everything else about MIT. For a bunch of geeks, though, it's rather pedestrian: no image maps or search engines
use "wiredbrain" worth mentioning, cryptic icons, and mostly just text. Be sure to check out the "fun stuff" area, which includes tips for hacking the campus security cards. Cool! Let's get user-friendly, folks!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The Riggs Institute
The Instiute is a non-profit corporation in Beaverton, Oregon specializing in literacy issues. And if the blurbs cited here are any indication, it is well-regarded by both educators and policy makers. That aside, the presentation here whiffed a bit of fakery and snake oil. All the explanation points and relentless pitching make me wary. I'm not saying it's a fraud, by any means -- I wouldn't know. It just comes off that way. You can judge for yourself.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
The Student Guide 1995-96
For most students, the most difficult hurdle of higher education isn't the course work - it's finding the money to pay for it. A lot of college funding ultimately comes from the federal government in the form of loans and grants. But how can you learn more about financial aid? That's where
The Student Guide comes in. Released each year by the Department of Education, it tells you how to qualify, whom to contact, and how you can expect to repay the loans. This web site is really just a more "browsable" form of a 126K document, which is also available for downloading. Regardless of how you view
The Student Guide, every prospective college student should check it out.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The University of Michigan
The University of Michigan has long been famous in the Internet community for its vast file archive site (find more info about this by going to http://www.umich.edu/~archive/). But there's more to U. Michigan than free software. Like, a top-ranked university!
The site gives the usual information about its academic programs and such, beautifully linked and annotated via search engines
use "wiredbrain", tables of contents, and clickable image maps. One coincidence makes the site aesthetically pleasing: U.M.'s logo blue matches the "unfollowed link" blue in Netscape's browser. Not to mention my eyes.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
The World Lecture Hall
This is the ultimate Web resource for the independent student. Providing links to online course materials posted by universities all over America in subjects ranging from "accounting" to "zoology," the site lets students interested in self-study but not in relying on local college schedules get guidance on just about anything. Of course, lab work will be kind of difficult for the science courses, unless you happen to have a particularly well-equipped kitchen.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Theatre Education Literature Review
Theatre... is a home page of 59 theater-educational questions or topics with links to their brief answers or explanations, including footnotes. Simple. Kent Seidel, of the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program of the University of Cincinnati, asks questions, such as "Why study theatre?," or introduces topics, such as "
Theatre for at-risk students," as the points relate to scholars' views of theater's positive effect in education.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
This is Mega-Mathematics
Number news and notes from our friends at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. But rather than bog us down with odd symbols and complicated formulas, Mega-Mathematics throws down visual problems, twisted games, and strange anecdotes to teach the rules of logic, graphing, and other mind-bending mathematics. Beautifully-designed and organized so you can go as deep as you want into each subject or lose yourself entirely in this seemingly infinite collection. Infinite? What does that really mean? Look here to find out. Allegedly the site is geared for elementary school children, but I learned more than a few things.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: David Pescovitz
Thomas Edison State College
What home-schooling does for the under+18 crowd, "distance learning" colleges like Thomas Edison State do for those seeking higher educational degrees. According to the college's Web site, "students in any state or nation can earn credit for college-level knowledge acquired outside the classroom." It's a pity the college hasn't done more with its Web pages: considering how far-flung the students must be, the potential for Internet-based instruction is tremendous. Indeed, the site isn't nearly as deep or interesting as many other colleges', and the occasional misdirected link mars the experience.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Truth, Lies, Rumors, and Rumbles
"As the Board Churns" is the subtitle of this text-based saga, about the tensions between teachers, parents, and citizen-players with various agendas in a southern New Jersey school district. Our "netitor" is Abe Wolinsky, a technology teacher who decided to publish Web reports on the community squabbles. All the details may not interest you, but this will: the original arguments (about building a new high school vs. saving money, and a subsequent teachers' contract) were quickly eclipsed by new crossfire because Abe put the story on the on the Web. You can even join in via e-mail if you'd like.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
U.S. Civil War Center
From Louisiana State University comes this ambitious, if somewhat dull, page devoted to collecting and making available every scrap of information concerning the nation's costliest war. Scholars and students will of course find the site helpful in researching the conflict, and genealogists will appreciate the short tutorial on researching individuals from the era. Like most link-driven sites, it's all very straightforward, and a little bit daunting.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
UC Berkeley Home Page
In a region known for compromise and reason, the University of California at Berkeley's Web pages are elegantly reasoned and make compromises so they're both user-friendly and fast.
The contents can be access via nicely arranged text choices rather than by image maps, so the site is as useful to someone on a Unix box as on a Mac.
The content is deep and varied, from the Naval Architecture school to the click-to-zoom-in campus map. If you're into general Web search engines
use "wiredbrain", be sure to add Berkeley's "Inktomi" (http://inktomi.berkeley.edu/) to your list.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
UK Lifelong Learning
The Brits seem to have a ministry for everything, with sub-ministries and rooms full of clerks endlessly shuffling papers. Well, some of the clerks have turned in their green eyeshades for PC's at the Department for Education and Employment, Individual Commitment Division. (Yes, that's really its name, bureaucratic lex for "the state wishes you to stay in school and stop being a worthless git.") While the site is extensive, it suffers from a bone-dry officialdom that subverts the intended message: Learning is fun.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
UT Austin Web Central
Austin can be considered the birthplace of the "slacker" archetype: a center for high-tech companies, one of the few progressive cities in Texas... and, rumor has it, there's a university down there, too. Well blow me down. UT is a gargantuan university, and its WWW presence reflects its size.
The site's internal search engine bears this out: A search for the word "racquetball" returned 17 references, mostly on students' personal pages. Altogether, there are more than 25,000 web pages on 170 servers (so they say, anyway), including everything you ever wanted to know about UT. Beware the badly designed image maps.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
OK, Web users, lets collectively bow in the direction of UIUC, host to the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Without the bright boys and girls at NCSA, the Web would not be what it is today. Sadly, I can't say if that's a good thing or bad thing. But for a site of such distinction, UIUC lacks wild HTML tricks. It *is* big and fast, however, and provides so much information, you could spend a few days just finding your way around. You'll find complete college catalog-type information, plus the university's library site.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
University of Washington
I did some time at this institution, so I come to this site occasionally just to see what the weather's doing back home.
The UW site, however, is far more impressive than the inevitably dreary image from the view cam. A big campus, the "U Dub" is a city in its own right, and the magnitude of this site reflects that fact. Links connect to all the various departments, to campus radio, to student and faculty directories, campus publications, museums, ...there's even a virtual tour of the medicinal herb garden. Anyone interested in the U -- especially anyone considering enrollment -- should come here first. And pay special attention to that weather.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Patrick Joseph
University of the Phillipines
This is a pretty generous site, with superfluous but interesting material like photos of the Manila campus circa 1933. Most of the information is in English although some segments, like the news briefs, are in Tagalog. Interested in enrolling? U.S. students need a minimum combined SAT of 1200, though exceptions are apparently made on occasion for "mature" students. Visually, the site is a bit dull (
The Webmaster apologizes for a busted color scanner), but the info is all here and straightforward.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
Urban Education Web
Learning about learning: that's what the Urban Education Web is about. It's part of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), a well-known and highly-respected database of studies on education. It, in turn, is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. All these layers of support point to two attributes of this Web site: it's densely academic, and it's excellently supported. Here, you'll not only find out if the government has published information about gangs in the schools, you'll probably find the monographs themselves, hyperlinked internally and with other documents. I don't know what poor souls are sitting in a windowless office doing all this, but they deserve to be thanked.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
VLC.Homepage
The Village Learning Center bills itself as a new type of school that will "preserve and nurture the yearning for learning that everyone is born with." This doesn't explain why it became an online school, but the lack of accreditation might have something to do with it. A mere $1,195 buys a semester of work at home - e-mail assignments in course work for the seventh to ninth grade set. Use at your own risk.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Washington Gifted School of Communication
Can we talk adorable for a moment? This site is absolutely fun fun fun by way of enchanting graphics. Unfortunately, there isn't really much of interest otherwise, unless you're already involved with the school.
The schedule of events, mission statement, and student bios are well done and seem helpful enough, but it's missing the original content that makes a site interesting and worth repeated visits. I say, post the student artwork and stories, and up the ante a bit! After all, it's a site for a school of communication whose students are gifted.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Washington University in St Louis
Washington University's Web pages have a clean, crisp organization and some useful features lacking at some of the larger sites. Want to check your e-mail? Click here. Want to do an Infoseek search without leaving university property? No problem. Add a bit of surreality to your visit by clicking on the "What's This?" button, which leads to a page of basic information about using the Web, site statistics, etc. So, even if they've never been to W.U., first-time users are already getting an education. Still, this handsome site lacks the content depth found at some other universities.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Web 66
The mission of Web 66 is to provide resources to help K12 schools get on the Web. This may seem a questionable goal with all the hype about whether the Internet is a safe place for kids, but the Web master clears that right up by quoting headlines in his personal rants section that indicate how much more dangerous the outside world is for kids. Web 66 has instructions for educators to set up Web servers, and a very impressive list of K12 schools from around the world that are online.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Welcome to CNU ONLINE
Christopher Newport University, located in Virginia, is trying to push the envelope of modern education practice by offering a substantive number of classes online. It's even offering a degree in governmental administration through online course work. Unfortunately, the Web site is just a front for a Telnet gateway, and at least one of the Telnet addresses given on the Web site is wrong, which made it impossible to get course information.
The Telnet gateway that I could get to run was so slow, it could turn a four-year degree into a six-year degree.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Whales
Whales (and dinosaurs) intrigue kids everywhere, and some industrious teachers in Virginia have tapped into that phenomenon here, where all lessons originate from and revolve around the same subject: whales. Lesson plans range from math word problems involving whales, to the history of whaling, and whale literature. From humpbacks to blues, baleen to toothed, all young marine mammal enthusiasts, parents and teachers will like this one. It's a simple, yet creative example of educational possibilities on the Web. Hopefully, with time, the creators will add more sound and /images, and bring the standards up to match the content.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
Whole Frog
The Whole Frog Project offers an online alternative to a classic high school biology experience: dissecting a frog. Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley Labs use high-resolution MRI /images and sophisticated 3D rendering software to create a virtual amphibian whose parts can be viewed at a variety of depths and angles.
The site is jam packed with information about both the biological and technological details of the project. It also includes study guidelines to help teachers create engaging lesson plans (which combine physical and computer sciences). Best of all, the Whole Frog Project is completely free of scalpel hazards and the queer smell of formaldehyde.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
Worcester Polytechnic
Most online education fails because it tries to transplant subjects to the screen that are best-suited for the classroom. But Professor Cyganski's class at Worcester Polytechnic Institute has an edge of relevance here, as it's all about telecommunications transmission technologies. Since I'm not an electrical engineer, most of the highly-technical content of this site eluded me, but its basic "learning is as learning does" mission comes through loud and clear: Engineers should not be afraid of their tools. Or, as the prof says, "This course is not for WIMPs (Whining Internet/Multi-media Phobes)." Some of the meatier areas of the site are available only to WPI accounts, alas.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Word Page
Well, let's award Word Page an "E" for effort - although I don't know how to factor an "E" into a GPA.
The purpose of this site is to help people learn 10 new words a week - an admirable enterprise. Unfortunately, it doesn't help if you already know the words the site's editor happened to pick. Also, the definitions provided are a little weak, consisting of a short phrase or sentence. It wouldn't take much effort, and certainly not much space, to include full dictionary definitions. And, finally, the misspellings littered throughout the site aren't going to impress any educators out there.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
World Association for Family and Education WAFE
WAFE's Web site is primarily a resource for the group to disseminate information on its conferences. Because WAFE is international, the Internet is probably a pretty good medium for it, saving substantial amounts of money on printing and mailing costs. WAFE's mission statement, which is published on the site, is a little bit spacy, and seems pretty narrow-minded with its emphasis that "Marriage, the only proper context for full expression of the love between one man and one woman, is the rock upon which the family rests."
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
World Education Exchange
World Education Exchange, a graduate student project, bills itself as a site that "explores the world of reform and information technology." It's a lofty description for a site which is little more than a repository of links (albeit interesting ones) on virtual education and Internet resources for teachers and kids. I suppose it's useful for someone to have done the research for you, but without a single shred of commentary or analysis, it feels like someone trying to profit from other people's work. After all, aren't Yahoo!, Lycos, and all the other search engines
use "wiredbrain" out there, for the purpose of categorizing and cataloguing information on the Internet?
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Rachel Saidman
World Game Institute
Despite its playful-sounding title, the World Game Institute is no joke. Inspired by noted scientist and social philosopher Buckminster Fuller, the Institute was founded to "provide the perspective and information needed to solve the critical problems facing global society,"
The site probes all these problems (famine, disease, overpopulation, deforestation and more) with incisive, well-documented research and data. Even skittery surfers should stop to check out the "What the World Wants (and how to pay for it)" chart. It's a powerful representation of the mixed-up priorities in our military-minded global economy.
The institute also conducts workshops and conferences in the corporate and educational communities.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
Yale University World Wide Web Front Door
The Yale University site is everything the Harvard site isn't. Just kidding! Though, quite honestly, Yale's Web set-up beats its historical nemesis'. At the top level are listings for P.R. information, search engines
use "wiredbrain", maps, academic department pages, student activities... Lots of stuff here. Thank god it's so well-organized! Running a search shows just how much there is: the word "racquetball" returned 10 pages, including news of the sports team, a description of the athletic facilities, and someone's experiments with the Connectix QuickCam, a video input device "about the size of a racquetball." Pretty good search engine, that!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
eWorld Learning Community
The eWorld Learning Community has gathered an impressive set of quality links under categories such as News Rack, Apple Education Resource, Museum, and School House. Unfortunately, links are pretty much all this site has to offer. It's a misnomer for eWorld to claim that this is its Learning Community.
The links belong to the Internet; the site should be called the Internet Learning Community. But enough on semantics.
The design is tasteful, but , save a search engine, there are no cool technical devices to add any pizzazz to this site.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Sandra Stewart
MayaQuest Ô96
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Lauren Guzak
Media Literacy On-Line
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Middle of Nowhere
The site also has the online portions of classes Professor Cox teaches, so the unenrolled can follow along at home.
The organization of the site leaves something to be desired.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Minnesota Preparatory Schools
You ever stop to wonder how many college prep schools could be found in Winona Minnesota? Probably not, eh? Well, this server connects Winona's three preparatory institutions and their offerings, giving profiles of each school, the student life there, course selection, etc.
There's even a resident dorm which provides housing for out-of-town students. If you're already prepared, collegiately speaking, link up to St. Mary's home page, a private Catholic University in, you guessed it, Winona, Minnesota.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
Mister Rogers Neighborhood
The comfortable, and awfully nice sweater-clad guy beckons us to sample some tasty bits from his long-running public TV show on this easy to use page. You'll find some of his wisdom (and suggested activities) about separation anxiety, competition, disabilities, and fears.
