Guiding Principles of WISE

WISE is based on more than 20 years of research on the use of computers in science curriculum. Our guiding principles are:

Activities & materials that help students develop deep understanding of science
WISE promotes lifelong learning skills including critiquing, comparison, and design. Internet materials and learning environment technology help students reflect on relevant topics to build their own understanding.

Effective use of technology
WISE is more than just "Instructional Technology" (like spreadsheets or keyboarding). WISE uses simulations, visualizations, and Internet materials to promote inquiry about science.

Helping teachers succeed with new technologies and approaches
The WISE web site includes the Teacher's PET (Portal and Educator's Toolbox), an extensive suite of Web tools that helps teachers use WISE in their classrooms. WISE also has training workshops and on-line support.

What Teachers Say

"I'm very strongly into having technology as a tool to make [material] more interesting. The books tend to be so out-of-date very quickly, so that for the new and upcoming stuff, it's wrong when they print it ... Then you can go on the Internet, and say, 'Okay, the book says this, and at that point of time that's what they were thinking, but now...'"