Integrating Websites into the Classroom

Ocean Portal: You Navigate

This site provides information all about the oceans. It is most appropriate for middle school or high school level students. Viewers can read blog posts about different life and activites taking place in the ocean, it informs student about current events affecting the oceans through blog posts, podcasts, and links to news articles, it also does a great job of getting students involved in the care of our oceans by informing them of the negative impacts people are having on ocean life, and what they can do to help preserve our oceans. The site is attractive, easy to navigate and well organized, all the posts are categorized under Ocean life and Ecosystems, Photo Essays, The Ocean Over Times, The Ocean and You, or For Educators, so that it is easy for the user to find eaxctly what they're looking for. Ocean Portal has many different ways for users to view information; podcasts, pictures, photo essays, blogs, and news articles, so that there is a media that appeals to each type of learner that views the site. One cool feature is the TOPP, Tagging of Pacific Predators, where students can view a map of the pacific ocean, that shows where real Great White Sharks are moving throughout the Pacific Ocean. Guiding users through the TOPP is an interactive Great White Shark widget named Oomoo.

This site could be used in the classroom by educating students about the negative effects people are having on the oceans, students could collaoratively work together to do something as a class that helps preserve the oceans. The site gives many ideas for wht students could do such as, recylcing, energy conservation, and making sure tires are fully inflated before you drive. Students could also brainstorm to come up with their own ocean preservation ideas. It could also be used as a research tool for students who are writing research papers, giving oral presentations, or making projects about ocean science.

Ocean Portal can be used outside the classroom to change the way that students use enrergy and resources at home now that they are conscious of the impact their actions have on the oceans. Print Page in IE