Now that you’ve engaged in open play and learned facilitation strategies to successfully implement open play, it’s time to engage in a lesson using the Fractions: Intro simulation. The goal of this module is to help you learn how to effectively facilitate a lesson using the simulation to better take advantage of PhET’s design principles supporting the challenging fraction concepts.

In this Module, we will side-step briefly to explore how the previous vignette supports a positive math identity, or the way in which people view themselves as mathematicians. It is common for many students–and their teachers–to approach math with some trepidation. This module aims to help you unpack how you and your students might approach math, and what you can do to shift from math anxiety toward mathematical curiosity and joy.

Now, let's move beyond an introduction to fractions, and begin to explore equivalent fractions with the PhET simulation Fractions: Equivalent Fractions.

In this module, you will reinforce the connection between a positive math identity and certain facilitation moves while deepening your knowledge of the relationship between numerators, denominators, and the concept of 'wholes' in fractions. The lesson in this module leverages the simulation, Fractions: Mixed Numbers, to explore improper and mixed fractions, and supports how to convert between the two.

The three fractions simulations you explored during a lesson, Fractions: Intro, Fractions: Equality, and Fractions, Mixed Numbers were all designed to provide users with an experience to build meaning around fractions. In other words, these sims supported the building of students’ fraction sense. As such, lessons can be, and are, written as what PhET calls, “sim-based lessons,” in which the simulation is an integral part of the lesson and is relied on to complete the activity as knowledge is built. You probably also noticed that the three simulations you already used include games in which students can assess and reinforce their knowledge about fractions. This module introduces two additional fraction simulations that include only the games and an interactive whiteboard (called the Lab screen) that does not provide immediate feedback for students.

You have now interacted with several sims throughout this course. The way you accessed the sims were in one of two ways: either directly interacting with the sim as an embedded component within a page, or by clicking a link taking you directly to the sim in a browser. By interacting in this way, PhET’s website was bypassed so the focus of each lesson could be on the sim rather than how to navigate to the sim. The PhET website, however, has several free resources designed to support you as you integrate sims into your practice. This module guides you through PhET’s website to provide awareness about what available resources exist as well as how to navigate to them. Note: This section includes information also embedded within our Active Learning in STEM with PhET Interactive Simulations Specialization course, with the exception that the sims highlighted below have been customized to include the Fraction simulations you explored in this course. If you have already taken the course listed above, feel free to skip this Module. See the Learning Objectives for more information about what is included in this Module.

In this module, you will briefly be introduced to PhET’s instructional approach to creating sim-based lessons. The goal is to help you become familiar and comfortable with how to construct a lesson leveraging the powerful functionality of a PhET simulation. As part of the overall course completion, you will create your own sim-based lesson and peer-review at least one other participant’s lesson. This module highlights a fraction of PhET’s intentionality in designing lessons to ensure students are able to maximize their learning experience while using a PhET sim.

This module provides an opportunity to synthesize and apply key concepts, strategies, and tools you have explored throughout this course. You will reflect on your journey through the PhET fractions simulations, consolidate your understanding of effective teaching practices including active learning, and create a comprehensive lesson that demonstrates your growth of sim-based fraction instruction.

In this module, you will take appropriate steps to complete the course and download your certificate.