World Wide Web Links Page
BioTopics is obviously not responsible for the content of external sites listed (0ver 150 at the last count).
Please let me know if any of these links are broken, or if you wish to suggest a link.
Main categories below:
Search engines Science magazines Examination boards Curriculum stuff Educational quangos Other Biology and Science sites run by teachers
Commercial sites covering Biology BBC websites Other support links Images Institutions
Scientific Museums
Basic Biological topics
(Microscopy,
Microbiology,
Ecology,
Genetics,
Organ transplants,
Fungi,
Lichens,
Earthworms,
Malaria,
On-line University courses)
Biological diversions
(
gory stuff, cerebral stuff, inspirational stuff)
Search engines
To be perfectly honest, to find specifically useful sources of information on the web, all you may need is a search engine.
The following are pretty useful sources of information:
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Science magazines
I can wholeheartedly recommend New Scientist magazine as an interesting read, whether you wish to simply dip into it for updating or for interesting articles.
If you subscribe to this personally as I do, you can access the archive of accumulated material from recent years.
I wish this was available when screw-worms were on the syllabus! And what about the eyelets of Langerhans! (sic).
Here is an inspirational tale about osmosis.
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Examination boards
There are only a few UK examination boards these days:
AQA
EDEXCEL
OCR
WJEC
CCEA
For A/AS level, I like the AQA 5411/6411 syllabus (Biology specification A) because it doesn't have a series of options (apart from 50% overlap wth Human Biology 5413/6413).
I think that AQA are to be congratulated for making a fairly comprehensive set of module exam papers and mark schemes available online - as PDF files. These used to cover all the papers set from the start of this specification (January 2001), but now they just run from June 2004 to January 2007, although I have managed to put some of the earlier ones here.
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Curriculum stuff
The NC online > Science > 2006 key stage 4 National Curriculum online outlines the knowledge, skills and understanding expected
Teachers should ensure that the Knowledge, skills and understanding of how science works are integrated into the teaching of the Breadth of study.
It is interesting to see how the various exam boards have dressed this up in preparing their specifications.
Or perhaps you want to view the National Curriculum online welcome to science programme of study for key stage 1, key stage 2, key stage 3, key stage 4 single, key stage 4 double. From these pages, you can also see the attainment targets, notes and links to online teaching resources....
I always thought of the
QCA as a sort of thought police for exam boards but since they have linked to this site I have thought again.
They asked me to mention the
National Curriculum in Action - Science Home Page.
This website uses pupils' work and case study materials to show what the National Curriculum in science looks like in practice.
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Educational quangos
NGfL: Home National Grid for Learning, the gateway to educational resources on the internet. The NGfL provides a network of selected links to websites that offer high quality content and information. Whether you are learning, supporting, teaching or managing, there are resources on the NGfL for you.
VTC - Home
The Virtual Teacher Centre offers you all the free education information you could ever need.
The
Nuffield Curriculum Centre: aims to deal with teaching, education, and learning in a different way.
Purposes: to explore new approaches to teaching and learning by developing, managing and supporting curriculum projects.
Principles: projects aim to be innovative, practical, generalisable and reflective.
Main areas of interest at the moment: Science, Mathematics, Design and Technology and Citizenship.
There are currently 2 interesting developments:
Salters-Nuffield Advanced Biology which is taught through real-life biology contexts.
and
21st Century Science
which will be a set of three new GCSE science courses for 14 to 16-year-olds. The courses will offer genuine choice for the diversity of students' interests and aspirations. All schools can start the courses from September 2006, when all GCSE Science specifications will change to match the new Programme of Study.
ASE - The Association for Science Education is an impressive organisation which holds regular and very informative meetings. The ASE styles itself as "the professional association for teachers of science". It was formed in 1963 by the merger of the Science Master's Association and the Association of Women Science Teachers, but it can trace its origins back to 1900.
General Teaching Council for England - the professional body for teachers, set up in 1998, "provides an opportunity for teachers to shape the development of professional practice and policy, and to maintain and set professional standards."
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Other Biology and Science sites run by teachers
8886: A very useful site by Max d'Ayala, offering GCSE science coursework information and help.
Gondar Design Science: A most comprehensive science website, run by Nigel Purchon. It also contains sections about revision technique and other features.
www.chadevans.co.uk (used to be called Know Need): This site, which covers GCSE and A level, Biology and Mathematics, also uses information provided by Edexcel. Sections include revision notes for pupils, lesson plans for teachers, online questions, and coursework help.
