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Towards research-based strategies for using PhET simulations in middle school physical science classes
written by Katherine Perkins, Emily B. Moore, Noah S. Podolefsky, Kelly Lancaster, and Christine Denison
The PhET Interactive Simulations Project at the University of Colorado Boulder has begun a new effort to develop and research simulations ('sims') for middle school physical science. PhET sims have typically been aimed at the college level, but many sims are used in middle school classrooms. Thus, we aim to study the use of PhET sims at this level more systematically, particularly investigating elements of effective sim design and classroom implementation. Over the past year, we have collected observations of middle school students and teachers using PhET simulations. These observations include more than 80 student interviews as well as classroom implementations from 5th-8th grade by 4 different teachers. In this paper, we present initial insights that are emerging from these observations and propose several strategies for designing and implementing simulation activities. We include concrete examples of activities where these strategies have been used effectively.
Physics Education Research Conference 2011
Part of the PER Conference series
Omaha, Nebraska: August 3-4, 2011
Volume 1413, Pages 295-298
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Education Practices
- Active Learning
- Instructional Material Design
= Simulation
- Pedagogy
= Instructional Issues
- Technology
= Multimedia
- Middle School
- High School
- Graduate/Professional
- Instructional Material
= Best practice
= Instructor Guide/Manual
- Reference Material
= Article
= Research study
Intended Users Formats Ratings
- Researchers
- Educators
- Professional/Practitioners
- Administrators
- application/pdf
- non-digital
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Mirror:
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3680053
Access Rights:
Free access and
Available for purchase
A preprint of the work is available. A hard copy of the PERC 2011 proceedings is available for purchase from the AIP.
Restriction:
© 2011 American Institute of Physics
DOI:
10.1063/1.3680053
NSF Number:
1020362
PACSs:
01.40.Fk
01.40.gb
01.50.ht
Keywords:
Activity Design, PERC 2011, PhET, Simulations
Record Cloner:
Metadata instance created April 25, 2012 by Lyle Barbato
Record Updated:
May 15, 2012 by Vince Kuo
Last Update
when Cataloged:
February 6, 2012
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Record Link
AIP Format
K. Perkins, E. Moore, N. Podolefsky, K. Lancaster, and C. Denison, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2011, Omaha, Nebraska, 2011, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11871&DocID=2719).
AJP/PRST-PER
K. Perkins, E. Moore, N. Podolefsky, K. Lancaster, and C. Denison, Towards research-based strategies for using PhET simulations in middle school physical science classes, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2011, Omaha, Nebraska, 2011, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11871&DocID=2719>.
APA Format
Perkins, K., Moore, E., Podolefsky, N., Lancaster, K., & Denison, C. (2011, August 3-4). Towards research-based strategies for using PhET simulations in middle school physical science classes. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2011, Omaha, Nebraska. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11871&DocID=2719
Chicago Format
Perkins, K, E. Moore, N. Podolefsky, K. Lancaster, and C. Denison. "Towards research-based strategies for using PhET simulations in middle school physical science classes." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2011, Omaha, Nebraska, August 3-4, 2011. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11871&DocID=2719 (accessed 19 March 2024).
MLA Format
Perkins, Katherine, Emily Moore, Noah S. Podolefsky, Kelly Lancaster, and Christine Denison. "Towards research-based strategies for using PhET simulations in middle school physical science classes." Physics Education Research Conference 2011. Omaha, Nebraska: 2011. 295-298 Vol. 1413 of PER Conference. 19 Mar. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11871&DocID=2719>.
BibTeX Export Format
@inproceedings{ Author = "Katherine Perkins and Emily Moore and Noah S. Podolefsky and Kelly Lancaster and Christine Denison", Title = {Towards research-based strategies for using PhET simulations in middle school physical science classes}, BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2011}, Pages = {295-298}, Address = {Omaha, Nebraska}, Series = {PER Conference}, Volume = {1413}, Month = {August 3-4}, Year = {2011} }
Refer Export Format

%A Katherine Perkins %A Emily Moore %A Noah S. Podolefsky %A Kelly Lancaster %A Christine Denison %T Towards research-based strategies for using PhET simulations in middle school physical science classes %S PER Conference %V 1413 %D August 3-4 2011 %P 295-298 %C Omaha, Nebraska %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11871&DocID=2719 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2011 %O August 3-4 %O application/pdf

EndNote Export Format

%0 Conference Proceedings %A Perkins, Katherine %A Moore, Emily %A Podolefsky, Noah S. %A Lancaster, Kelly %A Denison, Christine %D August 3-4 2011 %T Towards research-based strategies for using PhET simulations in middle school physical science classes %B Physics Education Research Conference 2011 %C Omaha, Nebraska %V 1413 %P 295-298 %S PER Conference %8 August 3-4 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11871&DocID=2719


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