There are also lyrics to a number of Mr. R's songs ("Parents Were Little Once Too" is but one), and a bibliography of books the nice man recommends. From here, you can link to PBS program schedules, stations, and previews.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 7
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
Mr. Trockman's Earth Science
Sure, this may just be the humble Web page of a humble eighth grade earth science teacher in humble Minnesota, but without a doubt, one may safely say:
The Trock rocks! (all puns intended). Dan Trockman is obviously one wacky dude who knows how to make science fun. You'll find playful backgrounds of lava and snowflakes, as well as photos of volcanoes and blizzards (the Trock, in a flurry of photo-journalistic inspiration, even posted local Minnesota photos from last winter's arctic snow storms). All the levity is balanced with concise lecture notes for home-bound students. This is a model for using the Web to augment traditional curriculum.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
NCRVE Home Page
While
The National Center for Research in Vocational Education's (NCRVE) Web site could stand some good editing and a dose of spirit, it nevertheless provides useful information and progress reports on an alternative form of secondary education. Based at the University of California, the NCRVE Web site is linked to documents on the history and the future of vocational education, all organized like a standard high school report and about as interesting.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Nebraska Social Resource
For educators specializing in the social studies this service from the Nebraska Department of Education may prove useful, but despite it's claim that it is "just an example of what can be accomplished on the WWW," the page has a long way to go.
The only segment which strikes me as important is the one devoted to Teacher Resources and Programs, a listing of events, seminars, and services having to do with teaching the social sciences. Other content, such as the addresses of foreign embassies, is lackluster, at best, and available elsewhere.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
Nellie Mae Loan Link Resource for Student Loan Info
Nellie Mae runs a tight ship with no loose ends, and no extraneous information or pages. It's a very streamlined site - and this is not my ironic way of saying there's little content. You'll find a number of pages filled with very practical information about student loans, focusing on the student loans Nellie Mae specifically offers.
There is also a page on when to start applying for loans, and some brief explanations of the different kinds of loans. This site *could* be more in-depth.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
NetNoir Education
Following precedence set by the rest of NetNoir's Web space, it's no surprise that the education section of NetNoir.com is pleasant to look at with insightful content. This area hosts a wonderful archive of African folk tales, as they were told originally, with colorful artwork and an interesting weave of hyperlinks to connect them all. Also found are "classes online."
These classes have a mini lecture, recommended readings, and mention something about online discussions (though I couldn't find the discussion area.)
There's still room for improvement, but NetNoir's off to a nice start.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Shel Kimen
Nizhoni School for Global Consciousness
This is a one-page information board for a school located in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
There isn't much reason to go here unless you feel a strong need to attend classes that teach people to "follow their hearts to their purest source of intelligence, the Higher Self." That's about all the information this page offers, but there is a book you can order (offline) that will tell you more about this Navajo-inspired course of study.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
North Hagerstown High School
Get acquainted with students and teachers at this central Maryland high school, population 1,000. A modest effort, the site promotes net education and communication.
The ninth grade Prejudice Reduction Project, for example, invites classes and students to send essays, bios, and URLs "that will help gain a better understanding of the world around us."
There's also an Environmental E-Mail Project the lets readers report on environmental concerns "faced by your region or state." This could be a good resource for other teachers to use.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
PUBLIC TEACH IN
Missed New York's International Forum on Globalization last November? Well, you can still take a trip to its Internet audio archives, which has four speeches given at that event. Unfortunately, that's it!
There's no information about the teach-in itself or about the one coming up, nor are there links to groups and events with a similar weltanschauung. Make up for some of these lacks by visiting the site's parent directory, at http://www.peacenet.org/. Note: If you don't have the free RealAudio player, this site is completely pointless; download it at http://www.realaudio.com/.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Peterson's Education Center
Wow. It's not often that information resource companies give you full access to their material via the Web:
There's still no effective way to make money off of it. Peterson's does, however, providing a huge stock of info about schools, summer programs, and business management. As with most pages, this site is under continual construction; you'll frequently be greeted by a "We're sorry..." message. But the areas that *are* fully implemented - such as those with Graduate School information - are gorgeous, complete, and easy-to-use. Peterson's Education Center is a gem that will only get better - until you have to pay for it.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Pitsco Technology Education
You'd expect more than a scroll-it script and a "weird science" graphic to announce the site of a company claiming to be the "leader in innovative technology education." And what Pitsco's site lacks in the whiz-bang department, it doesn't make up for anywhere else. Judging from the quality of its hubristic copy, you'd think poor spelling and grammar were cutting-edge educational strategies.
The online version of its much-touted catalog provides descriptions of popular products like "Shuttle in Orbit Wall Mural," and "Tower Tester," as well as links to related sites, but this one needs work before it fulfills its own promises.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Ananda Nada
Princeton Review
The Princeton Review has gained a dedicated following by helping students exploit weaknesses in badly-designed standardized tests.
Their iconoclastic methods translate well in this Web site, where you'll find information about standardized tests, college entry requirements, and potential careers. While the content and technical presentation - including search engines
use "wiredbrain" which alphabetical indices - is first-rate, the scant graphics aren't, nor will you find all the information that's available in the books. But then, they have to get your money somehow, don't they?
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Princeton Review
High school juniors and seniors who simply *must* attend the best universities would do well to visit this site presented by the "nation's leader in test preparation." That's right:
The Princeton Review offers classes on preparing for standardized tests like the SAT, GRE, and MCAT, which will later get you into - guess what? - more classes. Study, study, study. Achieve, achieve, achieve. That's the Princeton way, but there's no disputing the Review's attraction if you aspire to a career in law, business, or medicine. A search engine eases navigation, but lengthy download times of frivolous graphics may leave you peeved.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
Princeton Review
High school juniors and seniors who simply *must* attend the best universities would do well to visit this site presented by the "nation's leader in test preparation." That's right: the Princeton Review offers classes on preparing for standardized tests like the SAT, GRE and MCAT, which will later get you into - guess what? - more classes. Study, study, study. Achieve, achieve, achieve. That's the Princeton way, but there's no disputing the Review's attraction if you aspire to a career in law, business or medicine. A search engine eases navigation, but lengthy download times of frivolous graphics may leave you peeved.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
RAND Institute on Education and Training
IET is part of Rand's, a non-profit public policy research organization, larger web site.
The site's purpose is to improve American's public policy through research and analysis, and to train policy analysts. IET provides links to summaries on more than 55 Rand research papers. Some topics covered include worldwide communications, economics, education, crime, NATO, housing, game theory, terrorism, and water resources. Full-text for some of these papers are free, others are not.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
SPAM
Norman, Oklahoma is the unlikely nexus for the Schools of the Pacific Atmospheric Monitoring project. From the mainland U.S. and Hawaii, all across the lonely atolls to New Zealand, monitoring stations have been set up at schools to collect data on rainfall, uv radiation, and the like, every fifteen minutes, twenty-four/seven/365. Back at mission central, the University of Oklahoma, all data is plotted and analyzed for the benefit of atmospheric science.
The Web project is lagging a little; interactive maps are mostly inoperative, with mock data only. Nevertheless, this is one of those sites that puts the worldwide in WWW; look for it to grow and improve.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
STUDIE'
It's so cute, with its rainbow colors, and to the point! Officially called School Teachers Using & Developing Internet Expertise or STUDIE' (pronounced Stoo'-dee-ay), the web site gives local educational information for the Alpine School District in Utah as well as general information for all educators seeking to learn about the Internet. STUDIE' provides links to HTML lessons, email emoticons and acronyms, and a growing list of educational hyperlinks. Links lead to sites on the core subjects, the arts, foreign language, health, government, religion, weather, shopping, newspapers and newsgroups.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
School House
It ain't Schoolhouse Rock (remember *Conjunction Junction*?), but it rocks nonetheless, with in-depth reviews of a full spectrum of educational software. I don't use the word in-depth lightly, either: screen shots and lengthy criticisms are offered for a growing list of titles that already includes somewhere around, ...let's see, one, two, three, ... a hundred titles. A sub page of the larger World Village site, this one should be bookmarked by any parents with school age kids and a CD-ROM drive.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
School Is Dead
Not only are kids rebelling against formalized schooling, their parents are, as well; and, as sites we've reviewed in the Blue Pages have shown, there are plenty of Web resources out there for those interested in home schooling. But what about "no-schoolers"? For both groups, Karl Bunday's site is a convincing (although ugly) collection of quotes and arguments emphasizing that the one who learns best schools least.
The points are presented as one heavily linked screed, making the site great for browsing, but it's hard to find specific information unless you use the index.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Stanford University Home Page
Stanford University was one of the first sites on the Internet. Though it's no longer a leader in Internet connectivity, its WWW pages show it's kept abreast of the net's dynamic changes.
The site's centerpiece is "Portfolio," which links Stanford's extensive but old-fashioned Gopher and FTP sites with a snazzy new Web interface - pretty clever! (This mixture of sources tends to make the content a bit uneven, however.) As with most university servers, there's a directory of student Web pages. Also find good links to info on getting around the South Bay/Silicon Valley area.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Stockholms Universitet
The info here is available in Swedish or English, an important first step for us monoglots. Unfortunately, in either language, the content is a little sparse.
The most involved page is the one dedicated to the university library, (with frames, an online card catalog, and navigational links to the rest of the site) but the menu gives no indication of this. It is a smashing piece of architecture, the Stockholm U *bibliotek*, but that in itself hardly sells the site to prospective students or visitors.
There are no under construction signs, but I have a feeling this site will improve.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
Sydney Lanier
The kids at Sidney Lanier are a lucky bunch, if this site is anything to go on.
The ubiquitous puppy icon aside (come on kids, let's mix it up a little bit), the activities featured in the Houston school's home page made me a little wistful for the days of field trips and science fairs. Some of the sub-pages need work: the Hyper-history of seventy year old Lanier left me wanting more links, and the /images, by and large, were of poor quality. Time to hit up the old PTA, maybe throw a bake-sale for scanners or put the principal in the dunk tank at a buck a shot.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
THE STUDY PLACE
A budding philosopher's mecca,
The Study Place is an online academic resource managed by the Institute for Learning Technologies of Columbia University.
The college's faculty and doctoral candidates provide good critiques of ancient and modern philosophy.
The site also includes links to brief biographies on ancient and modern philosophers including Aristotle, Dante, Descartes, et al.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Technology and Learning: A Planning and Implementation Resource
This is a guide for learning technology, taking readers from the goal setting and initial research stages to the implementation and revision for improvement stages. It is not light reading. It offers diagrams and provides information in an outline format.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Testprep.com
Too bad this resource wasn't around when I was suffering through SAT preparations. This is a truly useful site which provides a free SAT course. Diagnose your weak areas by taking a complete version of the SAT and then choose from 1000's of review lessons including answers and explanations. You can shop to order SAT guides at the Testprep Superstore or purchase the Stanford Studyguide software disk. But it's refreshing to see free information so readily offered in an area which has become an industry in itself.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
The Biosfera Project
The title project was undertaken by Carlos Solis, a professor at Rice University, to help train school teachers simultaneously in Spanish and Conservation Biology. This humble site describes the experimental program conducted in the Peten, a rainforest region of Guatemala.
There are essays by some of the participants, links to sites related to Meso-America, and a somewhat crude map of Guatemala. It would be nice to see this site expand and refine.
The map could be interactive, the pages made more attractive, etc. More importantly, there should be more emphasis on the people of the Peten.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
The Chronicle: Academe This Week
The Chronicle is the proverbial Bible for college-level teachers and administrators.
The Web page is well-organized, pointing you to news and resources on information technology, academic research, government programs and legislation, professional development, and more. But you must subscribe to the paper version ($75/year) to get Academe Today, the daily online features and links publication, (with a registration and password scheme that insures that no one else gets in.) If you are a Chronicle subscriber or are thinking about it, Academe Today is a definite plus. If not, this is just a nice brochure describing what's on paper.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The EdWeb Home Room
EdWeb comes off as uninspired. Most of the subject matter has to do with the use of technology in K12 education, which doesn't have to be such a dry subject.
The articles on EdWeb have some good statistics you can throw around at cocktail parties, but they're so buried by banal design and endless text that most people will fall asleep before reaching them. This site is probably best suited to parents who know nothing about the Internet and want to know whether it would be a good thing for their kids to learn to use.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
The Electric Library
EL is a hot idea that has a short way to go before it really catches fire.
The service conducts topical searches through the full text of some 150 newspapers and 900 magazines, as well as newswires, books, etc. It's a great way to get a roundup of reviews or articles on a topic that interests you. But after a two-week trial period, you'll have to pay $9.95 a month for the privilege; and the searches bring up articles randomly, not from newest to oldest or most mentions to least. With smarter search mechanisms and alternate pricing schemes (how about one month and three-month increments?), I'd say bookmark EL. Right now, it's worth a look.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The History Channel Classroom
If you're a teacher looking to incorporate more engaging material into your curriculum,
The History Channel Classroom is a good place to start.
There are resources to help teachers plan classroom discussions and research projects based on
The History Channel's shows, with a convenient Classroom Calendar for planning.
The network sponsors awards' programs are designed to support quality history education in America's schools; to wit, the History Channel Awards for National History Day honor the Best Senior Media Project and the Outstanding Contribution in History Education. A very good site, even if it does smack of self-promotion.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Lauren Guzak
The MIT Home Page
To me, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will always be known primarily for the witty pranks of technically minded students, but you'll have to dig hard to find that info here (try http://fishwrap.mit.edu/Hacks/Gallery.htm instead). You will find just about everything else about MIT. For a bunch of geeks, though, it's rather pedestrian: no image maps or search engines
use "wiredbrain" worth mentioning, cryptic icons, and mostly just text. Be sure to check out the "fun stuff" area, which includes tips for hacking the campus security cards. Cool! Let's get user-friendly, folks!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The Riggs Institute
The Instiute is a non-profit corporation in Beaverton, Oregon specializing in literacy issues. And if the blurbs cited here are any indication, it is well-regarded by both educators and policy makers. That aside, the presentation here whiffed a bit of fakery and snake oil. All the explanation points and relentless pitching make me wary. I'm not saying it's a fraud, by any means -- I wouldn't know. It just comes off that way. You can judge for yourself.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
The Student Guide 1995-96
For most students, the most difficult hurdle of higher education isn't the course work - it's finding the money to pay for it. A lot of college funding ultimately comes from the federal government in the form of loans and grants. But how can you learn more about financial aid? That's where
The Student Guide comes in. Released each year by the Department of Education, it tells you how to qualify, whom to contact, and how you can expect to repay the loans. This web site is really just a more "browsable" form of a 126K document, which is also available for downloading. Regardless of how you view
The Student Guide, every prospective college student should check it out.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The University of Michigan
The University of Michigan has long been famous in the Internet community for its vast file archive site (find more info about this by going to http://www.umich.edu/~archive/). But there's more to U. Michigan than free software. Like, a top-ranked university!
