Web Resources
“Animation can explain whatever the mind of man can conceive. This facility makes it the most versatile and explicit means of communication yet devised for quick mass appreciation.”
– Walt Disney
When we say something is animated, we are conveying that that person or thing is full of life and movement. With that in mind, what could make learning and teaching resources more interesting than using the power of animation to add a little life and movement? The advent of new, user-friendly technologies have made animation available to anyone with the time and the story to tell. Animations can help us visualize what is intangible and witness processes that we might otherwise never see.
North Harris College’s Biology Department has assembled a web page with links to Science Animations, Movies & Interactive Tutorial Links. These mini-movies have impact, especially if you’re trying to understand the finer points of a particular process. The animations are categorized into the following categories: Microbiology, Plants, Animals, Ecology, Geology, Astronomy and Physics. While you’re there, check out the “Einstein Light” animation under the Physics category, just to see if it makes the theory of relativity (E=MC2) any clearer for you. I personally watched it several times and I’m more confused than ever! But it was really interesting, nonetheless…
Another great place to track down free instructional animations is at the Intute web site. Intute is an online service providing access to web resources for education and research. All their material is evaluated and selected by a network of subject specialists. To locate the animations, simply enter “interactive animations” in the search box. You can also search for thousands of resources in the areas of Science and Technology, Arts & Humanities, Social Sciences and Health and Life Sciences.
Library Resources
We’re always happy when people take the time to read our BRAINblog, and now that you’re here, why don’t you stay a while longer? If you look in the box on the right-hand side of the screen, and scroll down to under the archived posts, you’ll see the neat tutorials we’ve put together for our readers. Learn about RSS, blogging basics, social bookmarking, internet tools, how to find the Hamilton Spectator in our databases and how to set up journal alerts in both EBSCOhost and ProQuest.
Our scholarly library presentations are right under the tutorials. Take a journey into Google Scholar, social software applications and blogging basics. The (magical mystery) information discovery tour is a must for anybody who’s new to the world of post-secondary research.
And while we’re shamelssly promoting the exciting, multi-media resources that are available through the Library @ Mohawk, let’s tell you about our latest BRAINcast! Yes, even your favourite library is getting in on all the podcast action. This week’s tutorial: Choose your Sources! Join us as we chat about the best sources to use for your particular assignment or class. Download us to your ipod, or simply listen via the web.
Thanks for visiting, and see you next time!
