Ask a Scientist

The Ask a Scientist website is neat place to browse and find information, but it is not a place to find out information on a specific question quickly.  It states on the home page that it will take at least two weeks for a response, but I did not receive a response in the last couple of weeks since I submitted my question.  I wonder if my questions was to specific.  I asked "how different cells can have the same transport proteins but only certain transport protein are "turned on" to allow in the correct molecules?"   I know that the needs of the cell determine what enters and leaves the cell, so that is probably what turns on the needed transport molecules.  I copied and pasted the same question into Google and found these other websites that answered the question.

http://www.physicsforums.com/archive/index.php/t-6533.html

http://www.biologyreference.com/Ma-Mo/Membrane-Transport.html

http://virtuallaboratory.colorado.edu/Biofundamentals/lectureNotes/Topic2E_Membranes.htm

These sites help answer the questions on different levels, from pretty simplistic to college level.  I often get in  trouble with the media specialist at my school because I do have my students "Google" an answer instead of going through the schools website.  I work with my students on how to recognize what is a trusted website and what websites are not trustworthy.    These three websites fit the criteria of a trusted website, they are either a part of a university, or a part of a trusted organization, such as Scientific America or uses resources from peer review journals.  To find reliable websites is important for students as schools use more 21st century technology.  

Nature's Perfect Predators- Mountain Lion

Web 2.0

I had planned on doing much research on different Web 2.0 programs over the summer.  My school district was able to get a technology bond passed and all classrooms in the district are being converted to "Classroom of Today" rooms with installed smart boards, projectors, built in speakers, etc being installed.  The district is in the process of finding grants so that we can have a one to one computer program.  I have not used much modern technology in my class because it was almost impossible to reserve a projector or the computer lab, so these changes will be great.

I have been experimenting with Glogster for my project.  A fellow Science Olympiad coach in my region is a Glogster ambassador and has given many presentations on it, so she has been giving me hints and examples to view and use.  I like how I can make one "poster" and I can include notes, any video clips I want, and other data, pictures and what else I would like.  It is like a one place stop for the information on what topic I am presenting that day or week.  I also like how I can control what a student can do and upload if they are going to work on projects.  Students can get to their Glogster projects from any computer by using the user name and password that was assigned by the teacher.  There are different levels of Glogster programs, including. a free one that does not have all of the features.  There are examples and tutorials available with Glogstser.  Since students can design the glog that want, I feel that students would have fun and be excited to create projects with Glogster.

The other Web 2.0 program that I am going to investigate more is Haiku.  This program allows you to set up discussion boards, blogs, wikipages and even quizzes where I am able to collect grades.  This program allows you to set up pages by class periods, so that you can quickly modify projects for each hours needs.  Haiku also allows the uploading of Google Docs and will help create Google Docs so that students are able to work on projects together.  There is one free version, that works for up to 75 users, and different prices for different versions depending on the number of classes/students and the amount of storage.  The website for Haiku says that it will work with your schools current SIS program to upload student information.