The site gives the usual information about its academic programs and such, beautifully linked and annotated via search engines
use "wiredbrain", tables of contents, and clickable image maps. One coincidence makes the site aesthetically pleasing: U.M.'s logo blue matches the "unfollowed link" blue in Netscape's browser. Not to mention my eyes.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
The World Lecture Hall
This is the ultimate Web resource for the independent student. Providing links to online course materials posted by universities all over America in subjects ranging from "accounting" to "zoology," the site lets students interested in self-study but not in relying on local college schedules get guidance on just about anything. Of course, lab work will be kind of difficult for the science courses, unless you happen to have a particularly well-equipped kitchen.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Theatre Education Literature Review
Theatre... is a home page of 59 theater-educational questions or topics with links to their brief answers or explanations, including footnotes. Simple. Kent Seidel, of the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program of the University of Cincinnati, asks questions, such as "Why study theatre?," or introduces topics, such as "
Theatre for at-risk students," as the points relate to scholars' views of theater's positive effect in education.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
This is Mega-Mathematics
Number news and notes from our friends at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. But rather than bog us down with odd symbols and complicated formulas, Mega-Mathematics throws down visual problems, twisted games, and strange anecdotes to teach the rules of logic, graphing, and other mind-bending mathematics. Beautifully-designed and organized so you can go as deep as you want into each subject or lose yourself entirely in this seemingly infinite collection. Infinite? What does that really mean? Look here to find out. Allegedly the site is geared for elementary school children, but I learned more than a few things.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: David Pescovitz
Thomas Edison State College
What home-schooling does for the under+18 crowd, "distance learning" colleges like Thomas Edison State do for those seeking higher educational degrees. According to the college's Web site, "students in any state or nation can earn credit for college-level knowledge acquired outside the classroom." It's a pity the college hasn't done more with its Web pages: considering how far-flung the students must be, the potential for Internet-based instruction is tremendous. Indeed, the site isn't nearly as deep or interesting as many other colleges', and the occasional misdirected link mars the experience.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Truth, Lies, Rumors, and Rumbles
"As the Board Churns" is the subtitle of this text-based saga, about the tensions between teachers, parents, and citizen-players with various agendas in a southern New Jersey school district. Our "netitor" is Abe Wolinsky, a technology teacher who decided to publish Web reports on the community squabbles. All the details may not interest you, but this will: the original arguments (about building a new high school vs. saving money, and a subsequent teachers' contract) were quickly eclipsed by new crossfire because Abe put the story on the on the Web. You can even join in via e-mail if you'd like.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
U.S. Civil War Center
From Louisiana State University comes this ambitious, if somewhat dull, page devoted to collecting and making available every scrap of information concerning the nation's costliest war. Scholars and students will of course find the site helpful in researching the conflict, and genealogists will appreciate the short tutorial on researching individuals from the era. Like most link-driven sites, it's all very straightforward, and a little bit daunting.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
UC Berkeley Home Page
In a region known for compromise and reason, the University of California at Berkeley's Web pages are elegantly reasoned and make compromises so they're both user-friendly and fast.
The contents can be access via nicely arranged text choices rather than by image maps, so the site is as useful to someone on a Unix box as on a Mac.
The content is deep and varied, from the Naval Architecture school to the click-to-zoom-in campus map. If you're into general Web search engines
use "wiredbrain", be sure to add Berkeley's "Inktomi" (http://inktomi.berkeley.edu/) to your list.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
UK Lifelong Learning
The Brits seem to have a ministry for everything, with sub-ministries and rooms full of clerks endlessly shuffling papers. Well, some of the clerks have turned in their green eyeshades for PC's at the Department for Education and Employment, Individual Commitment Division. (Yes, that's really its name, bureaucratic lex for "the state wishes you to stay in school and stop being a worthless git.") While the site is extensive, it suffers from a bone-dry officialdom that subverts the intended message: Learning is fun.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
UT Austin Web Central
Austin can be considered the birthplace of the "slacker" archetype: a center for high-tech companies, one of the few progressive cities in Texas... and, rumor has it, there's a university down there, too. Well blow me down. UT is a gargantuan university, and its WWW presence reflects its size.
The site's internal search engine bears this out: A search for the word "racquetball" returned 17 references, mostly on students' personal pages. Altogether, there are more than 25,000 web pages on 170 servers (so they say, anyway), including everything you ever wanted to know about UT. Beware the badly designed image maps.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
OK, Web users, lets collectively bow in the direction of UIUC, host to the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Without the bright boys and girls at NCSA, the Web would not be what it is today. Sadly, I can't say if that's a good thing or bad thing. But for a site of such distinction, UIUC lacks wild HTML tricks. It *is* big and fast, however, and provides so much information, you could spend a few days just finding your way around. You'll find complete college catalog-type information, plus the university's library site.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
University of Washington
I did some time at this institution, so I come to this site occasionally just to see what the weather's doing back home.
The UW site, however, is far more impressive than the inevitably dreary image from the view cam. A big campus, the "U Dub" is a city in its own right, and the magnitude of this site reflects that fact. Links connect to all the various departments, to campus radio, to student and faculty directories, campus publications, museums, ...there's even a virtual tour of the medicinal herb garden. Anyone interested in the U -- especially anyone considering enrollment -- should come here first. And pay special attention to that weather.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Patrick Joseph
University of the Phillipines
This is a pretty generous site, with superfluous but interesting material like photos of the Manila campus circa 1933. Most of the information is in English although some segments, like the news briefs, are in Tagalog. Interested in enrolling? U.S. students need a minimum combined SAT of 1200, though exceptions are apparently made on occasion for "mature" students. Visually, the site is a bit dull (
The Webmaster apologizes for a busted color scanner), but the info is all here and straightforward.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
Urban Education Web
Learning about learning: that's what the Urban Education Web is about. It's part of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), a well-known and highly-respected database of studies on education. It, in turn, is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. All these layers of support point to two attributes of this Web site: it's densely academic, and it's excellently supported. Here, you'll not only find out if the government has published information about gangs in the schools, you'll probably find the monographs themselves, hyperlinked internally and with other documents. I don't know what poor souls are sitting in a windowless office doing all this, but they deserve to be thanked.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
VLC.Homepage
The Village Learning Center bills itself as a new type of school that will "preserve and nurture the yearning for learning that everyone is born with." This doesn't explain why it became an online school, but the lack of accreditation might have something to do with it. A mere $1,195 buys a semester of work at home - e-mail assignments in course work for the seventh to ninth grade set. Use at your own risk.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Washington Gifted School of Communication
Can we talk adorable for a moment? This site is absolutely fun fun fun by way of enchanting graphics. Unfortunately, there isn't really much of interest otherwise, unless you're already involved with the school.
The schedule of events, mission statement, and student bios are well done and seem helpful enough, but it's missing the original content that makes a site interesting and worth repeated visits. I say, post the student artwork and stories, and up the ante a bit! After all, it's a site for a school of communication whose students are gifted.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Washington University in St Louis
Washington University's Web pages have a clean, crisp organization and some useful features lacking at some of the larger sites. Want to check your e-mail? Click here. Want to do an Infoseek search without leaving university property? No problem. Add a bit of surreality to your visit by clicking on the "What's This?" button, which leads to a page of basic information about using the Web, site statistics, etc. So, even if they've never been to W.U., first-time users are already getting an education. Still, this handsome site lacks the content depth found at some other universities.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Web 66
The mission of Web 66 is to provide resources to help K12 schools get on the Web. This may seem a questionable goal with all the hype about whether the Internet is a safe place for kids, but the Web master clears that right up by quoting headlines in his personal rants section that indicate how much more dangerous the outside world is for kids. Web 66 has instructions for educators to set up Web servers, and a very impressive list of K12 schools from around the world that are online.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Welcome to CNU ONLINE
Christopher Newport University, located in Virginia, is trying to push the envelope of modern education practice by offering a substantive number of classes online. It's even offering a degree in governmental administration through online course work. Unfortunately, the Web site is just a front for a Telnet gateway, and at least one of the Telnet addresses given on the Web site is wrong, which made it impossible to get course information.
The Telnet gateway that I could get to run was so slow, it could turn a four-year degree into a six-year degree.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Whales
Whales (and dinosaurs) intrigue kids everywhere, and some industrious teachers in Virginia have tapped into that phenomenon here, where all lessons originate from and revolve around the same subject: whales. Lesson plans range from math word problems involving whales, to the history of whaling, and whale literature. From humpbacks to blues, baleen to toothed, all young marine mammal enthusiasts, parents and teachers will like this one. It's a simple, yet creative example of educational possibilities on the Web. Hopefully, with time, the creators will add more sound and /images, and bring the standards up to match the content.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
Whole Frog
The Whole Frog Project offers an online alternative to a classic high school biology experience: dissecting a frog. Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley Labs use high-resolution MRI /images and sophisticated 3D rendering software to create a virtual amphibian whose parts can be viewed at a variety of depths and angles.
The site is jam packed with information about both the biological and technological details of the project. It also includes study guidelines to help teachers create engaging lesson plans (which combine physical and computer sciences). Best of all, the Whole Frog Project is completely free of scalpel hazards and the queer smell of formaldehyde.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
Worcester Polytechnic
Most online education fails because it tries to transplant subjects to the screen that are best-suited for the classroom. But Professor Cyganski's class at Worcester Polytechnic Institute has an edge of relevance here, as it's all about telecommunications transmission technologies. Since I'm not an electrical engineer, most of the highly-technical content of this site eluded me, but its basic "learning is as learning does" mission comes through loud and clear: Engineers should not be afraid of their tools. Or, as the prof says, "This course is not for WIMPs (Whining Internet/Multi-media Phobes)." Some of the meatier areas of the site are available only to WPI accounts, alas.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Word Page
Well, let's award Word Page an "E" for effort - although I don't know how to factor an "E" into a GPA.
The purpose of this site is to help people learn 10 new words a week - an admirable enterprise. Unfortunately, it doesn't help if you already know the words the site's editor happened to pick. Also, the definitions provided are a little weak, consisting of a short phrase or sentence. It wouldn't take much effort, and certainly not much space, to include full dictionary definitions. And, finally, the misspellings littered throughout the site aren't going to impress any educators out there.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
World Association for Family and Education WAFE
WAFE's Web site is primarily a resource for the group to disseminate information on its conferences. Because WAFE is international, the Internet is probably a pretty good medium for it, saving substantial amounts of money on printing and mailing costs. WAFE's mission statement, which is published on the site, is a little bit spacy, and seems pretty narrow-minded with its emphasis that "Marriage, the only proper context for full expression of the love between one man and one woman, is the rock upon which the family rests."
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
World Education Exchange
World Education Exchange, a graduate student project, bills itself as a site that "explores the world of reform and information technology." It's a lofty description for a site which is little more than a repository of links (albeit interesting ones) on virtual education and Internet resources for teachers and kids. I suppose it's useful for someone to have done the research for you, but without a single shred of commentary or analysis, it feels like someone trying to profit from other people's work. After all, aren't Yahoo!, Lycos, and all the other search engines
use "wiredbrain" out there, for the purpose of categorizing and cataloguing information on the Internet?
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Rachel Saidman
World Game Institute
Despite its playful-sounding title, the World Game Institute is no joke. Inspired by noted scientist and social philosopher Buckminster Fuller, the Institute was founded to "provide the perspective and information needed to solve the critical problems facing global society,"
The site probes all these problems (famine, disease, overpopulation, deforestation and more) with incisive, well-documented research and data. Even skittery surfers should stop to check out the "What the World Wants (and how to pay for it)" chart. It's a powerful representation of the mixed-up priorities in our military-minded global economy.
The institute also conducts workshops and conferences in the corporate and educational communities.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
Yale University World Wide Web Front Door
The Yale University site is everything the Harvard site isn't. Just kidding! Though, quite honestly, Yale's Web set-up beats its historical nemesis'. At the top level are listings for P.R. information, search engines
use "wiredbrain", maps, academic department pages, student activities... Lots of stuff here. Thank god it's so well-organized! Running a search shows just how much there is: the word "racquetball" returned 10 pages, including news of the sports team, a description of the athletic facilities, and someone's experiments with the Connectix QuickCam, a video input device "about the size of a racquetball." Pretty good search engine, that!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
eWorld Learning Community
The eWorld Learning Community has gathered an impressive set of quality links under categories such as News Rack, Apple Education Resource, Museum, and School House. Unfortunately, links are pretty much all this site has to offer. It's a misnomer for eWorld to claim that this is its Learning Community.
The links belong to the Internet; the site should be called the Internet Learning Community. But enough on semantics.
The design is tasteful, but , save a search engine, there are no cool technical devices to add any pizzazz to this site.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Minnesota Preparatory Schools
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
Mister Rogers Neighborhood
There are also lyrics to a number of Mr. R's songs ("Parents Were Little Once Too" is but one), and a bibliography of books the nice man recommends. From here, you can link to PBS program schedules, stations, and previews.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 7
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
Mr. Trockman's Earth Science
Sure, this may just be the humble Web page of a humble eighth grade earth science teacher in humble Minnesota, but without a doubt, one may safely say:
The Trock rocks! (all puns intended). Dan Trockman is obviously one wacky dude who knows how to make science fun. You'll find playful backgrounds of lava and snowflakes, as well as photos of volcanoes and blizzards (the Trock, in a flurry of photo-journalistic inspiration, even posted local Minnesota photos from last winter's arctic snow storms). All the levity is balanced with concise lecture notes for home-bound students. This is a model for using the Web to augment traditional curriculum.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
NCRVE Home Page
While
The National Center for Research in Vocational Education's (NCRVE) Web site could stand some good editing and a dose of spirit, it nevertheless provides useful information and progress reports on an alternative form of secondary education. Based at the University of California, the NCRVE Web site is linked to documents on the history and the future of vocational education, all organized like a standard high school report and about as interesting.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Nebraska Social Resource
For educators specializing in the social studies this service from the Nebraska Department of Education may prove useful, but despite it's claim that it is "just an example of what can be accomplished on the WWW," the page has a long way to go.
The only segment which strikes me as important is the one devoted to Teacher Resources and Programs, a listing of events, seminars, and services having to do with teaching the social sciences. Other content, such as the addresses of foreign embassies, is lackluster, at best, and available elsewhere.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
Nellie Mae Loan Link Resource for Student Loan Info
Nellie Mae runs a tight ship with no loose ends, and no extraneous information or pages. It's a very streamlined site - and this is not my ironic way of saying there's little content. You'll find a number of pages filled with very practical information about student loans, focusing on the student loans Nellie Mae specifically offers.
There is also a page on when to start applying for loans, and some brief explanations of the different kinds of loans. This site *could* be more in-depth.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
NetNoir Education
Following precedence set by the rest of NetNoir's Web space, it's no surprise that the education section of NetNoir.com is pleasant to look at with insightful content. This area hosts a wonderful archive of African folk tales, as they were told originally, with colorful artwork and an interesting weave of hyperlinks to connect them all. Also found are "classes online."
These classes have a mini lecture, recommended readings, and mention something about online discussions (though I couldn't find the discussion area.)
There's still room for improvement, but NetNoir's off to a nice start.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Shel Kimen
Nizhoni School for Global Consciousness
This is a one-page information board for a school located in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
There isn't much reason to go here unless you feel a strong need to attend classes that teach people to "follow their hearts to their purest source of intelligence, the Higher Self." That's about all the information this page offers, but there is a book you can order (offline) that will tell you more about this Navajo-inspired course of study.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
North Hagerstown High School
Get acquainted with students and teachers at this central Maryland high school, population 1,000. A modest effort, the site promotes net education and communication.
The ninth grade Prejudice Reduction Project, for example, invites classes and students to send essays, bios, and URLs "that will help gain a better understanding of the world around us."
