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(l-r) Stefan Smith, John Jax, Tim Gerber, and Karen Lange, developers of the Hagar Center STEM site, holding some of the Best Science Books of 2007.

The Alice Hagar Curriculum Resource Center at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse is an old-fashioned library. But its books are supported by a fine collection of digital resources in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Elementary and middle school teachers from the area are invited to browse a large collection of high-quality STEM textbooks at the Hagar Center during Teacher Resource Day, then use the online resources to make their lessons stronger.

Even if you can’t get to the west coast of Wisconsin, the Hagar Center’s website is still worth a visit. Tim Gerber, a biology professor at UW-LAX, and Stefan Smith, webmaster, launched the site last October. Each book is in Science Books & Films’ Best List or the National Science Teachers Organization’s list of Outstanding Trade Books. The resources are organized by topic, using the Resources For Science Literacy in Project 2061, the influential standards template created by the American Academy for the advancement of Science (AAAS). The books and associated online resources help PK-12 pre-service and in-service teachers develop high-quality lesson plans.

Gerber added Wisconsin and Minnesota STEM standards to the site, and the online resources mix national sites with those that focus on Wisconsin and Minnesota. He and a colleague build STEM professional development programs for teachers in local districts near the campus. “The website gives me a way to stay connected to the districts and our teacher education program, even though I can’t be in their classrooms,”� says Gerber.� As a scientist, I can build this website and they can use it for their curricular needs.