Peer Review

Experiment!

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Mar 11, 2015 by Teacher Education

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: Try Science.org is a gateway to experience contemporary science and technology through on and offline interactivity with science and technology centers around the world. The Adventures are interactive thematic experiences. The Experiments have both online and offline components. Interactive science centers and science center locators are part of the Field Trips. Curious? is the place for short polls and activities based on “hot” topics questions with related news links. There are LiveCams from webcams at science and technology centers worldwide. In addition there are several other features such as ThinkTank a game where one explores what kind of problems are best solved by what kind of approaches and PowerUp a 3-D multiplayer game that uses modern engineering to save the world from disaster. Finally using the Bionic software ( a free download) students are involved as citizen scientists engaging in collecting data worldwide to use in actual research on topics like the current Ebola outbreak.
Type of Material:: Tutorial
Recommended Uses:: For students: a resource for wonderings, explorations, and investigations in the world of science particularly utilizing resources worldwide For parents: an opportunity to interact collaboratively with their child’s engagement in science and technology For teachers: a comprehensive resource for science investigations, virtual field trips and simulations solving real world problems.
Technical Requirements:: Most of the activities can be completed online using a browser (Chrome and Firefox work the best). The experiments can also be printed out and completed off-line.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: Students and their parents will be engaged collaboratively in investigating scientific phenomena. Students and their parents will discover the many online resources available world wide for learning science and technology. Teachers will develop a deeper understanding of how to use simple investigations along with resources from science centers around the world to enhance their lessons.
Target Student Population:: Elementary and middle school age students and preservice teachers
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: None

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: Comprehensive and easy to do science investigations Access to resources in science and technology centers worldwide Citizen scientists opportunities
Concerns:: None

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: The use of the diverse multitude of materials available in TryScience is limited only by the imagination of the user (child, parent or teacher). The material can readily be incorporated in daily science class activities or can be used for projects or tutoring.
Concerns:: None

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: This website is very "child" friendly and colorful; it was "field tested" with a 7 year old and a 70 year old. Each had absolutely no difficulty in using the various kinds of materials.
Concerns:: None

Other Issues and Comments:: Use of this site would be ideal for ELL students and their parents. They would be actively learning science together effectively.
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