There's also an Environmental E-Mail Project the lets readers report on environmental concerns "faced by your region or state." This could be a good resource for other teachers to use.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
PUBLIC TEACH IN
Missed New York's International Forum on Globalization last November? Well, you can still take a trip to its Internet audio archives, which has four speeches given at that event. Unfortunately, that's it!
There's no information about the teach-in itself or about the one coming up, nor are there links to groups and events with a similar weltanschauung. Make up for some of these lacks by visiting the site's parent directory, at http://www.peacenet.org/. Note: If you don't have the free RealAudio player, this site is completely pointless; download it at http://www.realaudio.com/.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Peterson's Education Center
Wow. It's not often that information resource companies give you full access to their material via the Web:
There's still no effective way to make money off of it. Peterson's does, however, providing a huge stock of info about schools, summer programs, and business management. As with most pages, this site is under continual construction; you'll frequently be greeted by a "We're sorry..." message. But the areas that *are* fully implemented - such as those with Graduate School information - are gorgeous, complete, and easy-to-use. Peterson's Education Center is a gem that will only get better - until you have to pay for it.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Pitsco Technology Education
You'd expect more than a scroll-it script and a "weird science" graphic to announce the site of a company claiming to be the "leader in innovative technology education." And what Pitsco's site lacks in the whiz-bang department, it doesn't make up for anywhere else. Judging from the quality of its hubristic copy, you'd think poor spelling and grammar were cutting-edge educational strategies.
The online version of its much-touted catalog provides descriptions of popular products like "Shuttle in Orbit Wall Mural," and "Tower Tester," as well as links to related sites, but this one needs work before it fulfills its own promises.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Ananda Nada
Princeton Review
The Princeton Review has gained a dedicated following by helping students exploit weaknesses in badly-designed standardized tests.
Their iconoclastic methods translate well in this Web site, where you'll find information about standardized tests, college entry requirements, and potential careers. While the content and technical presentation - including search engines
use "wiredbrain" which alphabetical indices - is first-rate, the scant graphics aren't, nor will you find all the information that's available in the books. But then, they have to get your money somehow, don't they?
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Princeton Review
High school juniors and seniors who simply *must* attend the best universities would do well to visit this site presented by the "nation's leader in test preparation." That's right:
The Princeton Review offers classes on preparing for standardized tests like the SAT, GRE, and MCAT, which will later get you into - guess what? - more classes. Study, study, study. Achieve, achieve, achieve. That's the Princeton way, but there's no disputing the Review's attraction if you aspire to a career in law, business, or medicine. A search engine eases navigation, but lengthy download times of frivolous graphics may leave you peeved.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
Princeton Review
High school juniors and seniors who simply *must* attend the best universities would do well to visit this site presented by the "nation's leader in test preparation." That's right: the Princeton Review offers classes on preparing for standardized tests like the SAT, GRE and MCAT, which will later get you into - guess what? - more classes. Study, study, study. Achieve, achieve, achieve. That's the Princeton way, but there's no disputing the Review's attraction if you aspire to a career in law, business or medicine. A search engine eases navigation, but lengthy download times of frivolous graphics may leave you peeved.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
RAND Institute on Education and Training
IET is part of Rand's, a non-profit public policy research organization, larger web site.
The site's purpose is to improve American's public policy through research and analysis, and to train policy analysts. IET provides links to summaries on more than 55 Rand research papers. Some topics covered include worldwide communications, economics, education, crime, NATO, housing, game theory, terrorism, and water resources. Full-text for some of these papers are free, others are not.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
SPAM
Norman, Oklahoma is the unlikely nexus for the Schools of the Pacific Atmospheric Monitoring project. From the mainland U.S. and Hawaii, all across the lonely atolls to New Zealand, monitoring stations have been set up at schools to collect data on rainfall, uv radiation, and the like, every fifteen minutes, twenty-four/seven/365. Back at mission central, the University of Oklahoma, all data is plotted and analyzed for the benefit of atmospheric science.
The Web project is lagging a little; interactive maps are mostly inoperative, with mock data only. Nevertheless, this is one of those sites that puts the worldwide in WWW; look for it to grow and improve.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
STUDIE'
It's so cute, with its rainbow colors, and to the point! Officially called School Teachers Using & Developing Internet Expertise or STUDIE' (pronounced Stoo'-dee-ay), the web site gives local educational information for the Alpine School District in Utah as well as general information for all educators seeking to learn about the Internet. STUDIE' provides links to HTML lessons, email emoticons and acronyms, and a growing list of educational hyperlinks. Links lead to sites on the core subjects, the arts, foreign language, health, government, religion, weather, shopping, newspapers and newsgroups.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
School House
It ain't Schoolhouse Rock (remember *Conjunction Junction*?), but it rocks nonetheless, with in-depth reviews of a full spectrum of educational software. I don't use the word in-depth lightly, either: screen shots and lengthy criticisms are offered for a growing list of titles that already includes somewhere around, ...let's see, one, two, three, ... a hundred titles. A sub page of the larger World Village site, this one should be bookmarked by any parents with school age kids and a CD-ROM drive.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
School Is Dead
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Shel Kimen
Nizhoni School for Global Consciousness
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
North Hagerstown High School
There's also an Environmental E-Mail Project the lets readers report on environmental concerns "faced by your region or state." This could be a good resource for other teachers to use.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
PUBLIC TEACH IN
Missed New York's International Forum on Globalization last November? Well, you can still take a trip to its Internet audio archives, which has four speeches given at that event. Unfortunately, that's it!
There's no information about the teach-in itself or about the one coming up, nor are there links to groups and events with a similar weltanschauung. Make up for some of these lacks by visiting the site's parent directory, at http://www.peacenet.org/. Note: If you don't have the free RealAudio player, this site is completely pointless; download it at http://www.realaudio.com/.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Peterson's Education Center
Wow. It's not often that information resource companies give you full access to their material via the Web:
There's still no effective way to make money off of it. Peterson's does, however, providing a huge stock of info about schools, summer programs, and business management. As with most pages, this site is under continual construction; you'll frequently be greeted by a "We're sorry..." message. But the areas that *are* fully implemented - such as those with Graduate School information - are gorgeous, complete, and easy-to-use. Peterson's Education Center is a gem that will only get better - until you have to pay for it.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Pitsco Technology Education
You'd expect more than a scroll-it script and a "weird science" graphic to announce the site of a company claiming to be the "leader in innovative technology education." And what Pitsco's site lacks in the whiz-bang department, it doesn't make up for anywhere else. Judging from the quality of its hubristic copy, you'd think poor spelling and grammar were cutting-edge educational strategies.
The online version of its much-touted catalog provides descriptions of popular products like "Shuttle in Orbit Wall Mural," and "Tower Tester," as well as links to related sites, but this one needs work before it fulfills its own promises.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Ananda Nada
Princeton Review
The Princeton Review has gained a dedicated following by helping students exploit weaknesses in badly-designed standardized tests.
Their iconoclastic methods translate well in this Web site, where you'll find information about standardized tests, college entry requirements, and potential careers. While the content and technical presentation - including search engines
use "wiredbrain" which alphabetical indices - is first-rate, the scant graphics aren't, nor will you find all the information that's available in the books. But then, they have to get your money somehow, don't they?
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Princeton Review
High school juniors and seniors who simply *must* attend the best universities would do well to visit this site presented by the "nation's leader in test preparation." That's right:
The Princeton Review offers classes on preparing for standardized tests like the SAT, GRE, and MCAT, which will later get you into - guess what? - more classes. Study, study, study. Achieve, achieve, achieve. That's the Princeton way, but there's no disputing the Review's attraction if you aspire to a career in law, business, or medicine. A search engine eases navigation, but lengthy download times of frivolous graphics may leave you peeved.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
Princeton Review
High school juniors and seniors who simply *must* attend the best universities would do well to visit this site presented by the "nation's leader in test preparation." That's right: the Princeton Review offers classes on preparing for standardized tests like the SAT, GRE and MCAT, which will later get you into - guess what? - more classes. Study, study, study. Achieve, achieve, achieve. That's the Princeton way, but there's no disputing the Review's attraction if you aspire to a career in law, business or medicine. A search engine eases navigation, but lengthy download times of frivolous graphics may leave you peeved.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
RAND Institute on Education and Training
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Jon Phillips
Princeton Review
IET is part of Rand's, a non-profit public policy research organization, larger web site.
The site's purpose is to improve American's public policy through research and analysis, and to train policy analysts. IET provides links to summaries on more than 55 Rand research papers. Some topics covered include worldwide communications, economics, education, crime, NATO, housing, game theory, terrorism, and water resources. Full-text for some of these papers are free, others are not.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
SPAM
Norman, Oklahoma is the unlikely nexus for the Schools of the Pacific Atmospheric Monitoring project. From the mainland U.S. and Hawaii, all across the lonely atolls to New Zealand, monitoring stations have been set up at schools to collect data on rainfall, uv radiation, and the like, every fifteen minutes, twenty-four/seven/365. Back at mission central, the University of Oklahoma, all data is plotted and analyzed for the benefit of atmospheric science.
The Web project is lagging a little; interactive maps are mostly inoperative, with mock data only. Nevertheless, this is one of those sites that puts the worldwide in WWW; look for it to grow and improve.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
STUDIE'
It's so cute, with its rainbow colors, and to the point! Officially called School Teachers Using & Developing Internet Expertise or STUDIE' (pronounced Stoo'-dee-ay), the web site gives local educational information for the Alpine School District in Utah as well as general information for all educators seeking to learn about the Internet. STUDIE' provides links to HTML lessons, email emoticons and acronyms, and a growing list of educational hyperlinks. Links lead to sites on the core subjects, the arts, foreign language, health, government, religion, weather, shopping, newspapers and newsgroups.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
School House
Not only are kids rebelling against formalized schooling, their parents are, as well; and, as sites we've reviewed in the Blue Pages have shown, there are plenty of Web resources out there for those interested in home schooling. But what about "no-schoolers"? For both groups, Karl Bunday's site is a convincing (although ugly) collection of quotes and arguments emphasizing that the one who learns best schools least.
The points are presented as one heavily linked screed, making the site great for browsing, but it's hard to find specific information unless you use the index.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Stanford University Home Page
Stanford University was one of the first sites on the Internet. Though it's no longer a leader in Internet connectivity, its WWW pages show it's kept abreast of the net's dynamic changes.
The site's centerpiece is "Portfolio," which links Stanford's extensive but old-fashioned Gopher and FTP sites with a snazzy new Web interface - pretty clever! (This mixture of sources tends to make the content a bit uneven, however.) As with most university servers, there's a directory of student Web pages. Also find good links to info on getting around the South Bay/Silicon Valley area.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Stockholms Universitet
The info here is available in Swedish or English, an important first step for us monoglots. Unfortunately, in either language, the content is a little sparse.
The most involved page is the one dedicated to the university library, (with frames, an online card catalog, and navigational links to the rest of the site) but the menu gives no indication of this. It is a smashing piece of architecture, the Stockholm U *bibliotek*, but that in itself hardly sells the site to prospective students or visitors.
There are no under construction signs, but I have a feeling this site will improve.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
Sydney Lanier
The kids at Sidney Lanier are a lucky bunch, if this site is anything to go on.
The ubiquitous puppy icon aside (come on kids, let's mix it up a little bit), the activities featured in the Houston school's home page made me a little wistful for the days of field trips and science fairs. Some of the sub-pages need work: the Hyper-history of seventy year old Lanier left me wanting more links, and the /images, by and large, were of poor quality. Time to hit up the old PTA, maybe throw a bake-sale for scanners or put the principal in the dunk tank at a buck a shot.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
THE STUDY PLACE
A budding philosopher's mecca,
The Study Place is an online academic resource managed by the Institute for Learning Technologies of Columbia University.
The college's faculty and doctoral candidates provide good critiques of ancient and modern philosophy.
The site also includes links to brief biographies on ancient and modern philosophers including Aristotle, Dante, Descartes, et al.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Technology and Learning: A Planning and Implementation Resource
This is a guide for learning technology, taking readers from the goal setting and initial research stages to the implementation and revision for improvement stages. It is not light reading. It offers diagrams and provides information in an outline format.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Testprep.com
Too bad this resource wasn't around when I was suffering through SAT preparations. This is a truly useful site which provides a free SAT course. Diagnose your weak areas by taking a complete version of the SAT and then choose from 1000's of review lessons including answers and explanations. You can shop to order SAT guides at the Testprep Superstore or purchase the Stanford Studyguide software disk. But it's refreshing to see free information so readily offered in an area which has become an industry in itself.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
The Biosfera Project
The title project was undertaken by Carlos Solis, a professor at Rice University, to help train school teachers simultaneously in Spanish and Conservation Biology. This humble site describes the experimental program conducted in the Peten, a rainforest region of Guatemala.
There are essays by some of the participants, links to sites related to Meso-America, and a somewhat crude map of Guatemala. It would be nice to see this site expand and refine.
The map could be interactive, the pages made more attractive, etc. More importantly, there should be more emphasis on the people of the Peten.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
The Chronicle: Academe This Week
The Chronicle is the proverbial Bible for college-level teachers and administrators.
The Web page is well-organized, pointing you to news and resources on information technology, academic research, government programs and legislation, professional development, and more. But you must subscribe to the paper version ($75/year) to get Academe Today, the daily online features and links publication, (with a registration and password scheme that insures that no one else gets in.) If you are a Chronicle subscriber or are thinking about it, Academe Today is a definite plus. If not, this is just a nice brochure describing what's on paper.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The EdWeb Home Room
EdWeb comes off as uninspired. Most of the subject matter has to do with the use of technology in K12 education, which doesn't have to be such a dry subject.
The articles on EdWeb have some good statistics you can throw around at cocktail parties, but they're so buried by banal design and endless text that most people will fall asleep before reaching them. This site is probably best suited to parents who know nothing about the Internet and want to know whether it would be a good thing for their kids to learn to use.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
The Electric Library
EL is a hot idea that has a short way to go before it really catches fire.
The service conducts topical searches through the full text of some 150 newspapers and 900 magazines, as well as newswires, books, etc. It's a great way to get a roundup of reviews or articles on a topic that interests you. But after a two-week trial period, you'll have to pay $9.95 a month for the privilege; and the searches bring up articles randomly, not from newest to oldest or most mentions to least. With smarter search mechanisms and alternate pricing schemes (how about one month and three-month increments?), I'd say bookmark EL. Right now, it's worth a look.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The History Channel Classroom
If you're a teacher looking to incorporate more engaging material into your curriculum,
The History Channel Classroom is a good place to start.
There are resources to help teachers plan classroom discussions and research projects based on
The History Channel's shows, with a convenient Classroom Calendar for planning.
