Here are some reviews of the RAL CD from other journals.
It takes students on a virtual tour of a top research facility at CCLRC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire, that handles particle acceleration. For a free copy, email: [email protected]
Guardian Education Supplement 6th January, 2003 p.2
November 2003
Scientists and teachers launch a free resource for A-level physics
Teachers from around the country have been working alongside scientists to develop Living in a Materials World - a CD-ROM that is tailor-made to meet the requirements of A-level physics courses. At a time when school budgets are under increasing pressure, the professionally produced resource is available free of charge, thanks to funding from the EPSRC (the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)
The scientists come from ISIS, a large experimental facility at CCLRC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire, which is used to study materials at a molecular scale. It has an international reputation for cutting-edge research in physics, earth science, chemistry, materials science, engineering, biology and archaeology.
This project offers a unique opportunity for students who live too far away to visit the Laboratory. The virtual tour means they can look around the particle accelerators and find out how they work, watch video interviews with some of the people who work there, and find out about the latest research. Every section of the CD-ROM has been designed with the A-level course specifications in mind.
The interactive CD-ROM is packed with detailed information, stunning images and animations and includes a glossary, a historical overview of the development of particle physics technology, web links and other sources of information, questions, a curriculum audit and model answers contained in a separate teacher's section.
ASE Education in Science November 2003 No. 205 Notes and News p.30
November, 2003 Living in a materials world
This CD is from the ISIS facility at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and its goal is to provide information about atomic nuclei, particle accelerators, materials and the ISIS research facility. It's aimed at A-level (16+) students and I'd say it was right on target. I've seen a lot of CDs in doing these reviews and things do seem to be starting to change for the better. Most CDs used to fail to make the most of the multimedia at their disposal; now that seems to be changing. The way that the information is presented here is very good slick graphics, catchy music, flashy videos and animations; you can't help but want to look at the screen. While there aren't any interactive applets or anything similar this CD doesn't really set out to be like that. This comes across as more of an electronic textbook and it does the job brilliantly. The text is broken down into small manageable and easily readable chunks and most of the pages of text have a selection of images, video or animations to look at. There is a glossary and the words that appear in it are hyperlinked to the glossary where they appear in the text. While I would imagine students sitting down to work their way through this CD many of the images can be magnified to full screen size, ideal for using with a data projector. All of the images and movies are easily found by �exploring' the CD rather than �opening' it, should you want to project them.
OK, so it�s an excellent e-textbook as regards presentation, but most textbooks have questions don't they? Well so does this one. You can look at the questions while using the CD or you can print them off as Word documents which means you can edit questions, and for classroom activities the copyright for photocopying is waived. But what about answers? I hate setting A-level questions for homework as it usually takes me longer to work out the answers than my students; fear not, the answer are here too. Not only are they here but also they're in a teacher's area that is password-protected. The teacher's area includes print-outs of the answers and the text from each section, a list of curriculum links and contact details and an extensive list of resources. The subject areas covered that teachers would be interested in include diffraction, spectroscopy, carbon-60 superconductors and stress in materials. I'd definitely recommend getting your hands on this CD. Finally, did I mention it's FREE?!
Living in a Materials World
ISIS
Rating: excellent 5/5
Price: Free
Physics Education Reviews November 2003 p.544
3rd October, 2003
Science CD-ROM
The world of muons and magnetic multilayers is not one where every A-level science student feels at home. Living in a Materials World is a very well-designed CD-Rom that slots these concepts and many others - like superconductors and particle accelerators - into the lives of real working scientists and technicians. Using a mixture of animation, information and interviews, it takes visitors on a virtual tour of ISIS, a cutting-edge experimental facility where materials are studied at a molecular level. There are challenging questions along the way - and model answers in a teacher's section.
Tom Deveson
Times Educational Supplement Teacher p13 Free Resources
Teachers from around the country have been working alongside scientists to develop Living in a Materials World - a CD-ROM that is tailor-made to meet the requirements of A level Physics courses. And at a time when school budgets are under increasing pressure, the professionally produced resource is available free of charge, thanks to funding from EPSRC (the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council).
The scientists come from ISIS, a large experimental facility at CCLRC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire, which is used to study materials at a molecular scale. It has an international reputation for cutting-edge research in physics, earth science, chemistry, materials science, engineering, biology and archaeology.
Dr Christopher Frost from CCLRC says, �This project offers a fantastic opportunity for students who live too far away to come and visit us. The virtual tour means they can look around the particle accelerators and find out how they work, watch video interviews with some of the people who work here, and find out about our latest research. It's a bonus for teachers because every section of the CD-ROM has been designed with all the A level course specifications in mind.
The interactive CD-ROM is packed with detailed information, stunning images and animations and includes a glossary, a historical overview of the development of particle physics technology, web links and other sources of further information, questions, a curriculum audit and model answers contained in a separate Teacher�s section.
Bernard Taylor, winner of the Institute of Physics �Teacher of Physics � Award 2002,) says, "Living in a Materials World offers students and teachers a fascinating insight into cutting-edge research using the ISIS pulsed neutron source at the CCLRC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. It provides a very useful resource with lots of interesting curriculum links. Every school should have one!�
CCLRC News Release 12th September, 2003