http://www.merlot.org:80/merlot/ A search of MERLOT materials Copyright 1997-2013 MERLOT. All rights reserved. Thu, 23 May 2013 20:01:19 PDT Thu, 23 May 2013 20:01:19 PDT http://www.merlot.org:80/merlot/images/merlot.gif http://www.merlot.org:80/merlot/ 44 34 http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=90081 DNA from the Beginning is an animated tutorial on DNA, genes and heredity. The science behind each concept is explained using animations related to DNA topics, an image gallery, video interviews, problems, biographies, and links related to DNA. There are three sections, Classical Genetics, Molecules of Genetics and Organization of Genetic Material. Key features are the clear explanations of classical experiments and the excellent photographs of researchers and their labs.For information and credits on the development of DNA from the Beginning, go to http://www.dnaftb.org/dnaftb/credits.html http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=89767 This site consists of a collection of plotting and solving applets featuring a uniform user interface. This site was selected as the 2005 MERLOT Classics Award winner for the Mathematics discipline due to its value and effectiveness as a set of teaching/learning tools. Visualizing mathematical concepts, especially in three-dimensional space, can be quite difficult for students. These tools and applications enable students to see the concepts in action and to come a deeper understanding of the underlying mathematics. In addition, the collaboration between the faculty, students and Sun Microsystems staff who together designed and constructed these tools was quite unusual and impressive. The collaboration itself is an inspiring model. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=79032 "Crisis at Fort Sumter" is an interactive historical simulation and decision making program. Using text, images, and sound, it reconstructs the dilemmas of policy formation and decision making in the period between Abraham Lincoln's election in November 1860 and the battle of Fort Sumter in April 1861. The program primarily focuses on Lincoln, both as President-elect and as President. Viewers place themselves in Lincoln's position, consider the events that transpire, and choose a course of action at five critical junctures, called "problems." At each of these five junctures, Lincoln made a decision that helped determine the outcome of the crisis at Fort Sumter. In order to assess each problem and make a decision, advice is available from official advisors, such as cabinet members, and from various informal channels, such as newspapers, friends, and public spokesmen. The program divides the information about the Sumter crisis into nine chronological sections. The text within the sections also contains hotword links that permit viewers to explore information in a topical rather than a chronological manner and commentary links that provide additional information including material about debates among historians about events, action, or people. The site also contains an extensive bibliography on the civil war. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=76168 This site presents information on culture and language in different regions of the world as well as videos and audio taken from the authentic regions. Transcripts in English and the target languages are included. The MERLOT World Languages Editorial Board chose LangMedia for its 2005 Classics Award. The MERLOT Editor's Council  subsequently selected it as an Editors' Choice recipient. LangMedia provides access to authentic materials that can be used in a wide variety of pedagogical settings. It features less commonly taught languages from Bangla to Wolof, as well as excellent materials in French, Spanish and other more commonly taught languages. It has a learner-centered design and appeals to a variety of learning styles. With its strong cultural content and English transcripts, LangMedia can also be used in International Business, Area Studies and in any discipline where the study of authentic culture is featured. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=89055 Here's your chance to mix chemicals without wearing safety goggles. You won't spill any acid on the spectrometer in this lab. Choose solutions from the vast database and mix 'em together till the cloned cows come home. Marvel as the chemical solutions react in real time. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=91223 Bernie Dodge of San Diego State University developed the idea of WebQuests to teach students how to effectively use the Internet for research. Webquests areinquiry based lessons in which all or part of the information that learners interactwith comes from resources on the Internet. A short-term WebQuest is designed tobe completed in a few class periods. At the end of a WebQuest, a learner will havegrappled with a significant amount of new information and made sense of it. Check out the link to WebQuest collections at http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/webquest_collections.htm. These are lists of WebQuests created in various settings, mostly University courses and workshops. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=88706 A guided-reading selection in Spanish based on a song by Dominican artist Juan Luis Guerra, optional translation provided, related isolated practice provided for subjunctive with interactive responses. The multimedia and culture- based visuals makethis a very versatile and engaging educational tool. A colorful photo gallery of Dominican scenes enhances the module. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=81883 The acoustics of musical instruments and the voice. The "Basics" directory introduces and explains general concepts. There are "Introduction to the Acoustics of [instrument name]״, data bases, technical material, web services (including a hearing test) and a FAQ. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=80654 A collection of simulations and virtual labs focusing on first-year college physics. An interview with the award winning author can be found in About us at Phet VideoPhET provides fun, interactive, research-based simulations of physical phenomena for free. We believe that our research-based approach- incorporating findings from prior research and our own testing- enables students to make connections between real-life phenomena and the underlying science, deepening their understanding and appreciation of the physical world. To help students visually comprehend concepts, PhET simulations animate what is invisible to the eye through the use of graphics and intuitive controls such as click-and-drag manipulation, sliders and radio buttons. In order to further encourage quantitative exploration, the simulations also offer measurement instruments including rulers, stop-watches, voltmeters and thermometers. As the user manipulates these interactive tools, responses are immediately animated thus effectively illustrating cause-and-effect relationships as well as multiple linked representations (motion of the objects, graphs, number readouts, etc.) PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado, http://phet.colorado.edu http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=75000 Educational physics applets designed to be scripted in JavaScript for use in quizzes, homework problems, and Just in Time Teaching activities. Includes applets that can be used in a wide range of classes and at different levels.