The network sponsors awards' programs are designed to support quality history education in America's schools; to wit, the History Channel Awards for National History Day honor the Best Senior Media Project and the Outstanding Contribution in History Education. A very good site, even if it does smack of self-promotion.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Lauren Guzak
The MIT Home Page
To me, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will always be known primarily for the witty pranks of technically minded students, but you'll have to dig hard to find that info here (try http://fishwrap.mit.edu/Hacks/Gallery.htm instead). You will find just about everything else about MIT. For a bunch of geeks, though, it's rather pedestrian: no image maps or search engines
use "wiredbrain" worth mentioning, cryptic icons, and mostly just text. Be sure to check out the "fun stuff" area, which includes tips for hacking the campus security cards. Cool! Let's get user-friendly, folks!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The Riggs Institute
The Instiute is a non-profit corporation in Beaverton, Oregon specializing in literacy issues. And if the blurbs cited here are any indication, it is well-regarded by both educators and policy makers. That aside, the presentation here whiffed a bit of fakery and snake oil. All the explanation points and relentless pitching make me wary. I'm not saying it's a fraud, by any means -- I wouldn't know. It just comes off that way. You can judge for yourself.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
The Student Guide 1995-96
For most students, the most difficult hurdle of higher education isn't the course work - it's finding the money to pay for it. A lot of college funding ultimately comes from the federal government in the form of loans and grants. But how can you learn more about financial aid? That's where
The Student Guide comes in. Released each year by the Department of Education, it tells you how to qualify, whom to contact, and how you can expect to repay the loans. This web site is really just a more "browsable" form of a 126K document, which is also available for downloading. Regardless of how you view
The Student Guide, every prospective college student should check it out.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The University of Michigan
The University of Michigan has long been famous in the Internet community for its vast file archive site (find more info about this by going to http://www.umich.edu/~archive/). But there's more to U. Michigan than free software. Like, a top-ranked university!
The site gives the usual information about its academic programs and such, beautifully linked and annotated via search engines
use "wiredbrain", tables of contents, and clickable image maps. One coincidence makes the site aesthetically pleasing: U.M.'s logo blue matches the "unfollowed link" blue in Netscape's browser. Not to mention my eyes.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
The World Lecture Hall
This is the ultimate Web resource for the independent student. Providing links to online course materials posted by universities all over America in subjects ranging from "accounting" to "zoology," the site lets students interested in self-study but not in relying on local college schedules get guidance on just about anything. Of course, lab work will be kind of difficult for the science courses, unless you happen to have a particularly well-equipped kitchen.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Theatre Education Literature Review
Theatre... is a home page of 59 theater-educational questions or topics with links to their brief answers or explanations, including footnotes. Simple. Kent Seidel, of the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program of the University of Cincinnati, asks questions, such as "Why study theatre?," or introduces topics, such as "
Theatre for at-risk students," as the points relate to scholars' views of theater's positive effect in education.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
This is Mega-Mathematics
Number news and notes from our friends at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. But rather than bog us down with odd symbols and complicated formulas, Mega-Mathematics throws down visual problems, twisted games, and strange anecdotes to teach the rules of logic, graphing, and other mind-bending mathematics. Beautifully-designed and organized so you can go as deep as you want into each subject or lose yourself entirely in this seemingly infinite collection. Infinite? What does that really mean? Look here to find out. Allegedly the site is geared for elementary school children, but I learned more than a few things.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: David Pescovitz
Thomas Edison State College
What home-schooling does for the under+18 crowd, "distance learning" colleges like Thomas Edison State do for those seeking higher educational degrees. According to the college's Web site, "students in any state or nation can earn credit for college-level knowledge acquired outside the classroom." It's a pity the college hasn't done more with its Web pages: considering how far-flung the students must be, the potential for Internet-based instruction is tremendous. Indeed, the site isn't nearly as deep or interesting as many other colleges', and the occasional misdirected link mars the experience.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Truth, Lies, Rumors, and Rumbles
"As the Board Churns" is the subtitle of this text-based saga, about the tensions between teachers, parents, and citizen-players with various agendas in a southern New Jersey school district. Our "netitor" is Abe Wolinsky, a technology teacher who decided to publish Web reports on the community squabbles. All the details may not interest you, but this will: the original arguments (about building a new high school vs. saving money, and a subsequent teachers' contract) were quickly eclipsed by new crossfire because Abe put the story on the on the Web. You can even join in via e-mail if you'd like.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
U.S. Civil War Center
From Louisiana State University comes this ambitious, if somewhat dull, page devoted to collecting and making available every scrap of information concerning the nation's costliest war. Scholars and students will of course find the site helpful in researching the conflict, and genealogists will appreciate the short tutorial on researching individuals from the era. Like most link-driven sites, it's all very straightforward, and a little bit daunting.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
UC Berkeley Home Page
In a region known for compromise and reason, the University of California at Berkeley's Web pages are elegantly reasoned and make compromises so they're both user-friendly and fast.
The contents can be access via nicely arranged text choices rather than by image maps, so the site is as useful to someone on a Unix box as on a Mac.
The content is deep and varied, from the Naval Architecture school to the click-to-zoom-in campus map. If you're into general Web search engines
use "wiredbrain", be sure to add Berkeley's "Inktomi" (http://inktomi.berkeley.edu/) to your list.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
UK Lifelong Learning
The Brits seem to have a ministry for everything, with sub-ministries and rooms full of clerks endlessly shuffling papers. Well, some of the clerks have turned in their green eyeshades for PC's at the Department for Education and Employment, Individual Commitment Division. (Yes, that's really its name, bureaucratic lex for "the state wishes you to stay in school and stop being a worthless git.") While the site is extensive, it suffers from a bone-dry officialdom that subverts the intended message: Learning is fun.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
UT Austin Web Central
Austin can be considered the birthplace of the "slacker" archetype: a center for high-tech companies, one of the few progressive cities in Texas... and, rumor has it, there's a university down there, too. Well blow me down. UT is a gargantuan university, and its WWW presence reflects its size.
The site's internal search engine bears this out: A search for the word "racquetball" returned 17 references, mostly on students' personal pages. Altogether, there are more than 25,000 web pages on 170 servers (so they say, anyway), including everything you ever wanted to know about UT. Beware the badly designed image maps.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
OK, Web users, lets collectively bow in the direction of UIUC, host to the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Without the bright boys and girls at NCSA, the Web would not be what it is today. Sadly, I can't say if that's a good thing or bad thing. But for a site of such distinction, UIUC lacks wild HTML tricks. It *is* big and fast, however, and provides so much information, you could spend a few days just finding your way around. You'll find complete college catalog-type information, plus the university's library site.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
University of Washington
I did some time at this institution, so I come to this site occasionally just to see what the weather's doing back home.
The UW site, however, is far more impressive than the inevitably dreary image from the view cam. A big campus, the "U Dub" is a city in its own right, and the magnitude of this site reflects that fact. Links connect to all the various departments, to campus radio, to student and faculty directories, campus publications, museums, ...there's even a virtual tour of the medicinal herb garden. Anyone interested in the U -- especially anyone considering enrollment -- should come here first. And pay special attention to that weather.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Patrick Joseph
University of the Phillipines
This is a pretty generous site, with superfluous but interesting material like photos of the Manila campus circa 1933. Most of the information is in English although some segments, like the news briefs, are in Tagalog. Interested in enrolling? U.S. students need a minimum combined SAT of 1200, though exceptions are apparently made on occasion for "mature" students. Visually, the site is a bit dull (
The Webmaster apologizes for a busted color scanner), but the info is all here and straightforward.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
Urban Education Web
Learning about learning: that's what the Urban Education Web is about. It's part of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), a well-known and highly-respected database of studies on education. It, in turn, is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. All these layers of support point to two attributes of this Web site: it's densely academic, and it's excellently supported. Here, you'll not only find out if the government has published information about gangs in the schools, you'll probably find the monographs themselves, hyperlinked internally and with other documents. I don't know what poor souls are sitting in a windowless office doing all this, but they deserve to be thanked.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
VLC.Homepage
The Village Learning Center bills itself as a new type of school that will "preserve and nurture the yearning for learning that everyone is born with." This doesn't explain why it became an online school, but the lack of accreditation might have something to do with it. A mere $1,195 buys a semester of work at home - e-mail assignments in course work for the seventh to ninth grade set. Use at your own risk.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Washington Gifted School of Communication
Can we talk adorable for a moment? This site is absolutely fun fun fun by way of enchanting graphics. Unfortunately, there isn't really much of interest otherwise, unless you're already involved with the school.
The schedule of events, mission statement, and student bios are well done and seem helpful enough, but it's missing the original content that makes a site interesting and worth repeated visits. I say, post the student artwork and stories, and up the ante a bit! After all, it's a site for a school of communication whose students are gifted.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Washington University in St Louis
Washington University's Web pages have a clean, crisp organization and some useful features lacking at some of the larger sites. Want to check your e-mail? Click here. Want to do an Infoseek search without leaving university property? No problem. Add a bit of surreality to your visit by clicking on the "What's This?" button, which leads to a page of basic information about using the Web, site statistics, etc. So, even if they've never been to W.U., first-time users are already getting an education. Still, this handsome site lacks the content depth found at some other universities.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Web 66
The mission of Web 66 is to provide resources to help K12 schools get on the Web. This may seem a questionable goal with all the hype about whether the Internet is a safe place for kids, but the Web master clears that right up by quoting headlines in his personal rants section that indicate how much more dangerous the outside world is for kids. Web 66 has instructions for educators to set up Web servers, and a very impressive list of K12 schools from around the world that are online.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Welcome to CNU ONLINE
Christopher Newport University, located in Virginia, is trying to push the envelope of modern education practice by offering a substantive number of classes online. It's even offering a degree in governmental administration through online course work. Unfortunately, the Web site is just a front for a Telnet gateway, and at least one of the Telnet addresses given on the Web site is wrong, which made it impossible to get course information.
The Telnet gateway that I could get to run was so slow, it could turn a four-year degree into a six-year degree.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Whales
Whales (and dinosaurs) intrigue kids everywhere, and some industrious teachers in Virginia have tapped into that phenomenon here, where all lessons originate from and revolve around the same subject: whales. Lesson plans range from math word problems involving whales, to the history of whaling, and whale literature. From humpbacks to blues, baleen to toothed, all young marine mammal enthusiasts, parents and teachers will like this one. It's a simple, yet creative example of educational possibilities on the Web. Hopefully, with time, the creators will add more sound and /images, and bring the standards up to match the content.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
Whole Frog
The Whole Frog Project offers an online alternative to a classic high school biology experience: dissecting a frog. Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley Labs use high-resolution MRI /images and sophisticated 3D rendering software to create a virtual amphibian whose parts can be viewed at a variety of depths and angles.
The site is jam packed with information about both the biological and technological details of the project. It also includes study guidelines to help teachers create engaging lesson plans (which combine physical and computer sciences). Best of all, the Whole Frog Project is completely free of scalpel hazards and the queer smell of formaldehyde.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
Worcester Polytechnic
Most online education fails because it tries to transplant subjects to the screen that are best-suited for the classroom. But Professor Cyganski's class at Worcester Polytechnic Institute has an edge of relevance here, as it's all about telecommunications transmission technologies. Since I'm not an electrical engineer, most of the highly-technical content of this site eluded me, but its basic "learning is as learning does" mission comes through loud and clear: Engineers should not be afraid of their tools. Or, as the prof says, "This course is not for WIMPs (Whining Internet/Multi-media Phobes)." Some of the meatier areas of the site are available only to WPI accounts, alas.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Word Page
Well, let's award Word Page an "E" for effort - although I don't know how to factor an "E" into a GPA.
The purpose of this site is to help people learn 10 new words a week - an admirable enterprise. Unfortunately, it doesn't help if you already know the words the site's editor happened to pick. Also, the definitions provided are a little weak, consisting of a short phrase or sentence. It wouldn't take much effort, and certainly not much space, to include full dictionary definitions. And, finally, the misspellings littered throughout the site aren't going to impress any educators out there.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
World Association for Family and Education WAFE
WAFE's Web site is primarily a resource for the group to disseminate information on its conferences. Because WAFE is international, the Internet is probably a pretty good medium for it, saving substantial amounts of money on printing and mailing costs. WAFE's mission statement, which is published on the site, is a little bit spacy, and seems pretty narrow-minded with its emphasis that "Marriage, the only proper context for full expression of the love between one man and one woman, is the rock upon which the family rests."
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
World Education Exchange
World Education Exchange, a graduate student project, bills itself as a site that "explores the world of reform and information technology." It's a lofty description for a site which is little more than a repository of links (albeit interesting ones) on virtual education and Internet resources for teachers and kids. I suppose it's useful for someone to have done the research for you, but without a single shred of commentary or analysis, it feels like someone trying to profit from other people's work. After all, aren't Yahoo!, Lycos, and all the other search engines
use "wiredbrain" out there, for the purpose of categorizing and cataloguing information on the Internet?
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Rachel Saidman
World Game Institute
Despite its playful-sounding title, the World Game Institute is no joke. Inspired by noted scientist and social philosopher Buckminster Fuller, the Institute was founded to "provide the perspective and information needed to solve the critical problems facing global society,"
The site probes all these problems (famine, disease, overpopulation, deforestation and more) with incisive, well-documented research and data. Even skittery surfers should stop to check out the "What the World Wants (and how to pay for it)" chart. It's a powerful representation of the mixed-up priorities in our military-minded global economy.
The institute also conducts workshops and conferences in the corporate and educational communities.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
Yale University World Wide Web Front Door
The Yale University site is everything the Harvard site isn't. Just kidding! Though, quite honestly, Yale's Web set-up beats its historical nemesis'. At the top level are listings for P.R. information, search engines
use "wiredbrain", maps, academic department pages, student activities... Lots of stuff here. Thank god it's so well-organized! Running a search shows just how much there is: the word "racquetball" returned 10 pages, including news of the sports team, a description of the athletic facilities, and someone's experiments with the Connectix QuickCam, a video input device "about the size of a racquetball." Pretty good search engine, that!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
eWorld Learning Community
The eWorld Learning Community has gathered an impressive set of quality links under categories such as News Rack, Apple Education Resource, Museum, and School House. Unfortunately, links are pretty much all this site has to offer. It's a misnomer for eWorld to claim that this is its Learning Community.
The links belong to the Internet; the site should be called the Internet Learning Community. But enough on semantics.
The design is tasteful, but , save a search engine, there are no cool technical devices to add any pizzazz to this site.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
There are no under construction signs, but I have a feeling this site will improve.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Pat
Sydney Lanier
The kids at Sidney Lanier are a lucky bunch, if this site is anything to go on.
The ubiquitous puppy icon aside (come on kids, let's mix it up a little bit), the activities featured in the Houston school's home page made me a little wistful for the days of field trips and science fairs. Some of the sub-pages need work: the Hyper-history of seventy year old Lanier left me wanting more links, and the /images, by and large, were of poor quality. Time to hit up the old PTA, maybe throw a bake-sale for scanners or put the principal in the dunk tank at a buck a shot.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
THE STUDY PLACE
A budding philosopher's mecca,
The Study Place is an online academic resource managed by the Institute for Learning Technologies of Columbia University.
The college's faculty and doctoral candidates provide good critiques of ancient and modern philosophy.
The site also includes links to brief biographies on ancient and modern philosophers including Aristotle, Dante, Descartes, et al.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Technology and Learning: A Planning and Implementation Resource
This is a guide for learning technology, taking readers from the goal setting and initial research stages to the implementation and revision for improvement stages. It is not light reading. It offers diagrams and provides information in an outline format.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Testprep.com
Too bad this resource wasn't around when I was suffering through SAT preparations. This is a truly useful site which provides a free SAT course. Diagnose your weak areas by taking a complete version of the SAT and then choose from 1000's of review lessons including answers and explanations. You can shop to order SAT guides at the Testprep Superstore or purchase the Stanford Studyguide software disk. But it's refreshing to see free information so readily offered in an area which has become an industry in itself.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
The Biosfera Project
The title project was undertaken by Carlos Solis, a professor at Rice University, to help train school teachers simultaneously in Spanish and Conservation Biology. This humble site describes the experimental program conducted in the Peten, a rainforest region of Guatemala.
