Even though the Physics First initiative did not encompass changes to the biology curriculum, the introduction of Internet-based activities — and the necessary hardware to bring them to the classroom — has had an impact on all three years of science in the pilot schools; physics, chemistry and biology.

The initial investment of $592,000 for the first two years — $167,000 from the National Governor’s Association and the remainder from the state budget — helped Rhode Island attract a separate $1.2-million award from the National Science Foundation for the high-tech enhancement, RI-ITEST (Rhode Island Information Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers.)

The software, called “the molecular workbench,” is free, available to anyone with access to the Internet, at http://mw.concord.org/modeler/

This high-tech engine activates an online curriculum called “The Science of Atoms and Molecules,” developed by the Concord Consortium, a federally funded educational think tank based in Concord, Mass.

In Rhode Island, the $1.2-million NSF grant has provided training to science teachers in the Physics First schools in how to effectively use thematically intertwined computer modeling activities from “The Science of Atoms and Molecules” to support a re-ordered sequence of high school science courses.

In addition to the NSF training grant, the state used about $100,000 from a higher education technology fund to guarantee students classroom access to the software, through the purchase of dozens of laptop computers which charge on rolling carts, according to a state spokesman for Physics First.

gmacris@projo.com