KLEIN's
GUIDE TO
SCIENCE EDUCATION
PHOTO CREDIT: Nadene Klein at Tuolumne Meadows Yosemite National Park
Well before Covid called for online teaching, I had been using simulators to teach some lessons in my science classes. PhET are my favorite and not just because they come from my home state of Colorado! A few years ago, most of the PhET simulations were taken off line because Adobe FlashPlayer was no longer supported. Great News! In case you didn't know, over the past couple of years, PhET has been restoring their simulators on a different platform and they are all available: https://phet.colorado.edu/
Simulators are a fantastic way to have interactive learning experiences when it is not feasible to do them in person. This could be because classes are online, lab equipment is beyond budget, or the lab would be dangerous if done hands-on. Simulators are also great for students to test various variables and complete multiple trials of an experiment in a much more time efficient way. Students don't have to worry about failing because they can quickly reset the trial. Students don't have to worry about breaking sensitive equipment (other than their device). Students engage with simulators as if they were video games. There are many benefits to this format of learning. This week my physics classes used the electrical circuit simulator and there were lots of exclamations. It's great hearing formerly disengaged students yelling "WHOA" as they see the results of something they virtually tested. I encourage you to try out some simulators yourself and then see how you can integrate them into your teaching. Share your experiences in the comments below.
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AuthorNadene Klein, M.Ed. has been an educator for over 25 years. She brings a passion and love for science to the classroom and through this blog to you. Archives
March 2024
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