Science NetLinks was recently awarded 3 Interactive Media Awards for its newly redesigned website. Science NetLinks won the Best in Class award in the education, nonprofit and science/technology categories.

For most of 2011 the Science NetLinks team worked with the design firm, Blenderbox, to evalute all Science NetLinks content and brainstorm possibilities for effectively showcasing its resources on the redesigned website. It was important to Science NetLinks for users to find resources easily and to show users content that they probably didn't know existed. After many, many discussions and meetings, Blenderbox, had the information they needed to create some incredibly dynamic and smart designs. The new site was launched at the end of October 2011 and in early 2012, the site got noticed.

As stated in an article published by AAAS, "Anna Lawrence, spokesperson for the Interactive Media Awards, explained that Science NetLinks was entered in the competition under the science/technology category. 'The judges were so impressed that they gave it an award under the nonprofit and education categories as well,' she said. 'To win three awards for one entry is very rare and is just a testament to the quality and professionalism of this work.'"

The Science NetLinks team is very proud of the work they accomplished during the redesign and of design and navigation that Blenderbox developed.  Be sure to check out the new site and take a look at the blog post, Take Us for a Test Drive, to learn about some of the new features.

For more science posts and discussions, visit and join the All About Science group.

No, not Harry! Today marks the 145st birthday of Helen Beatrix Potter! born July 28, 1866.

This timeless English author, illustrator, and conservationist is best known for her beautifully rendered children's books especially the incoriggible Peter Rabbit character many of us grew up being read aloud from his escapades

The Tale of Peter Rabbit came to life as a picture letter to comfort a little 5 yr old boy the author/illustrator knew who had been homebound by a long illness. Potter printed 250 copies of the story in a private press in 1901 in time for Christmas that year.  They sold out like hotcakes at a shilling each, forcing the author to print another 200 copies.  The following year it was formally published with 8000 copies - it became one of the best selling books of all time - The Tale of Peter Rabbit has never been out of print since!

Learn more about this author's life & art at EDSITEment reviewed Victorian Web

Students will be interested in discovering how a Victorian childhood compares to the experience of being a kid nowadays?  Take them through EDSITEment Lesson: Beatrix Potter's Naughty Animal Tales.

Activity 2. Part One explores Beatrix's childhood and sugggests her family relationships and connections to her pets as an inspiration for her later work; Part Two engages students to produce their own watercolors as illustrations for their own animal stories.

The new National Geographic Education site has launched!

While the former Xpeditions site will remain live for the next few months, in case you need to revisit it, National Geographic is very excited to share its new, media-rich design, based on research and educator input.

Check out some of the new features, including:

- A customized audience view that guides you to resources relevant for kids, students, teachers, or families and informal educators.

- A blend of Science-based  geography content and Social Studies-based content (e.g., A Window into  the White House)

- Media that includes activities, video, handouts, websites, and discussion questions

- Exceptional new interactive mapping tools that allow kids to engage with web-based mapping, layer data (ex. earthquakes and plate tectonics), and outline map tools that allow students to draw on them, email, print, share

- Articles, Encyclopedia Entries, Glossary (including QuickFinds), Current Event Connection, and more

Over the next few months Science NetLinks will undergo an extensive redesign so that teachers, students, and families can find resources much easier. During this process, Science NetLinks will also get an updated look and introduce new features! We are all very excited and would love for you to be a part of the process.

Thank you,

EconEdLink, one of the Thinkfinity content partners providing premier free resources for K-12 educators, parents, and students, has just launched a beautiful new site redesign. Check it out!

EconEdLink is the leading source of online economic and personal finance lessons and resources for educators, students, and afterschool providers. Visit the site to visit our specialized educator, student, and afterschool areas and take advantage of free K-12 lessons, videos, data links and economic resources!

Christine

Community Manager

One of the best things about the community is that we have the opportunity to hear from YOU—educators, parents, administrators, and students. We want to hear about your opinions, ideas, and needs so that we can produce the best educational materials for you.

The Thinkfinity content partners are active members of the community and join in discussions to help members find the right resources and to ask and answer questions. From time to time we will feature content partners' discussions about resources in development—add your voice to see your ideas take shape!

Christine

Community Manager

Ongoing Discussions

The Smithsonian: Developing Tools to Teach About 9/11

What tools do you need to teach about 9/11? The Smithsonian wants to know.