November 15, 2011 (Vol. 31, No. 20)
URL:
http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place
Rating:
Strong Points: Includes quizzes and activities
Weak Points: No printable comprehensive sheets—must step through lessons
Summary:
Sadly, although a great deal of information is floating around out there, a substantial amount of it is not freely accessible. Most scientific journals, for instance, charge for their articles. Likewise, online companion resources to textbooks require a purchase code—or do they? Allow me to introduce you to The Biology Place Classic Edition, a free educational supplement to biology courses from Pearson Education. The site is divided into three sections: BioCoach, LabBench, and Glossary. BioCoach is composed of 18 modules covering basic biological concepts such as cell respiration and Mendelian inheritance. LabBench walks visitors through 12 laboratory exercises that include the planning and analysis of experiments, and it has a glossary that contains definitions for over 1,000 biological terms. Educators and students alike will benefit from this site. Yes, knowledge is always nice, but it’s even nicer when it’s free.