There are essays by some of the participants, links to sites related to Meso-America, and a somewhat crude map of Guatemala. It would be nice to see this site expand and refine.
The map could be interactive, the pages made more attractive, etc. More importantly, there should be more emphasis on the people of the Peten.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
The Chronicle: Academe This Week
The Chronicle is the proverbial Bible for college-level teachers and administrators.
The Web page is well-organized, pointing you to news and resources on information technology, academic research, government programs and legislation, professional development, and more. But you must subscribe to the paper version ($75/year) to get Academe Today, the daily online features and links publication, (with a registration and password scheme that insures that no one else gets in.) If you are a Chronicle subscriber or are thinking about it, Academe Today is a definite plus. If not, this is just a nice brochure describing what's on paper.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The EdWeb Home Room
EdWeb comes off as uninspired. Most of the subject matter has to do with the use of technology in K12 education, which doesn't have to be such a dry subject.
The articles on EdWeb have some good statistics you can throw around at cocktail parties, but they're so buried by banal design and endless text that most people will fall asleep before reaching them. This site is probably best suited to parents who know nothing about the Internet and want to know whether it would be a good thing for their kids to learn to use.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
The Electric Library
EL is a hot idea that has a short way to go before it really catches fire.
The service conducts topical searches through the full text of some 150 newspapers and 900 magazines, as well as newswires, books, etc. It's a great way to get a roundup of reviews or articles on a topic that interests you. But after a two-week trial period, you'll have to pay $9.95 a month for the privilege; and the searches bring up articles randomly, not from newest to oldest or most mentions to least. With smarter search mechanisms and alternate pricing schemes (how about one month and three-month increments?), I'd say bookmark EL. Right now, it's worth a look.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The History Channel Classroom
If you're a teacher looking to incorporate more engaging material into your curriculum,
The History Channel Classroom is a good place to start.
There are resources to help teachers plan classroom discussions and research projects based on
The History Channel's shows, with a convenient Classroom Calendar for planning.
The network sponsors awards' programs are designed to support quality history education in America's schools; to wit, the History Channel Awards for National History Day honor the Best Senior Media Project and the Outstanding Contribution in History Education. A very good site, even if it does smack of self-promotion.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Lauren Guzak
The MIT Home Page
To me, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will always be known primarily for the witty pranks of technically minded students, but you'll have to dig hard to find that info here (try http://fishwrap.mit.edu/Hacks/Gallery.htm instead). You will find just about everything else about MIT. For a bunch of geeks, though, it's rather pedestrian: no image maps or search engines
use "wiredbrain" worth mentioning, cryptic icons, and mostly just text. Be sure to check out the "fun stuff" area, which includes tips for hacking the campus security cards. Cool! Let's get user-friendly, folks!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The Riggs Institute
The Instiute is a non-profit corporation in Beaverton, Oregon specializing in literacy issues. And if the blurbs cited here are any indication, it is well-regarded by both educators and policy makers. That aside, the presentation here whiffed a bit of fakery and snake oil. All the explanation points and relentless pitching make me wary. I'm not saying it's a fraud, by any means -- I wouldn't know. It just comes off that way. You can judge for yourself.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
The Student Guide 1995-96
For most students, the most difficult hurdle of higher education isn't the course work - it's finding the money to pay for it. A lot of college funding ultimately comes from the federal government in the form of loans and grants. But how can you learn more about financial aid? That's where
The Student Guide comes in. Released each year by the Department of Education, it tells you how to qualify, whom to contact, and how you can expect to repay the loans. This web site is really just a more "browsable" form of a 126K document, which is also available for downloading. Regardless of how you view
The Student Guide, every prospective college student should check it out.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The University of Michigan
The University of Michigan has long been famous in the Internet community for its vast file archive site (find more info about this by going to http://www.umich.edu/~archive/). But there's more to U. Michigan than free software. Like, a top-ranked university!
The site gives the usual information about its academic programs and such, beautifully linked and annotated via search engines
use "wiredbrain", tables of contents, and clickable image maps. One coincidence makes the site aesthetically pleasing: U.M.'s logo blue matches the "unfollowed link" blue in Netscape's browser. Not to mention my eyes.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
The World Lecture Hall
This is the ultimate Web resource for the independent student. Providing links to online course materials posted by universities all over America in subjects ranging from "accounting" to "zoology," the site lets students interested in self-study but not in relying on local college schedules get guidance on just about anything. Of course, lab work will be kind of difficult for the science courses, unless you happen to have a particularly well-equipped kitchen.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Theatre Education Literature Review
Theatre... is a home page of 59 theater-educational questions or topics with links to their brief answers or explanations, including footnotes. Simple. Kent Seidel, of the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program of the University of Cincinnati, asks questions, such as "Why study theatre?," or introduces topics, such as "
Theatre for at-risk students," as the points relate to scholars' views of theater's positive effect in education.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
This is Mega-Mathematics
Number news and notes from our friends at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. But rather than bog us down with odd symbols and complicated formulas, Mega-Mathematics throws down visual problems, twisted games, and strange anecdotes to teach the rules of logic, graphing, and other mind-bending mathematics. Beautifully-designed and organized so you can go as deep as you want into each subject or lose yourself entirely in this seemingly infinite collection. Infinite? What does that really mean? Look here to find out. Allegedly the site is geared for elementary school children, but I learned more than a few things.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: David Pescovitz
Thomas Edison State College
What home-schooling does for the under+18 crowd, "distance learning" colleges like Thomas Edison State do for those seeking higher educational degrees. According to the college's Web site, "students in any state or nation can earn credit for college-level knowledge acquired outside the classroom." It's a pity the college hasn't done more with its Web pages: considering how far-flung the students must be, the potential for Internet-based instruction is tremendous. Indeed, the site isn't nearly as deep or interesting as many other colleges', and the occasional misdirected link mars the experience.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Truth, Lies, Rumors, and Rumbles
"As the Board Churns" is the subtitle of this text-based saga, about the tensions between teachers, parents, and citizen-players with various agendas in a southern New Jersey school district. Our "netitor" is Abe Wolinsky, a technology teacher who decided to publish Web reports on the community squabbles. All the details may not interest you, but this will: the original arguments (about building a new high school vs. saving money, and a subsequent teachers' contract) were quickly eclipsed by new crossfire because Abe put the story on the on the Web. You can even join in via e-mail if you'd like.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
U.S. Civil War Center
From Louisiana State University comes this ambitious, if somewhat dull, page devoted to collecting and making available every scrap of information concerning the nation's costliest war. Scholars and students will of course find the site helpful in researching the conflict, and genealogists will appreciate the short tutorial on researching individuals from the era. Like most link-driven sites, it's all very straightforward, and a little bit daunting.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
UC Berkeley Home Page
In a region known for compromise and reason, the University of California at Berkeley's Web pages are elegantly reasoned and make compromises so they're both user-friendly and fast.
The contents can be access via nicely arranged text choices rather than by image maps, so the site is as useful to someone on a Unix box as on a Mac.
The content is deep and varied, from the Naval Architecture school to the click-to-zoom-in campus map. If you're into general Web search engines
use "wiredbrain", be sure to add Berkeley's "Inktomi" (http://inktomi.berkeley.edu/) to your list.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
UK Lifelong Learning
The Brits seem to have a ministry for everything, with sub-ministries and rooms full of clerks endlessly shuffling papers. Well, some of the clerks have turned in their green eyeshades for PC's at the Department for Education and Employment, Individual Commitment Division. (Yes, that's really its name, bureaucratic lex for "the state wishes you to stay in school and stop being a worthless git.") While the site is extensive, it suffers from a bone-dry officialdom that subverts the intended message: Learning is fun.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
UT Austin Web Central
Austin can be considered the birthplace of the "slacker" archetype: a center for high-tech companies, one of the few progressive cities in Texas... and, rumor has it, there's a university down there, too. Well blow me down. UT is a gargantuan university, and its WWW presence reflects its size.
The site's internal search engine bears this out: A search for the word "racquetball" returned 17 references, mostly on students' personal pages. Altogether, there are more than 25,000 web pages on 170 servers (so they say, anyway), including everything you ever wanted to know about UT. Beware the badly designed image maps.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
OK, Web users, lets collectively bow in the direction of UIUC, host to the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Without the bright boys and girls at NCSA, the Web would not be what it is today. Sadly, I can't say if that's a good thing or bad thing. But for a site of such distinction, UIUC lacks wild HTML tricks. It *is* big and fast, however, and provides so much information, you could spend a few days just finding your way around. You'll find complete college catalog-type information, plus the university's library site.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
University of Washington
I did some time at this institution, so I come to this site occasionally just to see what the weather's doing back home.
The UW site, however, is far more impressive than the inevitably dreary image from the view cam. A big campus, the "U Dub" is a city in its own right, and the magnitude of this site reflects that fact. Links connect to all the various departments, to campus radio, to student and faculty directories, campus publications, museums, ...there's even a virtual tour of the medicinal herb garden. Anyone interested in the U -- especially anyone considering enrollment -- should come here first. And pay special attention to that weather.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Patrick Joseph
University of the Phillipines
This is a pretty generous site, with superfluous but interesting material like photos of the Manila campus circa 1933. Most of the information is in English although some segments, like the news briefs, are in Tagalog. Interested in enrolling? U.S. students need a minimum combined SAT of 1200, though exceptions are apparently made on occasion for "mature" students. Visually, the site is a bit dull (
The Webmaster apologizes for a busted color scanner), but the info is all here and straightforward.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
Urban Education Web
Learning about learning: that's what the Urban Education Web is about. It's part of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), a well-known and highly-respected database of studies on education. It, in turn, is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. All these layers of support point to two attributes of this Web site: it's densely academic, and it's excellently supported. Here, you'll not only find out if the government has published information about gangs in the schools, you'll probably find the monographs themselves, hyperlinked internally and with other documents. I don't know what poor souls are sitting in a windowless office doing all this, but they deserve to be thanked.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
VLC.Homepage
The Village Learning Center bills itself as a new type of school that will "preserve and nurture the yearning for learning that everyone is born with." This doesn't explain why it became an online school, but the lack of accreditation might have something to do with it. A mere $1,195 buys a semester of work at home - e-mail assignments in course work for the seventh to ninth grade set. Use at your own risk.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Washington Gifted School of Communication
Can we talk adorable for a moment? This site is absolutely fun fun fun by way of enchanting graphics. Unfortunately, there isn't really much of interest otherwise, unless you're already involved with the school.
The schedule of events, mission statement, and student bios are well done and seem helpful enough, but it's missing the original content that makes a site interesting and worth repeated visits. I say, post the student artwork and stories, and up the ante a bit! After all, it's a site for a school of communication whose students are gifted.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Washington University in St Louis
Washington University's Web pages have a clean, crisp organization and some useful features lacking at some of the larger sites. Want to check your e-mail? Click here. Want to do an Infoseek search without leaving university property? No problem. Add a bit of surreality to your visit by clicking on the "What's This?" button, which leads to a page of basic information about using the Web, site statistics, etc. So, even if they've never been to W.U., first-time users are already getting an education. Still, this handsome site lacks the content depth found at some other universities.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Web 66
The mission of Web 66 is to provide resources to help K12 schools get on the Web. This may seem a questionable goal with all the hype about whether the Internet is a safe place for kids, but the Web master clears that right up by quoting headlines in his personal rants section that indicate how much more dangerous the outside world is for kids. Web 66 has instructions for educators to set up Web servers, and a very impressive list of K12 schools from around the world that are online.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Welcome to CNU ONLINE
Christopher Newport University, located in Virginia, is trying to push the envelope of modern education practice by offering a substantive number of classes online. It's even offering a degree in governmental administration through online course work. Unfortunately, the Web site is just a front for a Telnet gateway, and at least one of the Telnet addresses given on the Web site is wrong, which made it impossible to get course information.
The Telnet gateway that I could get to run was so slow, it could turn a four-year degree into a six-year degree.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Whales
Whales (and dinosaurs) intrigue kids everywhere, and some industrious teachers in Virginia have tapped into that phenomenon here, where all lessons originate from and revolve around the same subject: whales. Lesson plans range from math word problems involving whales, to the history of whaling, and whale literature. From humpbacks to blues, baleen to toothed, all young marine mammal enthusiasts, parents and teachers will like this one. It's a simple, yet creative example of educational possibilities on the Web. Hopefully, with time, the creators will add more sound and /images, and bring the standards up to match the content.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
Whole Frog
The Whole Frog Project offers an online alternative to a classic high school biology experience: dissecting a frog. Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley Labs use high-resolution MRI /images and sophisticated 3D rendering software to create a virtual amphibian whose parts can be viewed at a variety of depths and angles.
The site is jam packed with information about both the biological and technological details of the project. It also includes study guidelines to help teachers create engaging lesson plans (which combine physical and computer sciences). Best of all, the Whole Frog Project is completely free of scalpel hazards and the queer smell of formaldehyde.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
Worcester Polytechnic
Most online education fails because it tries to transplant subjects to the screen that are best-suited for the classroom. But Professor Cyganski's class at Worcester Polytechnic Institute has an edge of relevance here, as it's all about telecommunications transmission technologies. Since I'm not an electrical engineer, most of the highly-technical content of this site eluded me, but its basic "learning is as learning does" mission comes through loud and clear: Engineers should not be afraid of their tools. Or, as the prof says, "This course is not for WIMPs (Whining Internet/Multi-media Phobes)." Some of the meatier areas of the site are available only to WPI accounts, alas.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Word Page
Well, let's award Word Page an "E" for effort - although I don't know how to factor an "E" into a GPA.
The purpose of this site is to help people learn 10 new words a week - an admirable enterprise. Unfortunately, it doesn't help if you already know the words the site's editor happened to pick. Also, the definitions provided are a little weak, consisting of a short phrase or sentence. It wouldn't take much effort, and certainly not much space, to include full dictionary definitions. And, finally, the misspellings littered throughout the site aren't going to impress any educators out there.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
World Association for Family and Education WAFE
WAFE's Web site is primarily a resource for the group to disseminate information on its conferences. Because WAFE is international, the Internet is probably a pretty good medium for it, saving substantial amounts of money on printing and mailing costs. WAFE's mission statement, which is published on the site, is a little bit spacy, and seems pretty narrow-minded with its emphasis that "Marriage, the only proper context for full expression of the love between one man and one woman, is the rock upon which the family rests."
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
World Education Exchange
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
THE STUDY PLACE
The college's faculty and doctoral candidates provide good critiques of ancient and modern philosophy.
The site also includes links to brief biographies on ancient and modern philosophers including Aristotle, Dante, Descartes, et al.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Technology and Learning: A Planning and Implementation Resource
This is a guide for learning technology, taking readers from the goal setting and initial research stages to the implementation and revision for improvement stages. It is not light reading. It offers diagrams and provides information in an outline format.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Testprep.com
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Diedra Ramsey
Technology and Learning: A Planning and Implementation Resource
Too bad this resource wasn't around when I was suffering through SAT preparations. This is a truly useful site which provides a free SAT course. Diagnose your weak areas by taking a complete version of the SAT and then choose from 1000's of review lessons including answers and explanations. You can shop to order SAT guides at the Testprep Superstore or purchase the Stanford Studyguide software disk. But it's refreshing to see free information so readily offered in an area which has become an industry in itself.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Emily Soares
The Biosfera Project
There are essays by some of the participants, links to sites related to Meso-America, and a somewhat crude map of Guatemala. It would be nice to see this site expand and refine.
