Although the Bridge has many great resources, we're always looking for more sites to fill in the gaps. If you would like to create an educational webpage on your research, try these suggestions.
Surf the Bridge - Get a feel for what can be done with educational websites, what's already available online, and where the gaps are in terms of material and/or targeted grade levels.
Survey K-12 Textbooks - Note which topics are taught at each grade level and look at examples of student activities and discussion questions. To find science textbooks (teacher's editions are best) try calling a local principal, your state's Department of Education, or visit a local university library.
Consider Standards - Most states have science education standards that determine what is taught in public schools and at what grade levels it will be covered. Information about your state's standards should be available from your state's Department of Education. Most state standards are coordinated with or similar to the National Science Education Standards. The Bridge has a brief summary of these standards, or click here for the complete set from the National Academy Press.
Online Data
Educators frequently ask the Bridge for real data to use in the classroom. They want to relate the concepts and theories they're teaching to real life situations. If your website is going to include data, be sure to include an explanation of the data collected (including units of measure) and instructions on how to interpret the data.
Tips on Designing a Site
Below are some specific tips to help you create an educationally useful website. To get a general idea of what teachers look for, check our Reviewer's Guidelines page and some example websites.
Keep it simple and direct. Explain everything in layperson language and keep the information at a level appropriate for the intended grade level.
Guide teachers step by step, and include examples whenever possible.
Relate your information to real life, and explain why it is important.
Include a glossary of terms.
For any suggested laboratory activies, required materials should be inexpensive, readily available, and safe for classroom use.
For data pages intended for elementary or middle school, limit research presented to one independent variable and one dependent variable at a time.
A Link from the Bridge
Once your site is up and running, send the website address to Lisa Ayers Lawrence (ayers@vims.edu) to get a link from the Bridge. All websites will be reviewed according to the criteria found on our Reviewer's Guideline page.
The Bridge is supported by the National Sea Grant Office, the National Oceanographic Partnership Program, and the National Marine Educators Association.