Active Learning in STEM with PhET Interactive Simulations
University of Colorado Boulder via Coursera Specialization
Overview
Learn how to engage your students and enhance learning in math and science with free virtual labs and simulations from the University of Colorado Boulder's PhET Interactive Simulations project (https://phet.colorado.edu/en). In this specialization, you will explore active learning strategies that you can incorporate into your own classroom, either online or in person. You will also learn how to evaluate the effectiveness of a learning experience by implementing a simulation-based lesson in your own classroom.
Founded in 2002 by Nobel Prize winner in physics Carl Wieman, the PhET Interactive Simulations project creates free simulations for science and mathematics that are based on extensive educational research on the design of virtual tools for education and how to successfully implement them in the classroom.
This specialization will take approximately 8 weeks (at the suggested pace of 2 weeks per course) and 60 working hours to complete, and includes four courses:
(1) Introduction to PhET Simulations for STEM Education
(2) Whole Class with PhET for STEM Education
(3) Activity Design with PhET Simulations for STEM education
(4) Implementation of PhET Activities for STEM education
This specialization is also available in Spanish under the name "Aprendizaje Activo STEM con Simulaciones Interactivas PhET" and in Portuguese under the name "Aprendizagem Ativa STEM com Simulações Interativas PhET".
Syllabus
Course 1: Introduction to PhET Simulations for STEM Education
- Offered by University of Colorado Boulder. PhET Interactive Simulations ( https://phet.colorado.edu/ ), a project of the University of ... Enroll for free.
Course 2: Whole Class with PhET for STEM Education
- Offered by University of Colorado Boulder. PhET Interactive Simulations ( https://phet.colorado.edu), a project of the University of ... Enroll for free.
Course 3: Activity Design with PhET Simulations for STEM Education
- Offered by University of Colorado Boulder. PhET Interactive Simulations ( https://phet.colorado.edu/ ), a project of the University of ... Enroll for free.
Course 4: Implementation of PhET Activities for STEM Education
- Offered by University of Colorado Boulder. PhET Interactive Simulations ( https://phet.colorado.edu/ ), a project of the University of ... Enroll for free.
- Offered by University of Colorado Boulder. PhET Interactive Simulations ( https://phet.colorado.edu/ ), a project of the University of ... Enroll for free.
Course 2: Whole Class with PhET for STEM Education
- Offered by University of Colorado Boulder. PhET Interactive Simulations ( https://phet.colorado.edu), a project of the University of ... Enroll for free.
Course 3: Activity Design with PhET Simulations for STEM Education
- Offered by University of Colorado Boulder. PhET Interactive Simulations ( https://phet.colorado.edu/ ), a project of the University of ... Enroll for free.
Course 4: Implementation of PhET Activities for STEM Education
- Offered by University of Colorado Boulder. PhET Interactive Simulations ( https://phet.colorado.edu/ ), a project of the University of ... Enroll for free.
Courses
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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, we will review strategies for how to use PhET to create simulation-based active learning activities for math or science classes, including activity sheets that students can use as they work independently or in small groups while they have direct access to simulations on their own devices. To finish this course, you need to complete two assignments with Peer Review: 1) Select and evaluate an Activity Sheet and 2) Create your own Activity Sheet for science or math that integrate PhET simulations. This course is the third of four courses that make up the specialization “Active Learning in STEM with PhET Interactive Simulations”. This course is also available in Spanish as “Diseño de Actividades con Simulaciones PhET para la Educación STEM” and in Portuguese as "Desenho de Atividades com PhET para Educação STEM".
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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".
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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 effectively design and implement a Teacher Guide that makes use of PhET’s simulations for mathematics and science. To finish this course, you need to complete two assignments with Peer Review: 1) Design a Teacher Guide that integrates an inquiry-based activity with simulations, and 2) Implement your lesson in your class, and reflect on the results. This course is the fourth and final of four courses that make up the specialization “Active Learning in STEM with PhET Interactive Simulations”. This course is also available in Spanish as “Implementación de Actividades PhET para la Educación STEM” and in Portuguese as "Implementação de Atividades PhET para Educação STEM".
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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 "A Turma Toda com Simulações PhET para Educação STEM".
Taught by
Rebecca Vieyra and Zachariah Mbasu