Mark Rothery's A level biology site is a useful set of notes, key facts and questions, based on AQA Specification B, although also it is also helpful for other syllabuses which overlap with it.
I now know that Mark is a Principal Examiner for AQA Specification A - responsible for the most recent paper 6 (enough said!).
BiologyMad.com is mainly "aimed for" students studying AQA (spec. A) A-Level Biology.
Slightly whimsical, BiologyMad is apparently not the work of just one person, and the site requests input from contributors. Neil Millar has provided detailed notes and Ian White has made many contributions towards the site.
Human Biology Guide provides revision notes for A-Level Human Biology students! These notes (strong on key words and bullet pointing) cover AQA Biology (Human) Specification A and its overlap with Biology specification i.e. not Modules 2 and 6.
Revision Centre - GCSE Biology Revision Notes and Resources gives a simple treatment of about 15 topics.
Science Active - Secondary School Science is a site (covering mostly chemistry) run by my old friend Nick Falk - we did an MSc together some time ago.
Creative Chemistry is the work of Dr. N. Saunders (Head of Chemistry, Harrogate Granby High School, UK).
It is mostly chemistry but with a good section " for biologists": The Biofiles.
GCSE.com: revising revision (???) (like this site) was also developed on RISCOS computers, but by Andrew P. Harmsworth, and it mostly covers physics and maths, and English too.
Andy Darvill's Science Site features
- Online resources - a selection of activities for Key Stage 3 and 4 Science, especially physics
- Downloads - a selection of worksheets, activities, and computer-based teaching resources for Key Stages 3 and 4 Science
- and also a most enjoyable Funnies section.
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Commercial sites covering Biology
Biology Study Guides - SparkNotes are a patchy set of American study guides/revision notes by Barnes and Noble, broken up by lots of adverts. The level at which they are pitched may suit some AS/A level students.
S-Cool! supports a number of subjects at GCSE, AS and A level and also gives information about careers. Many topics have a snappy web-centred style, without being overly dense with information. The site hosts discussion groups and offers support to registered teachers.
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BBC websites
Purely educational websites
The BBC's educational efforts on the web seem to serve Biology quite effectively. Some competitors (those who charge for their material) are rather put out by the presence of the BBC on the web.
BBC - GCSE Bitesize - Biology is an extremely useful resource, and one to which I have contributed material, as well as criticism!
BBC Education - AS Guru - Biology is also quite useful, although I am less than happy with some of the Flash animations.
There is also a core skills section devoted to biology at
BBC Education - AS Guru - Study Skills - Biology
TV program support websites
BBC - Science & Nature is a jumping off point for many science-related programs including one of my favourites Countryfile.
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Other support links
Biochem4schools is a new site. In their own words, Biochem4schools is an 'umbrella site' containing links to other resources that fall within the field of biochemistry. Developed by The Biochemical Society , the website is part of our commitment to "promote the science of biochemistry" to the general public, and has been designed to assist teachers and students involved in science education at all levels.
The National Centre for Biotechnology Education (at the University of Reading) - the first school biotechnology centre in the world - is at the forefront of Biotechnology education at all levels.
The NCBE supplies a range of high-quality enzymes exclusively for educational use and pages from their practical biotechnology guide can be easily downloaded as PDFs. It is also promoting a DVD introduction to practical microbiology produced by Manchester Metropolitan University, with associated written materials from the NCBE.
Science and Plants for Schools is an organisation with three main aims :
- to develop new educational resources
- to promote exciting teaching of plant science and molecular biology
- to interest young people in plants and molecular biology.
The educational resources are very worth investigating:
"Practical investigations" leads you to a wealth of ideas for investigations and activities with plants.
On this part of the site, SAPs publish a variety of student sheets, practical activities at various levels and project starters.
"Publications and resources" offers you support for teaching about plants in the curriculum. It does this through a diverse range of publications - some printed, others on the web.
LearnNet is for the use of teachers and students of chemistry at all levels. The network provides access to products and information relevant to the study of chemistry.
It also supports the Chemistry for Biologists website explaining the chemical principles underlying biology, which has a number of biochemical molecules on display in Chime format (nearly as good as this site).
