PhET Simulations What’s New in Chemistry: Free, Researched, Web- Based Resources Trish Loeblein and Emily Moore PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado

Introductions & Goals Who are you? A.STEM teacher B.Administration C.Teacher trainer D.Technology Instructor/ Coordinator E.Other

Introductions & Goals What do you know about PhET? A.Never heard of PhET B.Seen PhET, but never used in class C.Used PhET some in class D.Use PhET frequently

Introductions & Goals Who would you describe your grade level interest? A.Middle School B.High School C.Middle and High School D.Teacher Training

Introductions & Goals What are your goals today?

1. See what’s new for Chemistry in PhET Simulations Project 2. How sims support inquiry Features of sims that enable productive inquiry Design and Research Specific features for MS/HS learners 3. What does inquiry learning with a sim look like? 4. Activity Design for Inquiry Session Outline

What is PhET? Suite of >100 interactive sims on science!

Where is PhET? Or download! (  140 MB)

Who is PhET? University Faculty, Post-docs, K-12 Teachers, Computer Developers

NSF The O’Donnell Foundation Hewlett Foundation University of Colorado How can PhET be free? Carl Wieman &Sarah Gilbert Collaborative agreement with King Saud University

Accessible Open-use License: Creative Commons – Attribution Easy to translate for World-wide Use: Over 2700 translations in 59 languages Over 15 million sims run per year, and growing

Make easy to use Pick and choose which sims to use by topic, keyword, or grade level Customize to your environment and your learning goals Search database of activities of over 500 by PhET or Teacher-users Adaptable for Variety of Learners

Make easy to use CCK in middle school: “Make the light bulb light” CCK in high school: “Explain why the light dims when you turn the heater on” Circuit Construction Kit Adaptable for Variety of Learners

Design Process Design PhET Development Process

Design Process Interviews Design PhET Development Process

Design Process Classroom Use Interviews Design PhET Development Process

Design Process Classroom Use Interviews Design PhET Development Process

Design Process Research Base Classroom Use Interviews Design PhET Development Process

In the sim intuitive? Before

In the sim intuitive? BeforeAfter

Compare these tools? Thoughts on these tools … Sodium Chloride

Research-Based Design Designed to support inquiry learning Implicitly scaffold inquiry through design of controls and representations Allow actions that would be difficult or impossible in the real world Create a game-like environment Use accurate, dynamic visual representations Show the invisible Use accurate, dynamic visual representations Show the invisible Provide an intuitive interface, usable without instructions Make simulations highly interactive Provide real-time, animated feedback as students play

Lecture/classroom Visual Aid, Demo complement, Interactive Lecture Demos, & Concept tests ? What does sim-based inquiry learning look like?

Lab and Recitation Group activity, Exploration and discovery ? What might sim-based inquiry learning look like?

Designing Activities Comparison: Build an Atom sim Discussion Find out the charge of an atom that has 6 protons / 5 neutrons/ 6 electrons. Show the full symbol for this atom. Investigate to find what determines the mass of an atom. Test your ideas and change if needed. Show examples that fit your rule. 1.What will students be doing in each activity? 2.What will students learn in each activity? 3.What’s the teacher doing?

Tips for Productive Inquiry 5-10 minute open play: – Establish student ownership for sim – Students get familiar with controls Minimize/eliminate “sim-specific directions” Use open, investigative questions Use “Creating PhET Activities” handout

How do we assess PhET? Pre-testPost-test Sim Activity

How do students feel? How __________ was this recitation compared to others? 1.useful for your learning 2.enjoyable N = 155

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How can you contribute? Send us your ideas for new sims Report bugs Share your ideas for class use

Suite of interactive simulations (>100) Physics, chemistry, math Expanding into biology, earth science Research-based and user-tested Free! Online or downloadable (~140 MB) Easy to use and incorporate in class