Below are three reviews of the Exploring Physics CD-ROM
NSTA Review:
One of the most prestigious organizations for science teachers in the USA, the National Science Teacher's Association (NSTA) reviews science-teaching materials through their NSTA Recommends program. We are excited that our CD, Exploring Physics: Electricity and Magnetism, has passed the stingent reviews of NSTA Recommends.
Below is a copy of the review:
Author: Dr. Meera Chandrasekhar, Dr. Rebecca Litherland, & Ms. Jennifer Geib
Copyright: 2001
Supplier: Chandra Publications, LLC
City/State: Columbia, MO
Contact: Dr. Meera Chandrasekhar
Phone: 573-882-2619
ISBN: 0971122334
Grade: 5-12
Reviewer: David Henner
Title: Exploring Physics: Electricity and Magnetism
Exploring Physics, Electricity and Magnetism will be a refreshing addition to the middle school teacher's repertoire of materials. Six topics (Batteries, Bulbs and Switches, Understanding Batteries, Simple Circuits, Static Electricity, Resistors and Capacitors, Magnets and Magnetism) are supported by concept activities, reading pages, and progressively more challenging activities. Teachers will really appreciate this CD-ROM.
As a teacher of both middle school science and physics, I found the material to be entertaining and highly accurate. Topics build on themselves through a fascinating series of links. For the introductory student, for example, the flow of current is depicted as the motion of electrons. (A pop-up window explains the difference between electron flow and the flow of current.) By following the "Going Deeper" links, the intermediate student can arrive at mathematical challenges involving Coulomb's Law, Ohm's Law, and so forth. QuickTime movies also illustrate the charging of a capacitor or a circuit.
This CD-ROM could be used in a computer lab or as a demo. Reproducible activities can be used independently by students, and Answers are given on a separate pop-up page. The "Problem Solving" activities should be done either as individual students work on their computers or as a class activity. Included in every topic are links to the appropriate National Science Education Standards. The software runs on either the Internet Explorer or Netscape browser, and does not need an Internet connection.
The activities are excellent in their scope, and the instant feedback and dynamic interaction are perfect for middle school students. The material is accurate and basic enough for middle school, yet it also allows the user to easily reach the high school physics level through the hyperlinks. I congratulate the authors on their fine work and recommend this CD to any teacher teaching the topics of electricity or magnetism.
ENC Review:
Here is the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education (ENC) Online Review, located at
http://www.enc.org/resources/records/0,1240,027532,00.shtm
This CD-ROM, developed for grades 5-9, provides an introduction to electricity and magnetism. Topics include circuits, batteries, magnets, and static electricity. Units on resistors and conductors are also included. The CD-ROM contains background information, quantitative problems, and over 65 inquiry-based activities with follow-up questions. Many of the activities have Teacher's Notes that provide information on common student misconceptions and suggestions for teaching when experiments yield unexpected results. In one of the activities, students design and construct a circuit that includes a lightbulb, a motor, and a switch. The activity asks students to make the circuit such that both the lightbulb and the motor run when the switch is in the on position. The Teacher's Notes discuss common student misunderstandings about current flow and describe circuit designs that give unexpected results. (Author/BRS).
Educational Software Preview Guide Review:
The Educational Software Preview Guide (ESPG) Consortium represents computer education organizations throughout North America. Throughout the year members work with educators, library media specialists, professors, and education students as they study the use of educational software in the PreK-12 classroom. The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) was the publisher of the printed guide. Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Education Office now hosts the guide as an open access online searchable directory.
ESPG's electronic listing of Exploring Physics may be accessed at http://eddata.fnal.gov/lasso/espg/searchespg/action.lasso?-database=PreviewGuide&-layout=editing&-response=review_detail.lasso&-recordID=33879&-search
| Publisher: |
Chandra Publishing, LLC |
| Hardware: |
Mac,Win |
| Level: |
Elementary, Middle, Secondary, Teacher |
| Annotation: |
Exploring Physics - Electricity and Magnetism was developed by educators and an award-winning physics professor with support from the National Science Foundation. The CD allows teachers to learn electricty and magnetism concepts in a concept-oriented framework. The same activites can be used in the K-12 classroom. Content background, hands on activites and demos, as well as a list of appropriate Internet links are provided. |
| Mode: |
Exploration, Problem Solving, Tutorial |
| Subject: |
Science-Physical |
| Year Added: |
2004 |