The map could be interactive, the pages made more attractive, etc. More importantly, there should be more emphasis on the people of the Peten.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
The Chronicle: Academe This Week
The Chronicle is the proverbial Bible for college-level teachers and administrators.
The Web page is well-organized, pointing you to news and resources on information technology, academic research, government programs and legislation, professional development, and more. But you must subscribe to the paper version ($75/year) to get Academe Today, the daily online features and links publication, (with a registration and password scheme that insures that no one else gets in.) If you are a Chronicle subscriber or are thinking about it, Academe Today is a definite plus. If not, this is just a nice brochure describing what's on paper.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The EdWeb Home Room
EdWeb comes off as uninspired. Most of the subject matter has to do with the use of technology in K12 education, which doesn't have to be such a dry subject.
The articles on EdWeb have some good statistics you can throw around at cocktail parties, but they're so buried by banal design and endless text that most people will fall asleep before reaching them. This site is probably best suited to parents who know nothing about the Internet and want to know whether it would be a good thing for their kids to learn to use.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
The Electric Library
EL is a hot idea that has a short way to go before it really catches fire.
The service conducts topical searches through the full text of some 150 newspapers and 900 magazines, as well as newswires, books, etc. It's a great way to get a roundup of reviews or articles on a topic that interests you. But after a two-week trial period, you'll have to pay $9.95 a month for the privilege; and the searches bring up articles randomly, not from newest to oldest or most mentions to least. With smarter search mechanisms and alternate pricing schemes (how about one month and three-month increments?), I'd say bookmark EL. Right now, it's worth a look.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The History Channel Classroom
If you're a teacher looking to incorporate more engaging material into your curriculum,
The History Channel Classroom is a good place to start.
There are resources to help teachers plan classroom discussions and research projects based on
The History Channel's shows, with a convenient Classroom Calendar for planning.
The network sponsors awards' programs are designed to support quality history education in America's schools; to wit, the History Channel Awards for National History Day honor the Best Senior Media Project and the Outstanding Contribution in History Education. A very good site, even if it does smack of self-promotion.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Lauren Guzak
The MIT Home Page
To me, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will always be known primarily for the witty pranks of technically minded students, but you'll have to dig hard to find that info here (try http://fishwrap.mit.edu/Hacks/Gallery.htm instead). You will find just about everything else about MIT. For a bunch of geeks, though, it's rather pedestrian: no image maps or search engines
use "wiredbrain" worth mentioning, cryptic icons, and mostly just text. Be sure to check out the "fun stuff" area, which includes tips for hacking the campus security cards. Cool! Let's get user-friendly, folks!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The Riggs Institute
The Instiute is a non-profit corporation in Beaverton, Oregon specializing in literacy issues. And if the blurbs cited here are any indication, it is well-regarded by both educators and policy makers. That aside, the presentation here whiffed a bit of fakery and snake oil. All the explanation points and relentless pitching make me wary. I'm not saying it's a fraud, by any means -- I wouldn't know. It just comes off that way. You can judge for yourself.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
The Student Guide 1995-96
For most students, the most difficult hurdle of higher education isn't the course work - it's finding the money to pay for it. A lot of college funding ultimately comes from the federal government in the form of loans and grants. But how can you learn more about financial aid? That's where
The Student Guide comes in. Released each year by the Department of Education, it tells you how to qualify, whom to contact, and how you can expect to repay the loans. This web site is really just a more "browsable" form of a 126K document, which is also available for downloading. Regardless of how you view
The Student Guide, every prospective college student should check it out.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The University of Michigan
The University of Michigan has long been famous in the Internet community for its vast file archive site (find more info about this by going to http://www.umich.edu/~archive/). But there's more to U. Michigan than free software. Like, a top-ranked university!
The site gives the usual information about its academic programs and such, beautifully linked and annotated via search engines
use "wiredbrain", tables of contents, and clickable image maps. One coincidence makes the site aesthetically pleasing: U.M.'s logo blue matches the "unfollowed link" blue in Netscape's browser. Not to mention my eyes.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
The World Lecture Hall
This is the ultimate Web resource for the independent student. Providing links to online course materials posted by universities all over America in subjects ranging from "accounting" to "zoology," the site lets students interested in self-study but not in relying on local college schedules get guidance on just about anything. Of course, lab work will be kind of difficult for the science courses, unless you happen to have a particularly well-equipped kitchen.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Theatre Education Literature Review
Theatre... is a home page of 59 theater-educational questions or topics with links to their brief answers or explanations, including footnotes. Simple. Kent Seidel, of the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program of the University of Cincinnati, asks questions, such as "Why study theatre?," or introduces topics, such as "
Theatre for at-risk students," as the points relate to scholars' views of theater's positive effect in education.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
This is Mega-Mathematics
Number news and notes from our friends at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. But rather than bog us down with odd symbols and complicated formulas, Mega-Mathematics throws down visual problems, twisted games, and strange anecdotes to teach the rules of logic, graphing, and other mind-bending mathematics. Beautifully-designed and organized so you can go as deep as you want into each subject or lose yourself entirely in this seemingly infinite collection. Infinite? What does that really mean? Look here to find out. Allegedly the site is geared for elementary school children, but I learned more than a few things.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: David Pescovitz
Thomas Edison State College
What home-schooling does for the under+18 crowd, "distance learning" colleges like Thomas Edison State do for those seeking higher educational degrees. According to the college's Web site, "students in any state or nation can earn credit for college-level knowledge acquired outside the classroom." It's a pity the college hasn't done more with its Web pages: considering how far-flung the students must be, the potential for Internet-based instruction is tremendous. Indeed, the site isn't nearly as deep or interesting as many other colleges', and the occasional misdirected link mars the experience.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Truth, Lies, Rumors, and Rumbles
"As the Board Churns" is the subtitle of this text-based saga, about the tensions between teachers, parents, and citizen-players with various agendas in a southern New Jersey school district. Our "netitor" is Abe Wolinsky, a technology teacher who decided to publish Web reports on the community squabbles. All the details may not interest you, but this will: the original arguments (about building a new high school vs. saving money, and a subsequent teachers' contract) were quickly eclipsed by new crossfire because Abe put the story on the on the Web. You can even join in via e-mail if you'd like.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
U.S. Civil War Center
From Louisiana State University comes this ambitious, if somewhat dull, page devoted to collecting and making available every scrap of information concerning the nation's costliest war. Scholars and students will of course find the site helpful in researching the conflict, and genealogists will appreciate the short tutorial on researching individuals from the era. Like most link-driven sites, it's all very straightforward, and a little bit daunting.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
UC Berkeley Home Page
In a region known for compromise and reason, the University of California at Berkeley's Web pages are elegantly reasoned and make compromises so they're both user-friendly and fast.
The contents can be access via nicely arranged text choices rather than by image maps, so the site is as useful to someone on a Unix box as on a Mac.
The content is deep and varied, from the Naval Architecture school to the click-to-zoom-in campus map. If you're into general Web search engines
use "wiredbrain", be sure to add Berkeley's "Inktomi" (http://inktomi.berkeley.edu/) to your list.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
UK Lifelong Learning
The Brits seem to have a ministry for everything, with sub-ministries and rooms full of clerks endlessly shuffling papers. Well, some of the clerks have turned in their green eyeshades for PC's at the Department for Education and Employment, Individual Commitment Division. (Yes, that's really its name, bureaucratic lex for "the state wishes you to stay in school and stop being a worthless git.") While the site is extensive, it suffers from a bone-dry officialdom that subverts the intended message: Learning is fun.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
UT Austin Web Central
Austin can be considered the birthplace of the "slacker" archetype: a center for high-tech companies, one of the few progressive cities in Texas... and, rumor has it, there's a university down there, too. Well blow me down. UT is a gargantuan university, and its WWW presence reflects its size.
The site's internal search engine bears this out: A search for the word "racquetball" returned 17 references, mostly on students' personal pages. Altogether, there are more than 25,000 web pages on 170 servers (so they say, anyway), including everything you ever wanted to know about UT. Beware the badly designed image maps.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
OK, Web users, lets collectively bow in the direction of UIUC, host to the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Without the bright boys and girls at NCSA, the Web would not be what it is today. Sadly, I can't say if that's a good thing or bad thing. But for a site of such distinction, UIUC lacks wild HTML tricks. It *is* big and fast, however, and provides so much information, you could spend a few days just finding your way around. You'll find complete college catalog-type information, plus the university's library site.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
University of Washington
I did some time at this institution, so I come to this site occasionally just to see what the weather's doing back home.
The UW site, however, is far more impressive than the inevitably dreary image from the view cam. A big campus, the "U Dub" is a city in its own right, and the magnitude of this site reflects that fact. Links connect to all the various departments, to campus radio, to student and faculty directories, campus publications, museums, ...there's even a virtual tour of the medicinal herb garden. Anyone interested in the U -- especially anyone considering enrollment -- should come here first. And pay special attention to that weather.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Patrick Joseph
University of the Phillipines
This is a pretty generous site, with superfluous but interesting material like photos of the Manila campus circa 1933. Most of the information is in English although some segments, like the news briefs, are in Tagalog. Interested in enrolling? U.S. students need a minimum combined SAT of 1200, though exceptions are apparently made on occasion for "mature" students. Visually, the site is a bit dull (
The Webmaster apologizes for a busted color scanner), but the info is all here and straightforward.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
Urban Education Web
Learning about learning: that's what the Urban Education Web is about. It's part of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), a well-known and highly-respected database of studies on education. It, in turn, is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. All these layers of support point to two attributes of this Web site: it's densely academic, and it's excellently supported. Here, you'll not only find out if the government has published information about gangs in the schools, you'll probably find the monographs themselves, hyperlinked internally and with other documents. I don't know what poor souls are sitting in a windowless office doing all this, but they deserve to be thanked.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
VLC.Homepage
The Village Learning Center bills itself as a new type of school that will "preserve and nurture the yearning for learning that everyone is born with." This doesn't explain why it became an online school, but the lack of accreditation might have something to do with it. A mere $1,195 buys a semester of work at home - e-mail assignments in course work for the seventh to ninth grade set. Use at your own risk.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Washington Gifted School of Communication
Can we talk adorable for a moment? This site is absolutely fun fun fun by way of enchanting graphics. Unfortunately, there isn't really much of interest otherwise, unless you're already involved with the school.
The schedule of events, mission statement, and student bios are well done and seem helpful enough, but it's missing the original content that makes a site interesting and worth repeated visits. I say, post the student artwork and stories, and up the ante a bit! After all, it's a site for a school of communication whose students are gifted.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Washington University in St Louis
Washington University's Web pages have a clean, crisp organization and some useful features lacking at some of the larger sites. Want to check your e-mail? Click here. Want to do an Infoseek search without leaving university property? No problem. Add a bit of surreality to your visit by clicking on the "What's This?" button, which leads to a page of basic information about using the Web, site statistics, etc. So, even if they've never been to W.U., first-time users are already getting an education. Still, this handsome site lacks the content depth found at some other universities.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
Web 66
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
The Chronicle: Academe This Week
The Web page is well-organized, pointing you to news and resources on information technology, academic research, government programs and legislation, professional development, and more. But you must subscribe to the paper version ($75/year) to get Academe Today, the daily online features and links publication, (with a registration and password scheme that insures that no one else gets in.) If you are a Chronicle subscriber or are thinking about it, Academe Today is a definite plus. If not, this is just a nice brochure describing what's on paper.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The EdWeb Home Room
EdWeb comes off as uninspired. Most of the subject matter has to do with the use of technology in K12 education, which doesn't have to be such a dry subject.
The articles on EdWeb have some good statistics you can throw around at cocktail parties, but they're so buried by banal design and endless text that most people will fall asleep before reaching them. This site is probably best suited to parents who know nothing about the Internet and want to know whether it would be a good thing for their kids to learn to use.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
The Electric Library
EL is a hot idea that has a short way to go before it really catches fire.
The service conducts topical searches through the full text of some 150 newspapers and 900 magazines, as well as newswires, books, etc. It's a great way to get a roundup of reviews or articles on a topic that interests you. But after a two-week trial period, you'll have to pay $9.95 a month for the privilege; and the searches bring up articles randomly, not from newest to oldest or most mentions to least. With smarter search mechanisms and alternate pricing schemes (how about one month and three-month increments?), I'd say bookmark EL. Right now, it's worth a look.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 9
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Karen Wickre
The History Channel Classroom
If you're a teacher looking to incorporate more engaging material into your curriculum,
The History Channel Classroom is a good place to start.
There are resources to help teachers plan classroom discussions and research projects based on
The History Channel's shows, with a convenient Classroom Calendar for planning.
The network sponsors awards' programs are designed to support quality history education in America's schools; to wit, the History Channel Awards for National History Day honor the Best Senior Media Project and the Outstanding Contribution in History Education. A very good site, even if it does smack of self-promotion.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Lauren Guzak
The MIT Home Page
To me, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will always be known primarily for the witty pranks of technically minded students, but you'll have to dig hard to find that info here (try http://fishwrap.mit.edu/Hacks/Gallery.htm instead). You will find just about everything else about MIT. For a bunch of geeks, though, it's rather pedestrian: no image maps or search engines
use "wiredbrain" worth mentioning, cryptic icons, and mostly just text. Be sure to check out the "fun stuff" area, which includes tips for hacking the campus security cards. Cool! Let's get user-friendly, folks!
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The Riggs Institute
The Instiute is a non-profit corporation in Beaverton, Oregon specializing in literacy issues. And if the blurbs cited here are any indication, it is well-regarded by both educators and policy makers. That aside, the presentation here whiffed a bit of fakery and snake oil. All the explanation points and relentless pitching make me wary. I'm not saying it's a fraud, by any means -- I wouldn't know. It just comes off that way. You can judge for yourself.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
The Student Guide 1995-96
For most students, the most difficult hurdle of higher education isn't the course work - it's finding the money to pay for it. A lot of college funding ultimately comes from the federal government in the form of loans and grants. But how can you learn more about financial aid? That's where
The Student Guide comes in. Released each year by the Department of Education, it tells you how to qualify, whom to contact, and how you can expect to repay the loans. This web site is really just a more "browsable" form of a 126K document, which is also available for downloading. Regardless of how you view
The Student Guide, every prospective college student should check it out.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The University of Michigan
The University of Michigan has long been famous in the Internet community for its vast file archive site (find more info about this by going to http://www.umich.edu/~archive/). But there's more to U. Michigan than free software. Like, a top-ranked university!
