Introduction to PhET Simulations for STEM Education
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Introduction to PhET Simulations for STEM Education
This course is part of Active Learning in STEM with PhET Interactive Simulations Specialization
Instructors: Zachariah Mbasu
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What you'll 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.
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There are 7 modules in this course
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".
In this module, you will learn how to access and share PhET simulations with your students, and explore the features that make PhET simulations a powerful tool for science and mathematics teachers.
What's included
4 videos20 readings5 assignments2 discussion prompts1 plugin
4 videos•Total 17 minutes
- A Brief Introduction to PhET•6 minutes
- PhET Website Tour•6 minutes
- Exploring the PhET Sim Design Process•4 minutes
- PhET Quick Tips: PowerPoint Add-In•1 minute
20 readings•Total 90 minutes
- Course Updates and Accessibility Support•1 minute
- Welcome!•15 minutes
- A Brief Introduction to PhET•20 minutes
- PhET Website Tour•1 minute
- Exploring the PhET Sim Design Process•1 minute
- Play with Simulations•1 minute
- Free PhET Teachers Account•10 minutes
- Teacher Tips•10 minutes
- Screens•1 minute
- Complex Controls•2 minutes
- Insights into Student Use•2 minutes
- Customization Options•8 minutes
- Model Simplifications & Suggestions for Use •1 minute
- Video Primers for Individual Sims•1 minute
- Integration and Sharing•2 minutes
- PhET PowerPoint Add-In•1 minute
- PhET in Google Classroom•1 minute
- PhET in OneNote Documents•1 minute
- Embedding PhET with an iFrame•10 minutes
- PhET Help Center •1 minute
5 assignments•Total 150 minutes
- Play with Simulations Tasks •45 minutes
- Simulation Teacher Resources •45 minutes
- Exploring Teacher Tips •30 minutes
- Exploring a Video Primer •15 minutes
- Practice with Integration •15 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 20 minutes
- Exploring the PhET Sim Design Process•10 minutes
- Play with Simulations Reflection•10 minutes
1 plugin•Total 5 minutes
- Pre-Survey•5 minutes
In this brief module, we focus on cultivating a more accessible learning environment that fosters equitable learning and belonging for all students. Specifically, we reflect on the many ways to access PhET simulations.
What's included
6 readings1 assignment
6 readings•Total 30 minutes
- The Importance of Access and Inclusion•1 minute
- Platform Compatibility•20 minutes
- Sharing Simulations•5 minutes
- Downloading HTML5 Simulations•1 minute
- Downloading Java Simulations•1 minute
- Downloading PhET Apps for Computers and Mobile Devices•2 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
- Downloading Simulations •30 minutes
In this module, we focus on cultivating a more inclusive learning environment that fosters equitable learning and belonging for all students. Specifically, we reflect on inclusive features that PhET simulations offer.
What's included
10 videos20 readings6 assignments1 discussion prompt
10 videos•Total 26 minutes
- Inclusive Features in Action•2 minutes
- Sound and Sonification•3 minutes
- Sound Features - Quadrilateral•5 minutes
- Voicing•2 minutes
- Interactive Description•3 minutes
- Pan and Zoom•2 minutes
- Interactive Highlights•1 minute
- Alternative Input•2 minutes
- Camera Input: Hands•3 minutes
- How to Find Inclusive Features•2 minutes
20 readings•Total 75 minutes
- Inclusive Features for Diverse Learning Needs•5 minutes
- Sound and Sonification•1 minute
- Sound and Sonification with Kepler's Laws•5 minutes
- Sound and Sonification with Quadrilateral•5 minutes
- Voicing•2 minutes
- Voicing with Ratio and Proportion•5 minutes
- Interactive Description•10 minutes
- Pan and Zoom•1 minute
- Interactive Highlights•1 minute
- Interactive Highlights with Membrane Transport•5 minutes
- Alternative Input•1 minute
- Alternative Input with Molecules and Light•5 minutes
- Camera Input: Hands•1 minute
- Camera Input: Hands with Ratio and Proportion•5 minutes
- Accessing Inclusive Features•2 minutes
- Flexibility and Contextualization•1 minute
- Modify Settings•5 minutes
- Customize Screens•5 minutes
- Translations•5 minutes
- Customization for Translated Simulations•5 minutes
6 assignments•Total 45 minutes
- Sound and Sonification with Kepler's Laws Quiz•5 minutes
- Interactive Description Quiz•5 minutes
- Using Inclusive Features•5 minutes
- Modifying Settings •10 minutes
- Customize a URL•10 minutes
- Practice Finding Translated Simulations •10 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
- Reflecting on Inclusive Features•10 minutes
Now that you are familiar with PhET simulations, how to access them, and their inclusive features, this module focuses on how to integrate them into your curriculum through activities.
