Now that you’ve picked your keyword/topic, you will see a list of websites that the SciLinks system has retrieved.

The Retrieve Page offers you many option

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The first option, and main reason you are here, is to retrieve internet resources. Read the description and page titles of the websites. Once you find one you like, click on the go button. The webpage will open up in a new window.

Users can resize the new window, which contains a smaller set of browser controls. We advise users to close this browser window when they are finished with the outside web page to conserve their computer’s resources.

[You may ask: “Why open a new window?” By opening a new browser window (technically called a new “instance” of the browser), we maintain the user’s SciLinks session, so that the user can continue to select other websites, or even enter another SciLinks number (by clicking on the Entrance button on the navigation bar). This approach also makes it less likely that a user will get lost, or accidentally lose the connection to SciLinks.]

Another option you have is to filter the websites. For instance, you might choose to see only those resources that involve interactivity (i.e., interaction with the computer through Java applets), or those that involve hands-on investigations (away from the computer), and so on. You make a selection using the following:

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To remove a filter, click it on again from the top of the list

Another option you have is view how this particular website is correlated to the National Science Education Standards. Each website, when selected for use by Scilinks, must be correlated to the NSES.

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As you can see, there are two standards shown in the example above. The first, is an actual NSES. The second, marked with an "*" is written by the Scilink Education team in the spirit of the standards. This allows us to achieve a more exact match for websites that is not allowed with the broader topics of the NSES.

Continue to see some of the other options available to Teachers.

And with that technical flourish, your SciLinks tour is over—unless you want to look into registration. If you say it seems “too easy” or “too quick,” we won’t take offense. The teacher-approved web pages and resources, scattered all around the Internet, are the ultimate destination in SciLinks. We have worked hard to make it as easy as possible for you to get to them, whether you’re a technophobic teacher or a click-happy preteen.