Projects: Beyond Penquins and Polar Bears

Using NCore OnRamp, a content management and communications system, and Expert Voices twenty thematic issues of Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears, an online magazine for K5 teachers that reflects polar science topics commonly found in the elementary curriculum, is currently in production. Content includes standards-based science and content-rich literacy learning across five departments (In the Field: Scientists at Work, Professional Learning, Science and Literacy, Across the Curriculum, Polar News and Notes and Podcasts).

Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears is funded by the National Science Foundation Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL) and is a collaboration among the NSDL Middle School Portal developed by The Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology, the Ohio Resource Center for Mathematics, Science, and Reading, the Byrd Polar Research Center, The Columbus Center for Science and Industry, the Upper Arlington Public Library and the National Science Digital Library (NSDL). The Evaluation and Assessment Center at Miami University in Oxford, OH is conducting ongoing project evaluation including teacher focus groups and usability testing.