What's included
1 reading1 assignment1 peer review
1 reading•Total 5 minutes
- Teacher-Submitted Activities•5 minutes
1 assignment•Total 45 minutes
- Practice Finding Activities •45 minutes
1 peer review•Total 120 minutes
- Selecting PhET Simulations•120 minutes
In this module, we focus on cultivating a teaching and learning environment that fosters equitable learning and belonging for all students. Specifically, we reflect on how our tendencies as teachers and learners influence the expectations we set and how to move toward Active Learning with PhET simulations.
What's included
1 video7 readings1 assignment4 discussion prompts
1 video•Total 5 minutes
- PhET Founder on Creating Learning Environment and Culture •5 minutes
7 readings•Total 49 minutes
- Learning Environment and Culture•2 minutes
- Relevance, Representation, and Accessibility•1 minute
- Establishing a Growth Mindset•30 minutes
- PhET's Equity Framework•5 minutes
- Relevance, Representation, and Accessibility•5 minutes
- An Equity Assessment of a PhET Simulation•5 minutes
- Equity through Active Learning•1 minute
1 assignment•Total 20 minutes
- Assessing Equity•20 minutes
4 discussion prompts•Total 40 minutes
- Equity in Your Classroom•10 minutes
- Reflecting on Goals•10 minutes
- Fostering Growth Mindsets with Students•10 minutes
- Inviting Student Voice•10 minutes
This final module in this course lays the foundation for equity by identifying characteristics of Active Learning, including pedagogical approaches that promote a growth mindset, student agency, and voice, helping students to take ownership of their learning of math or science.
What's included
12 readings2 discussion prompts
12 readings•Total 57 minutes
- Active Learning: a Foundation for Equity•1 minute
- Characteristics of Active Learning •1 minute
- Address Students' Prior Knowledge•5 minutes
- Connect to Context•1 minute
- Support Collaboration•1 minute
- Promote Belonging•1 minute
- Provide Scaffolds•1 minute
- Assessments as Learning Opportunities•2 minutes
- A Spectrum of Styles of Active Learning•2 minutes
- Research on Active Learning in STEM•30 minutes
- Active Learning with PhET Simulations•10 minutes
- Finding, Selecting, and Saving Activities•2 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 75 minutes
- Active Learning in Your Classroom•15 minutes
- Finding an Activity that Uses Active Learning•60 minutes
In this final module, we will ask you to reflect on your achievements and identify areas for improvement, provide feedback on this course, and share information on how to download your certificate once you have completed all requirements.
What's included
2 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt
2 readings•Total 7 minutes
- Spread and Promote PhET Resources•5 minutes
- Get Your Certificate•2 minutes
2 assignments•Total 15 minutes
- Knowledge Check•5 minutes
- Congratulations!•10 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 60 minutes
- Evidence for PhET's Impact•60 minutes
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University of Colorado Boulder
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University of Colorado Boulder
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University of Colorado Boulder
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University of Colorado Boulder
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Reviewed on Aug 9, 2024
I have learn how to use stimulation to make science more exploring and interesting
Reviewed on May 20, 2024
Teachers learn to prepare an active learner's lesson Plan at the end of the course.
Reviewed on Aug 15, 2024
This is a medium to translating learner to facilitators of their learning
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