If you have looked at the Recent Pages section (scroll down the page), you have probably notices lots of pages with strange names, such as SC.5.N.1.3. What in the world are they?

Those strange codes refer to specific benchmarks in Florida's Sunshine State Standards in Science. I am creating pages to align my videos, experiments, and other resources directly to those benchmarks. This is one of several test projects that I am playing with, trying to find the best way to help teachers locate resources and help students understand and enjoy science. I hope that by keying the videos, experiments, and other resources to specific science standards, it will be quick and easy for them to find exactly the information they need to match their curriculum.

I selected Florida for the test because with nine District subscriptions, a large number of school subscriptions, and hundreds of individual subscribers, 70% of my total subscriber base is in Florida. Also, Florida 5th and 8th grade students have the Science FCAT test coming soon. If you are not in Florida, don't get too upset. You are getting something out of the test as well. As I assemble the pages, I am copying the new content into the Study Units and video pages. For example, if you compare the SC.5.N.1.3 page with the Repetition and Replication page, you will see the similarity.

This is bringing me back full circle to the point where I got into video, the Processes That Shape the Earth DVD that my friend Omar Amaro and I produced to support Florida's fifth grade Earth Science curriculum. Over the next few weeks, I will be cranking out new pages, producing a LOT of new videos, and doing lots of tweaking and polishing, trying to find format that works best for as many of you as I can.

Once I get a good handle on Florida, I will start on the next state, based again on the number of subscribers. At this point, California has the second most users, but Texas is not far behind. As an interesting twist, England is currently tied with Texas, so I need to start looking at British science standards too. It has been far too long since my last visit to Faraday's lab and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Sure would be a nice road trip!