Molecule of the Month
This is probably only really relevant to higher level studies but you may find it very interesting, especially if you have the correct software installed on your computer.
The Centre for Bioscience, the Higher Education Academy promotes and supports high quality learning, teaching and assessment in UK higher education as part of the network of subject centres of The Higher Education Academy.
The Biology Project is an interactive online resource for learning biology developed at The University of Arizona. The Biology Project is fun, richly illustrated, and tested on 1000s of students. It has been designed for biology students at the college and high school level, but is useful for medical students, physicians, science writers, and all types of interested people.
ASU-Ask A Biologist is designed as an educational resource for students K-12, and their teachers and parents. Also originating from the Arizona State University, it seems to be aimed at younger students.
WAYNE'S WORD is a very comprehensive on-line textbook of Natural History, with a mind-boggling variety of fascinating sub-sections. There are
dozens of articles
arranged in sections such as Noteworthy Plants, Biology/Botany Trivia, and the eclectic The Lemnaceae (Duckweed Family) dealing with Duckweed (worlds smallest flowering plant) and other floating plants. Some of this material is only concerned with the Flora and Fauna of North America, but much is of very general and genuine worldwide interest.
It is the work of Wayne P. Armstrong (alias Mr. Wolffia) Emeritus professor of Life Sciences at Palomar College, San Marcos california, who presides over on-line courses such as Biology 100 and Botany 115.
On the subject of Duckweed, there is a very interesting site dedicated to
the Charms of Duckweed, hosted by the Missouri Botanical Garden.
In a similar vein, Dr. George B. Johnson (Biology Professor at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri) has a series of topics "Biology and Society" lectures,
BACKGROUNDERS on current biological topics,
Virtual Labs
and his contributions to
ON SCIENCE columns,
all of which are covered by the title
Txtwriter Inc.
Biology Online
"aims to offers and promote the free use of information in the biological sciences online".
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Images
The Centre for Bioscience ImageBank
offers a resource consisting of freely available images contributed by academics, researchers, Learned Societies, industry and individuals with rights cleared for educational purposes.
Users are able to search for images based on keywords or browse within a wide range of bioscience subject areas. Images are then ‘downloadable’ along with informative descriptive text provided by the contributor. All images undergo a validation process by Centre for Bioscience staff with good subject knowledge. ImageBank also offers reviews of, and links to existing bioscience image databases.
VTC - Science clipart - not impressive
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Institutions
Biology4all from the University of Central Lancashire is an excellent support resource for teachers, pupils, and undergraduates. I find the Biotutors email discussion group to be a very supportive and useful forum for teachers.
They also include several sorts of fun including howlers along the same lines as those you can see on this site.
The Institute of Biology "is the UK’s professional body for biologists, representing more than 14,000 members working in industry, research, education and healthcare."
The Biosciences Federation is an umbrella organisation having the following key aims:
- To promote liaison, dialogue and interactions within the diverse community of bioscientists on common issues that relate to research and teaching;
- To provide opinion and information to assist the formulation of public policy;
- To promote wide and open debate, involving the wider public where appropriate, about the practical and ethical issues surrounding developments in the biosciences and their applications.
The following organisations are members of the Biosciences foundation.
I have included them here for completeness, and also in order to inform students of the extent of subjects allied to Biology
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Scientific Museums
The Natural History Museum aims to promote the discovery, understanding, enjoyment, and responsible use of the natural world. Its website is very comprehensive, although some useful (reference) sections of the site tend to get moved around - annoying linkers like me.
On the other hand, the
Science Museum's website is more aimed at encouraging you to visit the museum, although its Exhibitions Online
section does involve some on-line interaction via "Online Exhibitions and Interactives" which invite users to discover more about science, scientific people and events through their collections of exhibitions and interactives and
"Exhiblets" (digital exhibitions which use the Museum's collections to describe important events, discoveries and personalities in science and technology).
The British Museum puts on a varied display of exhibitions and via its
Learning and Information Department Science pages it gives a fairly lightweight description of topics such as the Natural World.
The British Association for the Advancement of Science's 24 Hour Museum is the UK’s National Virtual Museum, offering a unique mix of dynamic content including daily arts and museum news as well as exhibition reviews and in-depth online trails.
The site promotes publicly funded UK museums galleries, exhibitions and heritage attractions and seeks to develop new audiences for UK culture.
