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Science inquiry using PhET:A global resource of 100 free interactive
simulations
Kelly Lancasterand the PhET team at the
University of Colorado
What is PhET?
Suite of >100 interactive sims on science!
Where is PhET?
http://phet.colorado.edu
Or download!(140 MB)
Who is PhET?
Team of scientists and educators
How can PhET be free?NSF
Carl Wieman and Sarah Gilbert
King Saud University
O’Donnell Foundation
Hewlett Foundation
University of Colorado
Who uses PhET?
Website: 15 languagesSims: 58 languages
Of 15 million sims run in 2010, 34% international!
PhET around the world
Serbia
Vietnam Uganda
Brazil
Initial design
Interviews
Redesign
Final design
Research
Classrooms
PhET Design Process
What do you think?
What do students think?
How did we change the sim?
Is the sim intuitive?
Do students find the controls?
Can you spot the changes?
Before After
Initial design
Interviews
Redesign
Final design
Research
Classrooms
PhET Design Process
Using PhET in lecture
How will adding water affect the pH?
A. Increase pH
B. Decrease pH
C. No pH change
Using PhET in lab
Add 100 silver bromide pairs to the water. How many silver and bromide ions dissolve in the water? Repeat this for all salts.
Investigate different salts. What features do salts have in common, and how do salts differ from each other?
How do we assess PhET?
Pre-test Post-test
Sim
Activity
How do students feel?
more same less0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
usefulenjoyable
% st
uden
tsHow __________ was this recitation compared to others?
1. useful for your learning2. enjoyable
N = 155
One sim, two uses
Circuit Construction Kit
CCK in grade school:“What do you need to make the bulb light?”
CCK in college:“Why does the light dim when you turn on the heater?”
How is PhET used in K-12?
What’s next for PhET?
Sim Sharing
New Sims
How do kids use PhET?
Do they differ from college students?
Stay in touch with social media
• 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
http://phet.colorado.edu
How is PhET used in college?
Opportunity for students to explore
like scientists
But, no silver bullet:Context and activity
critical
Lecture
Lab & Recitation
Homework
Exams
Other ways to use PhET
Creative Commons – Attribution license
What did students learn?
N = 930 N = 110
No sim0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Effect of course
PrePost
% s
tude
nts
corr
ect
PhET sim0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Effect of sim
PrePost
% s
tude
nts
corr
ect
