The internet is full of great resources for students and science teachers. This can present a challenge as you look for the best websites. Bringing the science subject to life for the students is one challenge that is shared by teachers who publish these insightful and amazing science education blogs.
Are these blogs good for you? Certainly, they offer narratives that are set beyond the class walls. By embracing technology, students and teachers are now able to find study materials and engage in educative discussions/chats. What can you do to find the best science blogs?
To make your work easier, here is a list of the most informative, exciting and innovative science blogs. Let’s get started!
Short Sharp Science
This blog is by the well respected New Scientist and it’s ideal for anyone or older students interested in the general summary of scientific developments and discoveries. It presents features and news from the various scientific disciplines.
Why use this blog? The blog is ideal for informing you of the current affairs in the science world. It’s a must-read prior to interviews for students considering studying science at the university or college.
Science Sparks
This is best for introducing kids to science in an exciting, fun way. It is specifically written for children and contains numerous amazing experiments. The blogs down-to-earth and accessible approach will captivate young scientists.
How can youngsters benefit from using this blog? Science sparks blog will offer different kinds of experiments and learning opportunities for your child. Starting from experiments to do during the holidays to even brilliant ideas for a science party.
Cancer Research UK
The Cancer Research UK blog is accessible and fascinating and is published by the charity Cancer Research in the UK. It gives info and up-to-date news on research developments in a clear and convenient way. Starting with research news on “Developing more accurate ways to study brain tumors” in an interview on twitter about skin cancer.
What can you learn from it? It provides interesting insights into the most current cutting-edge developments in medical science for fighting cancer.
The Frog Blog
This fantastic blog is written by teachers. It has a rich assortment of snappy yet short articles on everything starting with astronomy all the way to zoology and is meant for scientists of various ages. This blog also contains rich reflections on teaching science. Although, the chief blogger Humphrey Jones decided he would stop blogging to focus on family and career. The great posts remain and continue to support and inspire science teachers everywhere.
Real Climate
The Real Climate blog is by climate scientists and is where you can go to access all important updates and information on the science of climate change. It is without the hysterics, hype, and cynicism! This blog offers links for valuable resources that you can use to be in the know of the most current issue of climate change.
How can students benefit from it? This blog offers students and teachers the different resources they need depending on their different levels.
Bad Science
Bad science is by the Dr. Ben Goldacre who has set out to diffuse some of the modern science myths (and others who try to alter it for their own reasons). From exposing misleading as well as scaremongering newspaper posts to actually exposing the process involved in clinical trials. Dr. Goldacre digs deep and seeks to dissect the science itself.
How can you use this blog? This is ideal for older students who are considering the wider philosophy and ethics of scientific research.
The Naked Scientists
This blog has informative, light science podcasts that investigate the popular questions from the perspective of science. It provides answers to everything from “Are Phobias Hereditary?” to “How Did Early Life Evolve?” and much more.
Who can benefit from this blog? The blog is aimed at helping the general public in understanding and engaging with the world of technology, medicine, and science. It also helps to nurture and develop talent and skill of young people.
Tips To Using Blogs in the Classrooms
After choosing a platform and setting up a blog, what can you do before starting to blog? Below are several tips to help your blog in today’s classroom.
Integrate Class Content
Blogging can be an excellent way to integrate the curriculum, from science and math to geography and health. Emphasize to students that the topics of their posts should relate to the curriculum.
What kind of articles can be covered for blogs? Questions raised in class and topics covered during class can be used for posts. Also, encourage students to consider what learning blogs and topics that make for great blog posts.
Be Realistic
It takes time to build a blog so start out small. For instance, begin with a class blog that focuses on one topic that allows students to contribute articles under your supervision.
How can you make this more interesting? Pick a topic that students are passionate about or they would like to raise awareness about. How can a class blog help students? Through the classroom blog, the students can build skills they require in creating their own blogs with ease.
Consistency
Developing a blog takes commitment. When the posts are published in a haphazard manner, the student and reader base interest is most likely to get affected negatively. The idea here is to continue building and expanding the bog. From the very beginning, have a goal to be publishing a post after 2 weeks for each student. Then you can slowly increase the submissions, as students continue to get more used to blogging.
Distinguish between personal and educational/professional blogs
You can provide written instructions and also support the instructions by giving an in-class demo. You can hold ongoing class discussions about blogging and how blogging can be used for learning or in professional teaching.
How can you help students to differentiate between the two? Talk about the differences between personal blogs and will include recipes, family photos, or other personal info. Explain further that professional learning blogs will contain topics focused more on work and professional lives.
Take Away
While the traditional classroom has undergone some changes nationwide. There has been a rise in educational content on the web. How can such blogs benefit you in your science studies? These offer narratives that are set beyond the class walls letting you access them anywhere.
For more of the science articles to help your child, these are the ones that might interest you:
5 Ways To Help Your Child Love Science
Tackling The Changes Of PSLE Science 2017
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