KEY POINTS:
Anything you ever wanted to know about earthquakes, icy ecosystems, body imaging or the role of science in sport will be just a mouse-click away with the launch of a world-first Science Learning Hub, developed at Waikato University.
The hub, to be launched tonight in Wellington by Research, Science and Technology Minister Steve Maharey, aims to make science come alive for year nine and 10 students, by linking science subjects to students' everyday lives on the online site.
The country's new, high speed Kiwi Research and Education Advanced Network (KAREN) will also be showcased with live streaming of the hub launch to conferences of biology teachers in Wellington and chemistry teachers in Auckland, and to physics teachers in Dunedin later in the week.
The Science Learning Hub, which links research organisations and schools, takes a multi-media approach to science with easy-to-access video clips of scientists, animations, demonstrations, and up-to-date information and data. Material includes teacher and student resources.
Waikato University's Wilf Malcolm institute of educational research and its centre for science and technology educational research together developed the site with a national team comprising groups of science and education experts in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
School of Education dean professor Alister Jones said today the hub was a world-first.
"What makes this website unique is that all the content has been specifically developed to support the science curriculum in New Zealand."
It was focused on providing content at the right learning and interest level for students, as well as providing useful teaching tools for classroom teachers, he said.
"Unlike information that can be gleaned through various web search engines, our content has been developed and reviewed by the top scientists and science educators in their fields."
It meant the information was up-to-date and impartial, Prof Jones said.
The hub would go live to schools in late July or early August initially with four topics: earthquakes, body imaging, icy ecosystems and the role of science in sport, with more topics to be added, he said.
Prof Jones said the Government was funding $2 million a year for the development of a wide range of online resources and expansion to year 11-13 students, and the university would continue to manage the project.
- NZPA
