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A review of the PhET Simulations website. Fun, interactive, research-based simulations of physical phenomena from the PhET project at the University of Colorado – it's free! Helps students visually comprehend concepts.

Phet simulations

(External Link)

  • Fun, interactive, research-based simulations of physical phenomena from the PhET project at the University of Colorado – it'sfree!
  • The PhET simulation design principles are based on research on how students learn
  • PhET simulations have been found to be very effective in lectures, in class activities, lab and homework
  • Designed with minimal text so that they can easily be integrated into every aspect of a course

What the website offers:

  • It enables students to make connections between real-life phenomena and the underlying science, deepening their understanding andappreciation of the physical world
  • Helps students visually comprehend concepts
  • PhET simulations animate what is invisible to the eye through the use of graphics and intuitive controls such as click-and-drag manipulation,sliders and radio buttons
  • In order to further encourage quantitative exploration, the simulations also offer measurement instruments including rulers, stop-watches,voltmeters and thermometers
  • As the user manipulates these interactive tools, responses are immediately animated thus effectively illustrating cause-and-effectrelationships as well as multiple linked representations
  • There are simulations for physics, biology, chemistry, earth science, maths
  • You can also search for them by grade level (American standards)
  • You can find some simulations in Afrikaans (and many other languages too)

For teachers:

  • There is a page dedicated to teachers – an ideas and activity page: (External Link)
  • There are teacher submitted contributions, designed to be used in conjunction with the PhET simulations
  • These contributions include homework assignments, lectures, activities, concept questions and more, and enable you to get the most out ofyour PhET experience
  • If you have developed your own material, they encourage you to contribute it

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Source:  OpenStax, Physics - open resources and tools. OpenStax CNX. Jun 02, 2011 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col11308/1.3
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