June 15, 2008 (Vol. 28, No. 12)
URL:
http://www.amonline.net.au
Rating:
Strong Points: Research and Collections segment
Weak Points: Rest of site not as solid
Summary:
At first, I was hesitant to include this site. Museum sites are usually aimed at general audiences and, while the content is often interesting, it typically doesn’t have a strong scientific perspective. As I was about to pencil in a different site for the month, I clicked on the section entitled “Research and Collections.” What I found there was a pleasant surprise and would be suitable for use in a college biology class. Within that subsection are information collections, including Invertebrates, Vertebrates, Anthropology, Earth Sciences, and more. In addition, there are (strangely) separate sections that overlap with the collections. For example, in Vertebrates, one can find “Fishes” and then there is a separate section on the same page for “Fish.” Both appear to point to the same information. With the exception of that rather minor set of annoyances, the Research and Collections segment is strong, with numerous pictures and a considerable amount of educational information. I’m glad I didn’t throw this one in the dump.