The site gives the usual information about its academic programs and such, beautifully linked and annotated via search engines
use "wiredbrain", tables of contents, and clickable image maps. One coincidence makes the site aesthetically pleasing: U.M.'s logo blue matches the "unfollowed link" blue in Netscape's browser. Not to mention my eyes.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
The World Lecture Hall
This is the ultimate Web resource for the independent student. Providing links to online course materials posted by universities all over America in subjects ranging from "accounting" to "zoology," the site lets students interested in self-study but not in relying on local college schedules get guidance on just about anything. Of course, lab work will be kind of difficult for the science courses, unless you happen to have a particularly well-equipped kitchen.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Theatre Education Literature Review
Theatre... is a home page of 59 theater-educational questions or topics with links to their brief answers or explanations, including footnotes. Simple. Kent Seidel, of the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program of the University of Cincinnati, asks questions, such as "Why study theatre?," or introduces topics, such as "
Theatre for at-risk students," as the points relate to scholars' views of theater's positive effect in education.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
This is Mega-Mathematics
Number news and notes from our friends at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. But rather than bog us down with odd symbols and complicated formulas, Mega-Mathematics throws down visual problems, twisted games, and strange anecdotes to teach the rules of logic, graphing, and other mind-bending mathematics. Beautifully-designed and organized so you can go as deep as you want into each subject or lose yourself entirely in this seemingly infinite collection. Infinite? What does that really mean? Look here to find out. Allegedly the site is geared for elementary school children, but I learned more than a few things.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: David Pescovitz
Thomas Edison State College
What home-schooling does for the under+18 crowd, "distance learning" colleges like Thomas Edison State do for those seeking higher educational degrees. According to the college's Web site, "students in any state or nation can earn credit for college-level knowledge acquired outside the classroom." It's a pity the college hasn't done more with its Web pages: considering how far-flung the students must be, the potential for Internet-based instruction is tremendous. Indeed, the site isn't nearly as deep or interesting as many other colleges', and the occasional misdirected link mars the experience.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Truth, Lies, Rumors, and Rumbles
"As the Board Churns" is the subtitle of this text-based saga, about the tensions between teachers, parents, and citizen-players with various agendas in a southern New Jersey school district. Our "netitor" is Abe Wolinsky, a technology teacher who decided to publish Web reports on the community squabbles. All the details may not interest you, but this will: the original arguments (about building a new high school vs. saving money, and a subsequent teachers' contract) were quickly eclipsed by new crossfire because Abe put the story on the on the Web. You can even join in via e-mail if you'd like.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
U.S. Civil War Center
From Louisiana State University comes this ambitious, if somewhat dull, page devoted to collecting and making available every scrap of information concerning the nation's costliest war. Scholars and students will of course find the site helpful in researching the conflict, and genealogists will appreciate the short tutorial on researching individuals from the era. Like most link-driven sites, it's all very straightforward, and a little bit daunting.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
UC Berkeley Home Page
The History Channel's shows, with a convenient Classroom Calendar for planning.
The network sponsors awards' programs are designed to support quality history education in America's schools; to wit, the History Channel Awards for National History Day honor the Best Senior Media Project and the Outstanding Contribution in History Education. A very good site, even if it does smack of self-promotion.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Lauren Guzak
The MIT Home Page
To me, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will always be known primarily for the witty pranks of technically minded students, but you'll have to dig hard to find that info here (try http://fishwrap.mit.edu/Hacks/Gallery.htm instead). You will find just about everything else about MIT. For a bunch of geeks, though, it's rather pedestrian: no image maps or search engines
use "wiredbrain" worth mentioning, cryptic icons, and mostly just text. Be sure to check out the "fun stuff" area, which includes tips for hacking the campus security cards. Cool! Let's get user-friendly, folks!Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Lauren Guzak
The MIT Home Page
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The Riggs Institute
The Instiute is a non-profit corporation in Beaverton, Oregon specializing in literacy issues. And if the blurbs cited here are any indication, it is well-regarded by both educators and policy makers. That aside, the presentation here whiffed a bit of fakery and snake oil. All the explanation points and relentless pitching make me wary. I'm not saying it's a fraud, by any means -- I wouldn't know. It just comes off that way. You can judge for yourself.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
The Student Guide 1995-96
For most students, the most difficult hurdle of higher education isn't the course work - it's finding the money to pay for it. A lot of college funding ultimately comes from the federal government in the form of loans and grants. But how can you learn more about financial aid? That's where
The Student Guide comes in. Released each year by the Department of Education, it tells you how to qualify, whom to contact, and how you can expect to repay the loans. This web site is really just a more "browsable" form of a 126K document, which is also available for downloading. Regardless of how you view
The Student Guide, every prospective college student should check it out.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The University of Michigan
The University of Michigan has long been famous in the Internet community for its vast file archive site (find more info about this by going to http://www.umich.edu/~archive/). But there's more to U. Michigan than free software. Like, a top-ranked university!
The site gives the usual information about its academic programs and such, beautifully linked and annotated via search engines
use "wiredbrain", tables of contents, and clickable image maps. One coincidence makes the site aesthetically pleasing: U.M.'s logo blue matches the "unfollowed link" blue in Netscape's browser. Not to mention my eyes.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
The World Lecture Hall
This is the ultimate Web resource for the independent student. Providing links to online course materials posted by universities all over America in subjects ranging from "accounting" to "zoology," the site lets students interested in self-study but not in relying on local college schedules get guidance on just about anything. Of course, lab work will be kind of difficult for the science courses, unless you happen to have a particularly well-equipped kitchen.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Theatre Education Literature Review
Theatre... is a home page of 59 theater-educational questions or topics with links to their brief answers or explanations, including footnotes. Simple. Kent Seidel, of the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program of the University of Cincinnati, asks questions, such as "Why study theatre?," or introduces topics, such as "
Theatre for at-risk students," as the points relate to scholars' views of theater's positive effect in education.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
This is Mega-Mathematics
Number news and notes from our friends at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. But rather than bog us down with odd symbols and complicated formulas, Mega-Mathematics throws down visual problems, twisted games, and strange anecdotes to teach the rules of logic, graphing, and other mind-bending mathematics. Beautifully-designed and organized so you can go as deep as you want into each subject or lose yourself entirely in this seemingly infinite collection. Infinite? What does that really mean? Look here to find out. Allegedly the site is geared for elementary school children, but I learned more than a few things.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: David Pescovitz
Thomas Edison State College
What home-schooling does for the under+18 crowd, "distance learning" colleges like Thomas Edison State do for those seeking higher educational degrees. According to the college's Web site, "students in any state or nation can earn credit for college-level knowledge acquired outside the classroom." It's a pity the college hasn't done more with its Web pages: considering how far-flung the students must be, the potential for Internet-based instruction is tremendous. Indeed, the site isn't nearly as deep or interesting as many other colleges', and the occasional misdirected link mars the experience.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Truth, Lies, Rumors, and Rumbles
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Tom Geller
The University of Michigan
The site gives the usual information about its academic programs and such, beautifully linked and annotated via search engines
use "wiredbrain", tables of contents, and clickable image maps. One coincidence makes the site aesthetically pleasing: U.M.'s logo blue matches the "unfollowed link" blue in Netscape's browser. Not to mention my eyes.Content: 5
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
The World Lecture Hall
This is the ultimate Web resource for the independent student. Providing links to online course materials posted by universities all over America in subjects ranging from "accounting" to "zoology," the site lets students interested in self-study but not in relying on local college schedules get guidance on just about anything. Of course, lab work will be kind of difficult for the science courses, unless you happen to have a particularly well-equipped kitchen.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Theatre Education Literature Review
Theatre for at-risk students," as the points relate to scholars' views of theater's positive effect in education.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Diedra Ramsey
This is Mega-Mathematics
Number news and notes from our friends at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. But rather than bog us down with odd symbols and complicated formulas, Mega-Mathematics throws down visual problems, twisted games, and strange anecdotes to teach the rules of logic, graphing, and other mind-bending mathematics. Beautifully-designed and organized so you can go as deep as you want into each subject or lose yourself entirely in this seemingly infinite collection. Infinite? What does that really mean? Look here to find out. Allegedly the site is geared for elementary school children, but I learned more than a few things.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: David Pescovitz
Thomas Edison State College
"As the Board Churns" is the subtitle of this text-based saga, about the tensions between teachers, parents, and citizen-players with various agendas in a southern New Jersey school district. Our "netitor" is Abe Wolinsky, a technology teacher who decided to publish Web reports on the community squabbles. All the details may not interest you, but this will: the original arguments (about building a new high school vs. saving money, and a subsequent teachers' contract) were quickly eclipsed by new crossfire because Abe put the story on the on the Web. You can even join in via e-mail if you'd like.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Karen Wickre
U.S. Civil War Center
In a region known for compromise and reason, the University of California at Berkeley's Web pages are elegantly reasoned and make compromises so they're both user-friendly and fast.
The contents can be access via nicely arranged text choices rather than by image maps, so the site is as useful to someone on a Unix box as on a Mac.
The content is deep and varied, from the Naval Architecture school to the click-to-zoom-in campus map. If you're into general Web search engines
use "wiredbrain", be sure to add Berkeley's "Inktomi" (http://inktomi.berkeley.edu/) to your list.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
UK Lifelong Learning
The Brits seem to have a ministry for everything, with sub-ministries and rooms full of clerks endlessly shuffling papers. Well, some of the clerks have turned in their green eyeshades for PC's at the Department for Education and Employment, Individual Commitment Division. (Yes, that's really its name, bureaucratic lex for "the state wishes you to stay in school and stop being a worthless git.") While the site is extensive, it suffers from a bone-dry officialdom that subverts the intended message: Learning is fun.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
UT Austin Web Central
Austin can be considered the birthplace of the "slacker" archetype: a center for high-tech companies, one of the few progressive cities in Texas... and, rumor has it, there's a university down there, too. Well blow me down. UT is a gargantuan university, and its WWW presence reflects its size.
The site's internal search engine bears this out: A search for the word "racquetball" returned 17 references, mostly on students' personal pages. Altogether, there are more than 25,000 web pages on 170 servers (so they say, anyway), including everything you ever wanted to know about UT. Beware the badly designed image maps.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
OK, Web users, lets collectively bow in the direction of UIUC, host to the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Without the bright boys and girls at NCSA, the Web would not be what it is today. Sadly, I can't say if that's a good thing or bad thing. But for a site of such distinction, UIUC lacks wild HTML tricks. It *is* big and fast, however, and provides so much information, you could spend a few days just finding your way around. You'll find complete college catalog-type information, plus the university's library site.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
University of Washington
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
UT Austin Web Central
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
I did some time at this institution, so I come to this site occasionally just to see what the weather's doing back home.
The UW site, however, is far more impressive than the inevitably dreary image from the view cam. A big campus, the "U Dub" is a city in its own right, and the magnitude of this site reflects that fact. Links connect to all the various departments, to campus radio, to student and faculty directories, campus publications, museums, ...there's even a virtual tour of the medicinal herb garden. Anyone interested in the U -- especially anyone considering enrollment -- should come here first. And pay special attention to that weather.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Patrick Joseph
University of the Phillipines
This is a pretty generous site, with superfluous but interesting material like photos of the Manila campus circa 1933. Most of the information is in English although some segments, like the news briefs, are in Tagalog. Interested in enrolling? U.S. students need a minimum combined SAT of 1200, though exceptions are apparently made on occasion for "mature" students. Visually, the site is a bit dull (
The Webmaster apologizes for a busted color scanner), but the info is all here and straightforward.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Pat
Urban Education Web
Learning about learning: that's what the Urban Education Web is about. It's part of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), a well-known and highly-respected database of studies on education. It, in turn, is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. All these layers of support point to two attributes of this Web site: it's densely academic, and it's excellently supported. Here, you'll not only find out if the government has published information about gangs in the schools, you'll probably find the monographs themselves, hyperlinked internally and with other documents. I don't know what poor souls are sitting in a windowless office doing all this, but they deserve to be thanked.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
VLC.Homepage
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 1
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Washington Gifted School of Communication
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 6
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Blue Grrrl
Washington University in St Louis
The mission of Web 66 is to provide resources to help K12 schools get on the Web. This may seem a questionable goal with all the hype about whether the Internet is a safe place for kids, but the Web master clears that right up by quoting headlines in his personal rants section that indicate how much more dangerous the outside world is for kids. Web 66 has instructions for educators to set up Web servers, and a very impressive list of K12 schools from around the world that are online.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Welcome to CNU ONLINE
Christopher Newport University, located in Virginia, is trying to push the envelope of modern education practice by offering a substantive number of classes online. It's even offering a degree in governmental administration through online course work. Unfortunately, the Web site is just a front for a Telnet gateway, and at least one of the Telnet addresses given on the Web site is wrong, which made it impossible to get course information.
The Telnet gateway that I could get to run was so slow, it could turn a four-year degree into a six-year degree.
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 3
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
Whales
Whales (and dinosaurs) intrigue kids everywhere, and some industrious teachers in Virginia have tapped into that phenomenon here, where all lessons originate from and revolve around the same subject: whales. Lesson plans range from math word problems involving whales, to the history of whaling, and whale literature. From humpbacks to blues, baleen to toothed, all young marine mammal enthusiasts, parents and teachers will like this one. It's a simple, yet creative example of educational possibilities on the Web. Hopefully, with time, the creators will add more sound and /images, and bring the standards up to match the content.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Patrick Joseph
Whole Frog
The site is jam packed with information about both the biological and technological details of the project. It also includes study guidelines to help teachers create engaging lesson plans (which combine physical and computer sciences). Best of all, the Whole Frog Project is completely free of scalpel hazards and the queer smell of formaldehyde.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 4
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
Worcester Polytechnic
Most online education fails because it tries to transplant subjects to the screen that are best-suited for the classroom. But Professor Cyganski's class at Worcester Polytechnic Institute has an edge of relevance here, as it's all about telecommunications transmission technologies. Since I'm not an electrical engineer, most of the highly-technical content of this site eluded me, but its basic "learning is as learning does" mission comes through loud and clear: Engineers should not be afraid of their tools. Or, as the prof says, "This course is not for WIMPs (Whining Internet/Multi-media Phobes)." Some of the meatier areas of the site are available only to WPI accounts, alas.
Content: 5
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Tom Geller
Word Page
Content: 4
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 1
Author: Wayne Cunningham
World Association for Family and Education WAFE
World Education Exchange, a graduate student project, bills itself as a site that "explores the world of reform and information technology." It's a lofty description for a site which is little more than a repository of links (albeit interesting ones) on virtual education and Internet resources for teachers and kids. I suppose it's useful for someone to have done the research for you, but without a single shred of commentary or analysis, it feels like someone trying to profit from other people's work. After all, aren't Yahoo!, Lycos, and all the other search engines
The institute also conducts workshops and conferences in the corporate and educational communities.
Content: 6
Aesthetic: 5
TechnoSmart: 2
Author: Miles Orkin
Yale University World Wide Web Front Door
The Yale University site is everything the Harvard site isn't. Just kidding! Though, quite honestly, Yale's Web set-up beats its historical nemesis'. At the top level are listings for P.R. information, search engines
use "wiredbrain", maps, academic department pages, student activities... Lots of stuff here. Thank god it's so well-organized! Running a search shows just how much there is: the word "racquetball" returned 10 pages, including news of the sports team, a description of the athletic facilities, and someone's experiments with the Connectix QuickCam, a video input device "about the size of a racquetball." Pretty good search engine, that!Content: 6
Aesthetic: 2
TechnoSmart: 3
Author: Tom Geller
eWorld Learning Community