In case you think I have given too much emphasis to British museums,
Museums: Virtual Library museums pages (VLmp) is ""a distributed directory of on-line museums" covering the whole world.
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Microscopy
Microscopy-UK describes itself as a portal for enthusiast microscopists.
The CELLS alive!
website "represents over 25 years of experience capturing film and computer-enhanced images of living cells and organisms for education and medical research."
It is the work of James A. Sullivan, proprietor of Quill Graphics,
Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
Westminster School hosts a site dedicated to its Old Boy
Robert Hooke
"one of the most neglected natural philosophers of all time. The inventor of, amongst other things, the iris diaphragm in cameras, the universal joint used in motor vehicles, the balance wheel in a watch, the originator of the word 'cell' in biology..."
Microbiology
MicrobeWorld, brought to you by the American Society for Microbiology has some interesting sections.
Ecology
WWF - The Global Conservation Organization has links to local WWF websites as well as useful educational and multimedia sections.
Greenpeace International
"exists because this fragile Earth deserves a voice. It needs solutions. It needs change. It needs action."
Friends of the Earth: England, Wales and Northern Ireland "inspires solutions to environmental problems which make life better for people."
The British Ecological Society" is an active and thriving organisation with something to offer anyone with an interest in ecology."
Genetics
The Genetic Interest Group is a national alliance of patient organisations with a membership of over 130 charities which support children, families and individuals affected by genetic disorders.
In an educational context, it provides genetics information and education.
The Huntington's Disease Association provides information and advice to families, friends and health care professionals whose task it is to support Huntington's disease families.
The Cystic Fibrosis Trust's stated aims are to understand, treat and cure Cystic Fibrosis. Its objectives are to:
- Fund medical and scientific research to develop a cure and provide effective treatments for Cystic Fibrosis;
- Ensure appropriate clinical care for those with Cystic Fibrosis; and
- Provide information, advice and support and, where appropriate, financial assistance to anyone affected by Cystic Fibrosis.
Organ transplants
Time (Transplants in mind)
are a charity organisation run to promote awareness of Organ and TissueDonation for Transplantation.
By increasing awareness they hope to encourage more people to sign on and register their wishes of donation, therefore increasing potential Organ and Tissue Donation. There are over 6000 people on the transplant waiting list. Approximately one third of them will die waiting for a transplanted organ.
UK Transplant is a website whose aim is to save or improve the lives of thousands of people every year through organ transplantation.
It also has a section entitled
how to become a donor.
Fungi
The Use of Fungi in the Production of Food Products
Lichens
Lichens - Natural History Museum
Earthworms
The Earthworm
Malaria
Malaria
Microbiology @ Leicester: Microbiology Notes: Malaria
Control of Malaria Vectors in Africa and Asia is a webpage contributed by Dr C. F Curtis of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, U.K. and the University of Minnesota, and yes I did pinch a few images from this but I found it difficult to get in touch with the author. Beware: most of the WWW links appear to be dead.
On-line University courses
Microbiology @ Leicester
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Interesting biological diversions on the web
Gory stuff
See if you enjoy the
Edheads - Virtual Knee Surgery site where I carried out a Total Knee Replacement !
Alternatively you might investigate the
Visible Human where you can go on a Guided Tour of the human body.
Cerebral stuff
Perhaps you would like to pit your brains against a few
Biology Trivia and Quizzes or visit USGS-BRD Kids corner
On the other hand you might like to browse through the current or back issues of the
Molecule of the Month which is quite interesting.
Inspirational stuff
which may give you some ideas whilst you are away from the classroom:
Access Excellence @ the National Health Museum
Fun science galleries has a useful list of
Amateur Scientist Sites.
You can check out the current and past
Biology Site of the Week run by About (Biology).
Perhaps you might like to contribute some more ideas . . . .
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Main categories above
Search engines Science magazines Examination boards Curriculum stuff Educational quangos Other Biology and Science sites run by teachers
Commercial sites covering Biology BBC websites Other support links Images Institutions
Scientific Museums
Basic Biological topics
(Microscopy,
Microbiology,
Ecology,
Genetics,
Organ transplants,
Fungi,
Lichens,
Earthworms,
Malaria,
On-line University courses)
Biological diversions
(
gory stuff, cerebral stuff, inspirational stuff) ^Top
