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Carl E. Wieman, Wendy K. Adams, Trish Loeblein, and Katherine Perkins
PhET Interactive Simulations (sims) are now being widely used in teaching physics and chemistry. Sims can be used in many different educational settings, including lecture, individual or small group inquiry activities, homework, and lab. Here we will highlight a few ways to use them in teaching, based on our research and experiences using them in high school and college classes. The basic strategies for using sims effectively match those for all effective teaching. Briefly, they include: 1) define specific learning goals; 2) encourage students to use sense-making and reasoning; 3) connect with and build on students' prior knowledge and understanding (including addressing possible misconceptions); 4) connect to and make sense of real-world experiences; 5) encourage productive collaborative activities; 6) do not overly constrain student exploration; 7) require reasoning/sense-making in words and diagrams (i.e. multiple representations); 8) help students monitor their understanding.
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The Physics Teacher: Volume 48, Issue 4, Pages 225-227
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![]() <a href="https://www.compadre.org/precollege/items/detail.cfm?ID=16324">Wieman, C, W. Adams, T. Loeblein, and K. Perkins. "Teaching Physics Using PhET Simulations." Phys. Teach. 48, no. 4, (March 19, 2010): 225-227.</a>
![]() C. Wieman, W. Adams, T. Loeblein, and K. Perkins, , Phys. Teach. 48 (4), 225 (2010), WWW Document, (https://doi.org/10.1119/1.3361987).
![]() C. Wieman, W. Adams, T. Loeblein, and K. Perkins, Teaching Physics Using PhET Simulations, Phys. Teach. 48 (4), 225 (2010), <https://doi.org/10.1119/1.3361987>.
![]() Wieman, C., Adams, W., Loeblein, T., & Perkins, K. (2010, March 19). Teaching Physics Using PhET Simulations. Phys. Teach., 48(4), 225-227. Retrieved February 12, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.1119/1.3361987
![]() Wieman, C, W. Adams, T. Loeblein, and K. Perkins. "Teaching Physics Using PhET Simulations." Phys. Teach. 48, no. 4, (March 19, 2010): 225-227, https://doi.org/10.1119/1.3361987 (accessed 12 February 2025).
![]() Wieman, Carl, Wendy Adams, Trish Loeblein, and Katherine Perkins. "Teaching Physics Using PhET Simulations." Phys. Teach. 48.4 (2010): 225-227. 12 Feb. 2025 <https://doi.org/10.1119/1.3361987>.
![]() @article{
Author = "Carl Wieman and Wendy Adams and Trish Loeblein and Katherine Perkins",
Title = {Teaching Physics Using PhET Simulations},
Journal = {Phys. Teach.},
Volume = {48},
Number = {4},
Pages = {225-227},
Month = {March},
Year = {2010}
}
![]() %A Carl Wieman %A Wendy Adams %A Trish Loeblein %A Katherine Perkins %T Teaching Physics Using PhET Simulations %J Phys. Teach. %V 48 %N 4 %D March 19, 2010 %P 225-227 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.3361987 %O text/html ![]() %0 Journal Article %A Wieman, Carl %A Adams, Wendy %A Loeblein, Trish %A Perkins, Katherine %D March 19, 2010 %T Teaching Physics Using PhET Simulations %J Phys. Teach. %V 48 %N 4 %P 225-227 %8 March 19, 2010 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.3361987 Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
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