This course is part of the Active Learning in STEM with PhET Interactive Simulations Specialization

Zachariah Mbasu +1 more instructor

Offered By

Active Learning in STEM with PhET Interactive Simulations SpecializationUniversity of Colorado Boulder

About this Course

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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 sim-based inquiry 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 one assignment with Peer Review: Create an inquiry based activity worksheet for science or math that integrate PhET simulations. 

This course is the second of three courses that integrate 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”

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

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Course 2 of 3 in the

Active Learning in STEM with PhET Interactive Simulations Specialization

Intermediate Level

Suggested prerequisite course: "Introduction to PhET Simulations for STEM Education."

Approx. 22 hours to complete

English

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What you will learn

Reflect on inquiry learning in education.
Develop strategies for writing sim-based inquiry activities.
Design a sim-based activity sheet.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Course 2 of 3 in the

Active Learning in STEM with PhET Interactive Simulations Specialization

Intermediate Level

Suggested prerequisite course: "Introduction to PhET Simulations for STEM Education."

Approx. 22 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructors

Zachariah Mbasu

PhET Ambassador Africa

448 Learners

3 Courses

Rebecca Vieyra

Associate Director of Global Initiatives

624 Learners

6 Courses

Offered by

University of Colorado Boulder

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week1

Week 1

5 minutes to complete

Introduction

5 minutes to complete

1 reading

Week2

Week 2

13 hours to complete

Science Activity Design

In this module, we will review strategies for how to use PhET to create sim-based inquiry activities for 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 device. You need to only complete Module 2 (Science Activity Design) or Module 3 (Math Activity Design) to successfully pass this course.

13 hours to complete

2 videos (Total 22 min), 28 readings, 1 quiz

2 videos

Tim Herzog Discusses Using PhET9mDesigning Activity Sheets12m

28 readings

Student-Sim Interaction10mSample Activities20mOpen Play with Sims1mStudent Activity Sheet40mLesson Structure30mDesigning Effective Activity Sheets5mActivity Sheet Design Guidelines20mImportance of Pre-Lab Activities5mPhysics Example with Density2mSample Pre-Labs and Activity Sheets for Physics10mBiology Example with Natural Selection2mSample Pre-Labs and Activity Sheets for Biology10mChemistry Example with Build a Molecule2mSample Pre-Labs and Activity Sheets for Chemistry10mChallenge Prompts10mPractice Writing Challenge Prompts1mPhysics Exercise: Original Prompt for Bending Light1mComparing Prompts for Bending Light2mOriginal Prompt for Energy Forms and Changes1mBiology Exercise:Original Prompt for Gene Expression 1mComparing Prompts for Gene Expression2mOriginal Prompt for Natural Selection1mChemistry Exercise: Original Prompt for Gas Properties1mComparing Prompts for Gas Properties10mOriginal Prompt for States of Matter: Basics1mMore Examples10mPost-Lab Activities15mHomework10m

Week3

Week 3

9 hours to complete

Math Activity Design

In this virtual workshop, we will review strategies for how to use PhET to create sim-based inquiry activities for math 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 device. You need to only complete Module 2 (Science Activity Design) or Module 3 (Math Activity Design) to successfully pass this course.

9 hours to complete

14 videos (Total 60 min), 17 readings, 1 quiz

14 videos

Responses to Equality Explorer3mResponses to Function Builder4mResponses to Unit Rates3mResponses to Unit Area Model Algebra2mOpen Play Discussion3mPreparing to Design a Lesson1mActivity Sheet Strategies20mExercise 1- Challenge Prompts: Build an Atom1mExercise 2- Challenge Prompts: Area Model Multiplication3mExercise 3- Challenge Prompts: Graphing Lines3mExercise 4- Original Prompt: Challenge Prompts: Function Builder55sExercise 5- Challenge Prompts: Unit Rates1mFacilitating Discussions8mUnexpected Discovery during a PhET Lesson1m

17 readings

Play with Sims30mStudents Interacting with Sims10mSample Activity2mStudent Activity Sheet10mLesson Structure2mExploring Example Activity Sheets30mActivity Sheet Design Guidelines10mWriting Challenge Prompts1mExample of Changing to a Challenge Prompt: Proportion Playground5mExercise 1- Original Prompt: Build an Atom1mExercise 2- Original Prompt: Area Model Multiplication1mExercise 3- Original Prompt:Graphing Lines1mExercise 4- Original Prompt: Function Builder1mExercise 5- Original Prompt: Unit Rates1mChallenge Prompt Summary10mSynthesizing Knowledge1mTeachable Moments1m

About the Active Learning in STEM with PhET Interactive Simulations Specialization

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 plan 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 9 weeks and 45 working hours to complete and includes three courses: (1) Introduction to PhET Simulations for STEM Education (2) Activity Design with PhET simulations for STEM education (3) Implementation of PhET Activities for STEM education This specialization is also available in Spanish under the name "Aprendizaje Activo STEM con Simulaciones Interactivas PhET."

Active Learning in STEM with PhET Interactive Simulations

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

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Activity Design with PhET Simulations for STEM Education

About this Course

What you will learn