Jefferson Lab’s Science Ed web site sets new high-use record as students prep for SOLs
Jefferson Lab’s Science Education hit a new high-use record in mid-April of nearly 212,000 pages accessed during one day. Then for the first time, on May 6, the number of pages accessed on the web site topped 500,000
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Since hitting a new high-use record in mid-April of nearly 212,000 pages accessed during one day on Jefferson Lab's Science Education web site, use of the site has steadily increased.
During early May, with several regional schools on the verge of starting Standards of Learning (SOL) testing, usage numbers made a dramatic jump, topping 400,000 pages accessed on several days. Then for the first time, on May 6, the number of pages accessed on the web site topped 500,000, with a total of 573,409 pages viewed.
"It has been exciting to see the level of use our web site has gotten recently," said Steve Gagnon, JLab Science Education technician and education web master. "Most of the pages accessed were from our Virginia Standards of Learning Science, Math and Technology Practice Tests and our 'Who Wants to Win $1,000,000 Math and Science Quiz.'" (Contestants don't play for real money.)
During the May 6, 500,000-plus day, nearly 392,000 of the pages accessed were from the 2000, 2001, and 2002 Standards of Learning test questions featured on JLab's Science Education web site. Another 110,000 pages were accessed from the entertaining and educational "Who Wants to Win $1,000,000 Math and Science Quiz."
"Use of our web site cycles throughout the day," Gagnon commented. "We've been seeing heavy usage during the school day. Recently teachers must have started assigning our web site as homework because the evening numbers started going through the roof. Fridays and Saturdays will be relatively quiet, but activity on the web site kicks into gear on Sunday evenings."
The SOL tests on the web site include 3rd grade math and science questions, 5th grade math, science and technology questions, and 8th grade math, science, technology, algebra I & II, geometry, earth science and chemistry questions. "The SOL practice tests are a great resource for students, teachers, parents -- or anyone interested in the information," Gagnon added. "The web site is set up so a person can request 10, 15, or 20 multiple-choice questions from a single category."
The interactive design of the site lets users select and submit their answer. They are told if their response is right or wrong. If correct, the answer page repeats the question/problem and the correct answer. If a question is answered incorrectly, the answer page provides the question with the correct answer.
Over the summer, Gagnon is planning improvements to the web site. The SOL questions are currently dispersed randomly. At the request of teachers who use the site as an educational and SOL prep tool, he plans to provide a way for a teacher with multiple students all sitting at computers to each receive the same set of questions.
The Jefferson Lab Science Education web site is at http://education.jlab.org/. To access the SOL practice tests or to play the $1,000,000 math and science quiz, click on the Games & Puzzles icon.
Knowledge and use of the site is growing steadily. Last spring the web site broke 100,000 pages accessed in one day; last week it topped 400,000. And now the web site has broken half a million pages viewed in 24-hours.