Issue 116
Term 1 2021
Website and app reviews
Website and apps reviewed for school library staff
AUSTRALIA’S DEFINING MOMENTS DIGITAL CLASSROOM
The National Museum of Australia has developed an interactive timeline of over 120 significant events in Australian history from 65,000 years ago to the present day. Student-centred resources include critical thinking activities, quizzes, maps, videos, and learning resources related to the Australian Curriculum.
SCIS no: 1990447
BEACH POLLUTION ENDS HERE
For coastal communities, stormwater runoff – causing beach pollution – is an ongoing concern. Randwick Council in Sydney has outlined the problem, the causes and methods to combat stormwater pollution. Effective use is made of animations, videos and appropriate language to convey the message to the intended audience.
SCIS no: 1993436
BIOPLATFORMS AUSTRALIA
Bioplatforms Australia seeks to enhance Australian life science research capabilities to support innovation and transform scientific outcomes for the benefit of Australians. Research platforms cover genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and bioinformatics. Investment funding is provided by the Commonwealth Government.
SCIS no: 1993440
BRUCE PASCOE: ABORIGINAL AGRICULTURE, TECHNOLOGY AND INGENUITY
Author and Indigenous historian Bruce Pascoe is well known in schools for his books Dark Emu and Young Dark Emu. Content of this digibook features Pascoe walking around his farm as he ‘reflects on Aboriginal people’s relationship with plants, animals and technologies’. A range of scientific research, archival footage and historical journal entries complement this.
SCIS no: 1924242
CLIMATE SCIENCE, RISK & SOLUTIONS
This Massachusetts Institute of Technology website explores a history of climate science, the greenhouse effect and climate change. The risks of sea level change, increased heat and humidity, more prevalent storms, and ocean acidification are investigated. Possible solutions are also detailed.
SCIS no: 1993572
DUMB WAYS TO DIE 2
apps.apple.com/au/app/dumb-ways-to-die-2-the-games/id929346489
A companion to the award-winning video of a few years ago and the initial Dumb Ways to Die app, this free sequel continues the fun activities, with additional characters. Centred around defying death, the core message of safety around trains is interspersed within the game. Also available from Google Play.
SCIS no: 1993591
MATHS AT OUR HOUSE
A program from the New Zealand Ministry of Education, this site provides background information, resources and ideas to assist parents to enhance children’s awareness of mathematics in everyday life around the house. Areas of mathematics that are supported include geometry, algebra, number, measurement and statistics.
SCIS no: 1993578
NATIONAL LOCATION INFORMATION
ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/national-locationinformation
The National Location Information Branch is the Australian Government’s national mapping agency. Content on their website includes digital mapping, surface water information, the built environment, spatial data, historical aerial photos, topographical information and lists of significant landforms.
SCIS no: 1993583
NZASE
The New Zealand Association of Science Educators (NZASE) is the New Zealand national body for science educators at all levels. It provides professional development; access to an online journal that includes peer-reviewed articles, videos and news; teaching resources; conference details and links; and specifics of work safety and animal ethics.
SCIS no: 1865964
REDISCOVERING INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES
An initiative of the State Library of NSW, this project ‘aims to preserve and revitalise some of the oldest languages in the world’. The Library has been digitising Indigenous word lists and language records from their collections and making this cultural heritage available to all Australians. Languages are searchable by state or community.
SCIS no: 1883849
WHAT WAS LEONARDO DA VINCI DOING AT YOUR AGE?
edition.cnn.com/interactive/style/leonardo500
Students are invited to insert their age into this searchable timeline to discover what Leonardo da Vinci had accomplished at that age. Students are prompted to enter other ages to discover additional da Vinci paintings, drawings, inventions and further background information.
SCIS no: 1993598
Nigel Paull
Teacher Librarian
North Coast, NSW