DNAi is an interactive website all about DNA and DNA technologies. It includes modules such as the historical timelines for the discoveries in DNA science, how the genetic code was discovered, how scientists manipulate DNA and organisms, as well as applications of DNA technology. The modules include audio, video, interviews, and animations. The modules aren't as interactive as I would hope...there is not a lot of input needed from the student, just moving from page to page, but they are still very informative and would be a great addition to lecture notes. Students can get a good visual representation of some concepts that are very abstract.
Along with the modules, teachers can also register for free and receive access to lesson plans, teacher guides, and can also construct a personal webpage for a class (you have to be a teacher at a school, and alas, I am not :-( ). But whenever I get that job this will be one place that I will be sure to visit again!
The web address is: www.dnai.org
Enjoy!
Libby,
ReplyDeleteAs a biologist at heart, I love this idea!! Since DNA is so abstract (how do two strands really wrap around into a helix and exactly line up base pairs?), this visual tool would be great to share information with students. Since science is not covered heavily in school on a regular basis, any tool to help drive the points home more effectively are fantastic. As an unemployed teacher too, this is certainly a tool I will check out for my future classroom. Thanks for sharing!
I really like this website too:) It was one that I always use in some way or another when studying DNA. However, I agree that I wish it were more interactive. Also, there is so much information and so many places to click and pages to move between that it can be overwhelming but overall I think it is a pretty cool site. I love that it has so much interesting information beyond the typical textbook stuff. As you mentioned quite a bit on history and discovery as well as many applications and even eugenics. Pretty cool:)
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