Sparticl is a new, free service that has rounded-up and organized all of the best science content on the web. You can search by subject or content-type (i.e. game, video, article, etc.) and it's an absolutely wonderful site. They have content for every area of science and they're expanding their offerings every day. Let's check it out!
Over the past 3 weeks, I asked two science teachers at my school to test out Sparticl in their classroom and let me know their thoughts. Both of them had nothing but positive reactions and agreed that they would be using the site throughout the year. Before we get started, If you want to start with a quick overview of the site, here's a video tour:
So, as the video shows, when you first get to Sparticl (and finish signing up for an account) you've got a few options on how to start. If you know a specific science topic you want to search for, you can just type it into the search bar at the top.
Get Started by Searching for a Topic
Otherwise, you can browse through the most popular articles, videos, and games on the home page, or check out their huge variety of categories as well.
I really like the "Explore" tab which includes things like scientific controversies, science news, and everyday science. I wish this site would have been around when I was teaching biology 4 years ago!
All the Categories to Choose From (Click for Full-Sized Image)
When you search by a category, the results are organized alphabetically, but you can also try your luck and pick a "random" selection. This could be a fun activity for starting class with a surprise lesson or great for students who have a little trouble making up their minds (but when does that ever happen...)
Searching by Category
You can also filter your search results by text, scientist profile, interactive/quiz, and video. Plus, a lot of the learning resources have quizzes that you can take after you complete the activity. And throughout it all, Sparticl keeps track of your learning points and lets you earn digital badges.
Filter your Search Results
You can also "like" and comment on videos and learning activities. This could be a beneficial feature for teachers to keep track of student involvement. You could have your students post their thoughts/reaction to assigned videos and they could participate in an online discussion with other students in the class and from around the world.
Add Comments to Learning Activities
And basically, that's the site! It's a wonderful resources for helping science teachers find online content. Students can sign up for accounts and Sparticl will keep track of the activities they complete and the learning outcomes they achieve. Overall, it's a superb resource.
The only suggestion I have would be to add a filter that would allow teachers to search by the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Since schools around the states (and world) are starting to adopt the NGSS, that would be an incredibly beneficial feature. Otherwise, Sparticl has done an excellent job finding and organizing online science content. If you're an science educator, definitely check this site out!
RSS Feed
