Maryland Sea Grant Schools Network News Vol. 3, No. 3, 2000-2001

Vol. 3, No. 3, 2000-2001

FEATURE ARTICLE

Web Lessons are World-Wide

Three interactive web-based lessons entitled "Biofilms and Biodiversity", "Oysters in the Classroom", and "The Key to Classification" (www.mdsg.umd.edu/Education/lessons.html), have been developed by Maryland Sea Grant (MDSG). These interactive lessons are available within easy reach on the new MDSG web-site (www.mdsg.umd.edu) under the Marine Education link.

The lessons have been prepared in a downloadable format for a Mac or PC, so with a click of the mouse the lesson is transferred to the users' machine. Future use requires no "live" Internet connection. The user only needs to have an updated browser such as Netscape or Internet Explorer and they're on their way.

The lessons were first posted in July 1999 and since then have been downloaded by users in 24 countries from Australia to Venezuela. In the USA it has been downloaded in 20 states with Maryland leading the way. Here are the latest statistics that we have been able to track from users that have identified themselves in our survey form.

Total downloads:		366
United States:		91
International:		275
Oyster Anatomy Lab:		147
Biofilms and Biodiversity:		140
The Key to Classification:		79

Interactively as part of a classroom/laboratory activity (e.g. coupled with fieldwork).
As a follow-up activity to a hands-on laboratory investigation.
As an independent launching off point for a science project.

As an exciting interactive learning tool, these lessons make learning science both interesting and fun. It allows students, even those not in close proximity to an aquatic ecosystem, to learn about these subjects in an effective manner. Alternatively, because the web pages are designed to encourage the implementation of experiments an increased number of students and teachers may take the initiative to design and set-up their own laboratory activities.

The MDSG "Oysters" web-site, www.mdsg.umd.edu/oysters/index.html

(which contains the "Oyster Anatomy Lab") has gained special attention from the Maryland State Department of Education by being adopted as a model lesson in biology for the high school assessment. Check out the link at www.mdk12.org/practices/
support_success/hsa/
biology/model_lessons.html.

How do I use a lesson that I have downloaded from the internet to my computer?

Once you have downloaded the lesson you will need to unstuff or expand it so that it can be placed onto your hard drive as an accessible file by your internet browser. For help with this process you can get an unstuff/expander application from the internet for free by visiting the Aladdin Systems webpage and downloading "Stuffit Expander", www.aladdinsys.com/expander/.

Where should I save the file?
You can save it to any location on your computer where you can easily access it for future use. Some people like to make a folder on the desktop and place the file there for easy access. In addition, you can copy the file and put it on other machines that have an internet browser. Once the lesson is on the computer there is no need to have a "live" internet connection for the lesson to work.

How do I open the file with my browser?
Open your internet browser as usual and then open the index.htm file from the lesson you have downloaded by going to the file menu and choosing "open page in navigator/explorer".

Will the lesson work quickly?
Yes! It should work much faster than if you were connected to the internet.

GOOD LUCK!