Digital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE)
http://www.dlese.org/library/index.jsp
For my “more familiar site” I chose to evaluate the Digital Library for Earth System Education. DLESE is a site that most Social Studies teachers may overlook when searching for teaching materials, resources, lessons, and grant sources. The site serves as a clearinghouse for collections of peer-reviewed materials that address issues that their organizers grouped into based categories. Some that are relevant to social studies include: educational theory and practice, forestry, environmental science, human geography, physical geography, natural hazards, geologic time, history and philosophy, and policy issues. Some of the organizations that feed into the page include: NOAA, USGS, Discover our Earth, Indigenous Science Resources. Creative social studies instructors can easily link resources targeted for earth science to specific social studies disciplines such as geography, economics, civics and government, history, international relations, and resource availability.
The start page is has several drop down boxes across the top margin that allow educators to select from general educational resources, specific teacher materials, news and opportunities, materials for curriculum developers and information about DLESE. To the left is a unique search area in the shape of the globe. Teachers can select grade level, resource type, collection, or standard based searches. On the lower right side are highlights about new materials, news releases or specific programs. The interface is appealing for teachers but is not really intended for student use. Although the graphics are interesting, the site is still very textual with no manipulatives.
The site provides links to specific national standards. These are the National Science Education Standards and the National Geography standards. If a teacher has a specific standard they want to address they merely need to list their key words and select the standard the search engine does the rest. The engine redirects the search through the wide set of collections supplied by various earth system science related organizations.
Educators can easily find lessons relating to the Pennsylvania Geography, Economics, History, and Civics and Government Standards. For example by selecting the National Standard Geography Standard “environment and society” filter and typing in the keywords “social studies.” The engine offered 17 lessons. The first of these 17, The impact of natural hazards around the world, readily addresses the following PA Academic Standards:
Geography:
7.2.6 A. Describe the physical characteristics of places and regions
7.3.6 B. Describe the human characteristics of places and regions by their cultural characteristics
7.3.6 C. Describe the human characteristics of places and regions by their settlement characteristics
7.3.6 D. Describe the human characteristics of places and regions by their economic activities.
Although not necessarily designed as a student resource DLESE can be used by middle and high schools students as a resource for research. This could be conducted through teacher directed investigations or as part of an independent study. The research could be about specific social studies topics and how environmental sciences relate to social studies disciplines. To do this type of research the students could access the educational resources/ materials. By entering the topic students are given access to background materials, research papers, maps, and activities that would help their efforts. The site is also a good source of information about careers. Teachers could easily design an inquiry about careers that link science and social studies and have the students access the news and opportunities selections.
Access to this site is free. Educators can also submit their lessons for peer review and posting. They can also serve as peer reviewers.
Free Federal Resources for Education Excellence (FFREE)
http://free.ed.gov/HandSS.cfm
The Federal Resources for Education Excellence web page provides access to articles, documents, photos, and links to a variety of additional federal websites. This site is designed for both teachers and secondary level students. The website is maintained by the US Department of Education and provides access to information across all academic disciplines from art through science. There are 63 federal organizations that feed into the resource base for this site. Access to educational materials for the social studies discipline are found on a specific page dedicated to History and Social Studies. Subcategories addressed from this page include: U.S. History topics, U.S. Time Periods, and World Studies.
The start page for History and Social Studies is uncluttered. There are three ways to move on to content materials. A menu on the left side of the page allows for selection of a subcategory. In the center of the page are the three categories depicted with pictures and descriptive text. These first two examples encourage browsing for information. To the top left is a search bar for more directed searches, (i.e. if teacher or student would want information about a specific time, event, person or topic). Free does not group information by grade level or by standard.
ALL Pennsylvania Standards for Geography, History, Economics, Civics and Government are easily addressed by accessing FFREE! Just type in a topic or phrase from a standard description and resources are provided from all applicable governmental agencies.
The site lends itself to both teacher centered and student-centered investigations. An example of a teacher-centered activity would utilizing a picture set or document series to support a lecture. A more student-centered activity could be a themed scavenger hunt. Students could be given a list of themes, issues, or specific vocabulary. The students would then be asked to define with historic examples. The students would then search the resources and compile a journal or photo book with descriptions of each item and a short paragraph explaining why the artifact serves as the best example of that idea or word.
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