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Introduction to PhET Simulations for STEM Education
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 13 hours
  • Course by University of Colorado Boulder
  • Offered by

About

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 review 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 sharing your screen online. This course is the first one of the specialization “Active Learning in STEM with PhET Interactive Simulations”, that include 3 courses in total. To finish this course, you need to complete two assignments with Peer Review: 1) Selecting PhET sims, 2) Select a strategy for a Whole Class set-up, and design your first activity. This course is also available in Spanish as “Introducción a las Simulaciones PhET para la Educación STEM”

Modules

Overview

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Plugin
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1 Readings

  • Welcome!

Introduction to PhET

    • 3 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Exploring the PhET Sim Design Process

3 Videos

  • A Brief Introduction to PhET
  • PhET Website Tour
  • Exploring the PhET Sim Design Process

3 Readings

  • A Brief Introduction to PhET
  • PhET Website Tour
  • Exploring the PhET Sim Design Process

Exploring PhET Simulations

    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Play with Simulations Tasks
  • Simulation Teacher Resources

1 Discussions

  • Play with Simulations Reflection

2 Readings

  • Play with Simulations
  • Free PhET Teachers Account

Teacher Tips for Individual Sims

    • 6 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exploring Teacher Tips

6 Readings

  • Teacher Tips
  • Screens
  • Complex Controls
  • Insights into Student Use
  • Customization Options
  • Model Simplifications & Suggestions for Use

Video Primers for Individual Simulations

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Exploring a Video Primer

1 Readings

  • Video Primers for Individual Sims

Integration Tips and Sharing

    • 2 Videos
    • 6 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Practice with Integration

2 Videos

  • PhET Quick Tips: Projector Mode
  • PhET Quick Tips: PowerPoint Add-In

6 Readings

  • Integration and Sharing
  • Projector Mode
  • PhET PowerPoint Add-In
  • PhET in Google Classroom
  • PhET in OneNote Documents
  • Embedding PhET with an iFrame

Maximizing Access to PhET Simulations

    • 3 Readings
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3 Readings

  • The Importance of Access and Inclusion
  • Platform Compatibility
  • Sharing Simulations

Offline Access

    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Downloading Simulations

3 Readings

  • Downloading HTML5 Simulations
  • Downloading Java Simulations
  • Downloading PhET Apps for Computers and Mobile Devices

Inclusive Features for Diverse Learning Needs

    • 8 Videos
    • 8 Readings
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8 Videos

  • Inclusive Features in Action
  • Alternative Input
  • Camera Input: Hands
  • Sound and Sonification
  • Interactive Description
  • Voicing
  • Pan and Zoom
  • Interactive Highlights

8 Readings

  • Inclusive Features for Diverse Learning Needs
  • Alternative Input
  • Camera Input: Hands
  • Sound and Sonification
  • Interactive Description
  • Voicing
  • Pan and Zoom
  • Interactive Highlights

Finding and Using Inclusive Features

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Practice Quiz: Using Inclusive Features

1 Discussions

  • Reflecting on Inclusive Features

1 Videos

  • How to Find Inclusive Features

1 Readings

  • Accessing Inclusive Features

Customization and Translations

    • 5 Readings
    • 3 Assignment
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3 Assignment

  • Modifying Settings
  • Quiz (Practice): Customize a URL
  • Quiz (Practice): Practice Finding Translated Simulations

5 Readings

  • Flexibility and Contextualization
  • Modify Settings
  • Customize Screens
  • Translations
  • Customization for Translated Simulations

Activities

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Practice Finding Activities

1 Peer Review

  • Selecting PhET Simulations

1 Readings

  • Teacher Submitted Activities

Learning Environment and Culture

    • 1 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 3 Discussion
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3 Discussions

  • Equity in Your Classroom
  • Reflecting on Goals
  • Fostering Growth Mindsets with Students

1 Videos

  • PhET Founder on Creating Learning Environment and Culture

3 Readings

  • Learning Environment and Culture
  • Relevance, Representation, and Accessibility
  • Establishing a Growth Mindset

PhET Equity Framework

    • 4 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Assessing Equity

1 Discussions

  • Inviting Student Voice

4 Readings

  • PhET's Equity Framework
  • Relevance, Representation, and Accessibility
  • An Equity Assessment of a PhET Simulation
  • Equity through Active Learning

Characteristics of Active Learning

    • 8 Readings
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8 Readings

  • Active Learning: a Foundation for Equity
  • Characteristics of Active Learning
  • Address Students' Prior Knowledge
  • Connect to Context
  • Support Collaboration
  • Promote Belonging
  • Provide Scaffolds
  • Assessments as Learning Opportunities

Active Learning in Practice

    • 4 Readings
    • 2 Discussion
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2 Discussions

  • Active Learning in Your Classroom
  • Finding an Activity that Uses Active Learning

4 Readings

  • A Spectrum of Styles of Active Learning
  • Research on Active Learning in STEM
  • Active Learning with PhET Simulations
  • Finding, Selecting, and Saving Activities

Conclusion and Next Steps

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Congratulations!

1 Readings

  • Get Your Certificate

Auto Summary

Discover how to enhance STEM education with PhET Interactive Simulations in this foundational course by Coursera. Ideal for primary to higher education teachers, it covers accessing, sharing, and utilizing PhET sims effectively. Learn strategies for classroom and online presentations, and complete assignments to design your first activity. Part of the "Active Learning in STEM with PhET Interactive Simulations" specialization, this engaging course is offered in both English and Spanish. Available through Coursera's Starter subscription, it spans 780 minutes of interactive learning.

Zachariah Mbasu
Instructors

Zachariah Mbasu

Rebecca Vieyra
Instructors

Rebecca Vieyra