The Web for Learners

The World Wide Web offers an astounding number of resources for learners. If you can think of a topic, chances are that there is a Web site out there with information about it. Try typing in keywords in a search engine like Google (http://www.google.com/) and note how many "hits" (that is, links to related Web sites) you get. As you will see, the problem usually isn't finding out if information on a topic is available on the Web, it's finding out which site has the best, most authoritative information on that topic. This challenge isn't so much like finding a needle in a haystack as it is like finding a particular needle in a mountain of needles. (If your or your child's search results are too broad or off-topic, you might want to consult the "How do you use search engines?" section of this Web site for tips on how to refine your Internet search techniques.)

While we couldn't possibly cover all the learning resources available on the Web, we can point you a handful of sites that will give you a good idea of what kinds of educational resources are out there. Click on the links below to learn more.

• Basic Reference Resources
  
• WebQuests
  
• Web Tutorials
  

Web-based Tutorials

Since it is fundamentally interactive, the Internet makes a great platform for tutorials of all kinds. It is particularly easy to find tutorials covering topics in technology. The selection of Web-based tutorials given below is only intended to give you an idea what is available.

Astronomy for Kids
http://www.frontiernet.net/~kidpower/astronomy.html
Basic facts about our solar system and beyond.

Biology Online - Information in the Biological Sciences
http://www.biology-online.org/
A collection of tutorials on many different topics in biology.

Blood Types Tutorial
http://www.biology.arizona.edu/human_bio/problem_sets/blood_types/Intro.html
Includes questions and answers about blood type inheritance.

Color Worqx
http://www.worqx.com/color/
A tutorial in color theory.

The End of Europe's Middle Ages
http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/endmiddle/
Learn more about the Middle Ages in Europe.

From Stargazers to Starships
http://www-spof.gsfc.nasa.gov/stargaze/Sintro.htm
A high school level tutorial from NASA on the Earth's motion, Newtonian mechanics, and spaceflight.

WebMath
http://gomath.com/
A math-help web site that generates answers to specific math questions and problems and also shows the student how to arrive at the answer.

The K-8 Aeronautics Internet Textbook
http://wings.avkids.com/
The basics of aeronautics for elementary and middle school children.

Microsoft at Home
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/default.mspx
Includes information on using a computer at home, on the Internet, and more..

The Physics Classroom
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/
An online tutorial designed for high school physics students.

San Francisco Symphony Kids: Fun with Music
http://www.sfskids.org/templates/splash.asp
Learn about music and even create some of your own at this site.

Your Gross and Cool Body
http://yucky.kids.discovery.com/body/
Interactive tutorials that explain more than you probably wanted to know about the human body and its various by-products.

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