Written by and ,
Illinois Central College
The Theory of Plate Tectonics Version 2.2 is a dynamic exploration of how Earth's lithospheric plates change through time. Version 2.2, fully narrated, embarks on a new way to study this exciting theory. All artwork enhances the understanding of the topics covered including many animations, which are easily manipulated by the user. Included is an illustrated glossary with audio pronunciations. An index makes it easy to jump to selected frames covering a specific geologic term. Navigation throughout the program is easier with fast forward, fast reverse, jump to a numbered frame, glossary, and index buttons available on every frame. Review activities are scored and may be printed for easy teacher assessment. Version 2.2 now appears in a window on the desktop. The window can be moved and resized. This CD-ROM includes two levels: Intermediate and Advanced (Grade 7 - 12 and college). See the demo to compare the two levels. Student Worksheets available online! Call 1-800-293-2725 for information on version upgrades.
- Introduction
- Continental Drift: An Idea Before Its Time
- Fit of the Continents
- Fossil Evidence
- Evidence from Rocks
- Climatic Evidence
- The Great Debate
- Exploring Continental Drift
- Applying the Evidence
- A Closer Look
- Earth's Interior
- New Evidence: Mapping the Ocean Floor
- Plate Tectonics: A Scientific Revolution Unfolds
- Divergent Plate Boundaries
- Convergent Plate Boundaries
- Transform Fault Boundaries
- A Closer Look at Plate Boundaries
- Testing the Plate Tectonics Model
- Evidence from Ocean Drilling
- Earthquake Patterns
- Hot Spots and Mantle Plumes
- What Drives Plate Motions?
- Pangaea: Before and After
- Introduction
- Continental Drift: An Idea Before Its Time
- Fit of the Continents
- Fossil Evidence
- Evidence from Rocks
- Paleoclimatic Evidence
- The Great Debate
- A Scientific Revolution Begins
- Continental Drift and Paleomagnetism
- Seafloor Spreading
- Plate Tectonics: The New Paradigm
- Divergent Plate Boundaries
- Oceanic Ridges and Seafloor Spreading
- Continental Rifts
- Convergent Plate Boundaries
- Oceanic-Continental Convergence
- Oceanic-Oceanic Convergence
- Continental-Continental Convergence
- Transform Fault Boundaries
- Testing the Plate Tectonics Model
- Evidence from Ocean Drilling
- Earthquake Patterns
- Hot Spots and Mantle Plumes
- Magnetic Reversals and Seafloor Spreading
- What Drives Plate Motions?
- Pangaea: Before and After
- Formation and Breakup of Pangaea
- Plate Tectonics into the Future
- Move and rotate a globe to observe the movement of continents over the past 200 million years.
- Study the history, development, and evidence for the theory of plate tectonics.
- Move and rotate the continents of Africa and South America to see how they fit together.
- Move the continents to study the changes in climate through time.
- Build the supercontinent of Pangaea.
- Study the movement of the continents through time and answer questions about specific events that occurred in different locations on the globe.
- Study the evidence of paleomagnetism by tracking the positions of the magnetic and rotational poles.
- Calculate water depth using echo travel time, then plot data on a graph to construct a profile of the ocean floor.
- Find out what causes seafloor spreading.
- Assemble the plate tectonics "puzzle."
- Experience the major interactions along plate boundaries and study the differences between convergent, divergent, and transform fault boundaries.
- Rotate the globe to view the oceanic ridge system and see oceanic lithosphere being created.
- Study continental rifts and explore current examples of the initial breakup of a continent.
- Examine how extensional forces in the Basin and Range region of the U.S. created fault block mountains.
See how The Theory of Plate Tectonics aligns with NSES standards
Try our Online Theory of Plate Tectonics - Version 2.2 Activity!
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A Double Winner of
the 2003 EDDIE Awards
ComputED
Learning Center
| System Requirements | |
| Macintosh® | PowerPC™ G5 or Intel® Core™ Duo 1.33GHz or faster; RAM: 1 GB; Mac OS® X 10.4.11 or later. |
| Windows® | Intel® Pentium® 4 or faster processor (or equivalent); RAM: 1 GB; Windows® XP, Windows Vista®, or Windows® 7. |