“Science News for Kids” to Become “Science News for Students”
Since 2003, 听has become one of the most popular and authoritative online resources for students, parents, and educators interested in reading about new and emerging developments in science and engineering. Free of charge, it offers the same breadth of coverage that readers of听听have come to expect. The big difference: SNK鈥檚 writers use terms and a writing style designed for readers with a more limited vocabulary.
As part of SSP鈥檚 move to a new website this fall,听Science News for听Kids听will be renamed听Science News for Students. This new name addresses our increasing focus on providing more resources aimed at curricula in today鈥檚 classrooms. But its cool and pithy approach to reporting on cutting edge research will remain the same.
鈥淭eachers have also noted that they have been bringing听Science News听for Kids听to a far broader audience than just the middle-school students we have been targeting,鈥� notes Janet Raloff, the magazine鈥檚 editor. 鈥淢any high school students also read and use our stories on a regular basis, we鈥檙e finding. And some community college science educators say many of our stories dovetail with their students鈥� needs. In this recognition that not just tweens find our content inviting and useful, we thought adopting a more inclusive name was warranted.鈥�
In addition to the name change, the website will continue to bulk up its 鈥溾�� section. That department has recently begun offering articles aimed at the needs of educators (such as how to use current events in the classroom and how to perform in-school research on a budget). It also now tags news and feature stories by curriculum unit. The latter should make it easier for teachers to find news stories that pair well with topics being covered in the classroom. Our recent successful Kickstarter campaign, which raised $8,761 from 148 donors, will allow us to finish categorizing archived stories this summer. By September, teachers will be able to find the expanded list of linked stories via the site鈥檚 鈥溾�� page. And coming soon, this site will alert educators to the reading levels of individual stories so that they can identify which news and feature stories best suit their students鈥� needs.
鈥淲e are making these changes in response to suggestions from teachers,鈥� notes Raloff. 鈥淲hile students are our target demographic, teachers often introduce students to our site. In recognition of their pivotal role, we鈥檝e begun developing material expressly for them.鈥�
Finally, the site will upgrade its 鈥溾�� section.听Science News for Students听will continue to provide the quality experience that readers of听Science News for Kids听have come to expect by featuring engaging, well-written and well-researched stories that not only inform but also entertain.
This fall, SSP will also be introducing a new blog focusing on excellence in student scientific research. The blog, whose name is still being determined, will focus on students from the United States and abroad who carry out the most interesting and ground-breaking science projects and research. Aimed at inspiring, rather than intimidating, budding science students of middle and high school age, the blog will showcase students鈥� scientific excellence and convey best practices, advice, and tips on how to conceive and carry out high-quality, inquiry-based science projects.
