Secondary Domain:
Physical Science and engineering
Physics and astronomy
Description:
PhET Interactive Simulations (https://phet.colorado.edu/), a project of the University of Colorado Boulder, provides fun, free, interactive, research-based science and mathematics simulations for use across, primary, secondary, and higher education levels. We extensively test and evaluate each simulation to ensure educational effectiveness. All simulations are open source and free to all students and teachers.
In this course, you will learn how to access and share PhET simulations with your students, and explore the features that make PhET sims a powerful tool for science and mathematics teachers. You will also learn about how to ensure equity in your teaching through the use of active learning.
This course is the first one of the specialization “Active Learning in STEM with PhET Interactive Simulations”, which includes 4 courses in total.
To finish this course, you need to complete one assignment with Peer Review: 1) Selecting PhET simulations.
This course is also available in Spanish as “Introducción a las Simulaciones PhET para la Educación STEM” and in Portuguese as "Introdução às Simulações PhET para Educação STEM".
Difficulty
Beginner
Estimated Workload
2 weeks, 7.5 hours/week
Recommended Background
This course is appropriate for pre-service and in-service elementary, secondary, and higher education science and math educators.
What will you learn:
● Learn what makes PhET simulations unique
● Find simulations that are relevant to your classes
● Reflect on how to increase educational equity through active learning.
PhET Interactive Simulations ( https://phet.colorado.edu/ ), a project of the University of Colorado Boulder, provides fun, free, interactive, research-based science and mathematics simulations for use across, primary, secondary, and higher education levels. We extensively test and evaluate each simulation to ensure educational effectiveness. All simulations are open source and free to all students and teachers.
In this course, you will learn strategies for how to use PhET in circumstances where you are presenting a simulation in front of the whole class using a projector, interactive whiteboard, or while sharing your screen online.
This course is the second in the specialization “Active Learning in STEM with PhET Interactive Simulations,” which includes 4 courses in total.
To finish this course, you need to complete two of three possible assignments with Peer Review: 1) Whole Class Inquiry, 2) Interactive Lecture Demonstrations, 3) Concept Questions.
This course is also available in Spanish as “Clase Entera con PhET para la Educación STEM” and Portuguese as "Classe Entera com PhET para a Educação STEM".
Difficulty
Intermediate
Estimated Workload
2 weeks, 7.5 hours/week
Recommended Backgroun
This course is appropriate for pre-service and in-service elementary, secondary, and higher education science and math educators.
Recommended background:
This course is appropriate for pre-service and in-service elementary, secondary, and higher education science and math educators.
What will you learn?
● Whole Class Inquiry: Strategy for open-ended discussions
● Interactive Lecture Demonstration: Strategies for making predictions
● Concept Questions: Strategies for classroom voting and Peer Instruction.
This course focuses on Activity Design using PhET.
Implementation of PhET Activities for STEM Education
Learning Objectives
● Design a simulation-based Teacher Guide.
● Review strategies to facilitate instruction during a simulation-based lesson.
● Reflect on and revise a simulation-based Teacher Guide before implementing it.
● Implement a simulation-based Teacher Guide.
● Reflect on and revise a simulation-based Teacher Guide after implementing it.