Merlin ScienceAnswers to Frequently Asked QuestionsThis webpage should answer most questions but, if you need more information, feel free to email Dr Jamie Love. | 
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- Can I get a sample of the course (for free)?
- Who is the author/teacher and what are his credentials?
- I have questions about the exams.
- Exactly what do I get when I buy Principles of "Something"?
- Do I need to buy anything else besides the hypertextbook?
- What is not included in the course?
- What's Merlin Science and can I get credit?
- What about copyrights?
- How do I get a copy of the entire course(s), Principles of "Something"?
How about a free sample?
Sure! Each sample includes about a quarter of the course and is a good introduction to the science, technology and teaching method. To get a sample, all you need to do is ask.
Sample Principles of Alchemy (Chemistry)
Sample Principles of Astronomy
Sample Principles of Genetics
If you want the download instructions sent to an address other than the one you are sending from now, please write the address in the body of the message.
Your email address will not be sold, shared, distributed, etc. It is needed to send you instructions telling you how to pick up the sample.
If you use spam filtering software, please adjust your "friend list" to allow email from merlin@synapses.co.uk.
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Who is the author/teacher and what are his credentials?
Dr Jamie Love 
is the "Merlin" behind Merlin Science. Over the years Jamie has taught a wide variety of science subjects (from astronomy to zoology) to a wide variety of students (from thirteen-year-olds to thirty-somethings).
In 1990 Jamie earned his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Louisiana State University Medical Center (New Orleans). His thesis topic was "Avian Repetitive DNA" - analyzing the molecular evolution of a variety of birds with a focus on endangered species of cranes. He then moved to Scotland, a part of The United Kingdom. (The best part! 
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The UK is home to the oldest, biggest and most distinguished distance-learning university in the world - The Open University. Jamie spent several years studying its methods while working towards his diploma in Information Technology through The Open University. He also earned an MBA from Heriot-Watt University in 1996, taught entirely by distance learning. Jamie knows first hand the difficulties one encounters studying alone and what is needed to teach in a self-learning environment.
In 1997 he was hired by the Department of Biological Sciences at Napier University, Edinburgh to edit and coordinate its distance learning programs on the Internet and via books. While working at Napier, Dr Love also taught Genetics and worked towards his Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching & Learning in Higher Education which was awarded in 2000. To fulfill part of that program's requirements, he produced "A Web-based Self-study Program Teaching Evolution".
Dr Love started Merlin Science in 1996 - teaching chemistry over the Internet. At first, Merlin Science tried to be a completely online "campus" but it became clear that students were wasting a lot of time online. Chatrooms and other forms of "synchronous communications" do not provide an opportunity for serious inspection of new material. They tied up the phone and often required additional software.
Jamie decided the best way to teach was to produce a "hypertextbook" - a series of webpages that could be read off the local hard drive using a web browser. Each hypertextbook is a self-paced, self-learning course specifically designed with the needs of distant learners in mind. The hypertextbooks were "beta tested" by hundreds of students and their feedback used to address problems, making the course a successful and enjoyable learning experience. (You might also be interested in reading how Merlin created his first course.)
Principles of Alchemy was his first self-paced, self-learning "hypertextbook". It was very well received and has become particularly popular among homeschoolers. Being an amateur astronomer, Jamie created an astronomy website that describes the night sky each month. Dr Love received many questions and comments from curious folks asking for more information. This rapidly developed into an entire course and became Merlin's second hypertextbook. Hobbyists and others have enjoyed Principles of Astronomy since it was first published in 1998. His PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology along with many years in researching and teaching Genetics, prove Jamie is well qualified to produce Principles of Genetics, his latest and most advanced course.
When he is relaxing, Jamie (aka Merlin) enjoys bird watching, camping, fossil collecting, and stargazing.
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All courses include computerized, self-evaluation exams. Each exam is composed of 20 questions answered by multiple choice. Jamie wrote the three wrong choices to represent common errors or misunderstandings that the student might have. That makes the choices harder but it also means a wrong answer, with the feedback provided, is a learning experience. The only drawback of this immediate feedback is that the student is then free to change the answer! However, that is not the point. Jamie does not write exams that are meant to merely generate a score - they are meant to help the student. (Exams without feedback are easy for teachers to grade but provide no learning for students.) Dr Love believes that learning continues into the exams.
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Here is an example of how the tests work. Note that these exams WILL NOT WORK if your JavaScript is OFF. Most people surf the web with JavaScript "on", that is, JavaScript "enabled". Only the most paranoid surfer refuses to run JavaScript. (JavaScript is NOT java or cookies.) Your browser's JavaScript must be enabled in order to give feedback and score the exams.
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After completing the exam, the student submits it and the computer generates a "virtual page" that shows the grade and scores each answer as "Right" or "Wrong". The student can jot down which ones were wrong and close the virtual page. The student is given plenty of opportunities to correct errors and submit a "perfect" test. (You can take the exam as many times as you like!)
Of course, the student is on the "honor system". The exams are meant to encourage the student to continue while providing some incentive to achieve a perfect score.
Each free sample comes with one or two exams to try.
Or you can try an on line exam by choosing one of these links.
Exam for Principles of Alchemy (Chemistry)
Exam for Principles of Astronomy Observations or Academic
Exam for Principles of Genetics
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Exactly what do I get when I buy Principles of "Something"?
You get a complete self-paced, self-learning course. This hypertextbook is a series of webpages stored on your hard disk. That means Principles is "platform independent" - it will run on any computer that has a web browser. It also means you don't have to be constantly hooked up to the Internet to learn!
Note that the online samples are only about a quarter of each course. By buying the hypertextbook you get it all and without the adverts.
The specifics of each course can be found at their home page(s).
Principles of Alchemy (Chemistry)
Principles of Astronomy
Principles of Genetics
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Do I need to buy anything else besides the hypertextbook?
No.
The hypertextbook is a stand-alone learning package. (Granted, the student may want to visit some suggested websites but even these ancillary projects are not required for the course.)
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What is not included in the course?
Dr Love does not offer tutoring services because the hypertextbook has been specifically designed to allow the student to learn on his/her own. The courses, in various stages, have undergone years of beta testing with students (face-to-face and online) and their feedback has been used to create courses that teach science independent of the teacher!
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Is Merlin Science an accredited program? Can I earn credit with this course?
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Nope.
Dr Love has investigated many distance-learning programs. Most are not able to offer credit because they deal ineffectively with testing. Accreditation and the honor system don't mix. To offer credit any (honest) school requires the students to take exams at a local testing center, driving up the cost and thus the price. |
| In view of this, Dr Love created Merlin Science as a non-accredited, virtual institution. Merlin Science provides low cost, high quality science education via the Internet. |
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What about copyrighted materials, site licenses and stuff like that?
These courses (hypertextbooks) are protected by international copyright laws. It is unlawful to copy all or any part(s) of them without the written permission of Dr Jamie Love. All rights reserved.
Homeschoolers (folks educating themselves or their children at home) have a site license for their hypertextbook. Therefore, any family member (and friends) may enjoy the book in the purchaser's home. You may place copies of the program on any and all computers in your home but you may NOT run it on other computers outside the home - and that includes the computers at school. Of course, you are allowed to carry the program with you on a laptop computer. Dr Love is "flexible" and understands that some students may have two homes, due to separated parents, and extends the license to include those circumstances.
The spirit of this license is that the hypertextbook can be enjoyed by the entire family but it is not meant to be distributed to others.
You are welcome to make a backup copy of your hypertextbook but you may not distribute it to others. Keep and enjoy the hypertextbook forever!
Traditional schools (non-home-schools) require a group license so email Dr Love for details.
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How to Get a copy of Principles of "Something"
Downloads of any hypertextbook cost $40. Or you can order a CD to be delivered to you for only $45 plus shipping.
Each course is order through its website.
Principles of Alchemy (Chemistry)
Principles of Astronomy
Principles of Genetics
PayPal or Google handle the transactions for the downloads while CafePress deals with orders by CD. It's safe and easy to order a hypertextbook using your credit card.
You will receive your receipt by email with a few minutes. Credit cards take some time to be verified and, due to differences in time zones, may take two days to complete especially on weekends, so your order might not get processed right away. 
Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back!
If you have any questions, feel free to email Dr Jamie Love.
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