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There are 5 modules in this course
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 simulation-based active learning 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 two assignments with Peer Review: 1) Select and evaluate an Activity Sheet and 2) Create your own Activity Sheet for science or math that integrate PhET simulations.
This course is the third of four courses that make up 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” and in Portuguese as "Desenho de Atividades com PhET para Educação STEM".
In this module, we will review strategies for when to use simulation-anchored Activity Sheets for science and math classes that students can use as they work independently or in small groups while they have direct access to simulations on their own device.
What's included
1 video5 readings2 discussion prompts
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 10 minutes
Using PhET Activity Sheets in Small Group Work •10 minutes
5 readings•Total 10 minutes
Course Updates and Accessibility Support•1 minute
Welcome!•2 minutes
Choosing to Use Small Group or Individual Strategies•2 minutes
Getting Started•2 minutes
Student-Simulation Interaction•3 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 50 minutes
Reflecting on Your Context•20 minutes
Reflecting on Small Group Interactions•30 minutes
Module 2: Revisiting PhET Activities
Module 2•6 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you will explore the difference between Activities and Activity Sheets. You will also select a pre-existing Activity Sheet contributed by other PhET users and analyze it to improve its alignment with the PhET Equity Framework.
Selecting a PhET Simulation-Based Activity Sheet •2 minutes
Scaffolding and Student Autonomy•20 minutes
Equity through Active Learning•2 minutes
Integrating Active Learning in an Activity Sheet•5 minutes
Equity in Technology•30 minutes
Equity in an Activity Sheet•1 minute
Establishing Relevance through Activity Sheets•2 minutes
Incorporating Representation in Activity Sheets•2 minutes
Building Accessibility into Activity Sheets•2 minutes
Active Learning and Equity Aspirations•30 minutes
3 assignments•Total 30 minutes
Assessing Relevance in Activity Sheets •10 minutes
Assessing Representation in Activity Sheets•10 minutes
Assessing Accessibility in Activity Sheets •10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 90 minutes
Revise an Activity Sheet•90 minutes
7 discussion prompts•Total 130 minutes
Identifying "Good" Activity Sheets•20 minutes
Comparing Activity Sheet Styles•30 minutes
Assessing Active Learning in an Activity Sheet•30 minutes
Assessing Equity in the Greenhouse Effect Simulation•20 minutes
Reflecting on Relevance•10 minutes
Reflecting on Representation•10 minutes
Reflecting on Accessibility•10 minutes
Module 3: Challenge Prompts
Module 3•4 hours to complete
Module details
This module will introduce you to the core of a high-quality student activity sheet–Challenge Prompts. Using examples from various subjects, you will revise teacher-directed instructions to produce open-ended challenges that better promote Active Learning.
What's included
6 videos20 readings11 discussion prompts
Show info about module content
6 videos•Total 14 minutes
Teacher Discussion on Challenge Prompts: Unit Rates •2 minutes
Teacher Discussion on Build an Atom Prompt•2 minutes
Teacher Discussion on Area Model Multiplication Prompt•4 minutes
Teacher Discussion on Graphing Lines Prompt •3 minutes
Challenge Prompts: Function Builder •1 minute
Open Play Discussion•3 minutes
20 readings•Total 123 minutes
Defining Challenge Prompts•2 minutes
Try a Challenge Prompt•20 minutes
Challenge Prompts in Action•5 minutes
Science v. Math Challenge Prompts •3 minutes
From Traditional Questions to Challenge Prompts•2 minutes
Math Example: Proportion Playground•5 minutes
Physics Example: Bending Light•5 minutes
Chemistry Example: Gas Properties•5 minutes
Biology Example: Gene Expression•5 minutes
Practice Writing Challenge Prompts - Instructions•1 minute
Original Prompt: States of Matter - Basics•5 minutes
Original Prompt for Unit Rates•5 minutes
Original Prompt for Natural Selection•5 minutes
Original Prompt for Build an Atom•5 minutes
Original Prompt for Area Model Multiplication•5 minutes
Original Prompt for Graphing Lines •5 minutes
Original Prompt for Energy Forms and Changes•5 minutes
Original Prompt for Function Builder •5 minutes
Example of an Activity Sheet and the Integration of Challenge Prompts•10 minutes
Student Activity Sheet•20 minutes
11 discussion prompts•Total 105 minutes
States of Matter – Basics•10 minutes
New Challenge Prompt for Unit Rates •10 minutes
New Challenge Prompt for Natural Selection•10 minutes
New Challenge Prompt for Build An Atom•10 minutes
New Challenge Prompt for Area Model Multiplication•10 minutes
New Challenge Prompt for Graphing Lines•10 minutes
New Challenge Prompt for Energy Forms and Changes•10 minutes
New Challenge Prompt for Function Builder •10 minutes
Open Play Discussion •5 minutes
Open Play Video Reflection•10 minutes
Integration of Challenge Prompts in Activity Sheets •10 minutes
Module 4: Activity Sheets and Lessons
Module 4•3 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you will learn how to build an Activity Sheet, considering various parts of a lesson.
What's included
5 videos21 readings3 discussion prompts
Show info about module content
5 videos•Total 43 minutes
Designing Activity Sheets•12 minutes
Preparing to Design a Lesson•1 minute
Activity Sheet Strategies•20 minutes
Facilitating Discussion in a Synthesis/Post-Lab•8 minutes
Unexpected Discovery During a PhET Lesson•1 minute
21 readings•Total 125 minutes
Designing Activity Sheets•1 minute
Designing Activity Sheets Guidelines•10 minutes
What is a "Lesson"?•2 minutes
PhET and 5Es•10 minutes
Preparing to Design a Lesson•1 minute
Teacher Preference•5 minutes
Examples of Lessons Driven by Activity Sheets•5 minutes
Warm-Ups / Pre-Labs•5 minutes
Open Play•5 minutes
Activity/Lab with Synthesis/Post-Lab•10 minutes
Warm-Up / Pre-Lab: Transitioning to the Activity Sheet•2 minutes
Exercise to Plan a Warm-Up/Pre-Lab and Activity/Lab•10 minutes
Building on Prior Knowledge•5 minutes
Warm-Up/Pre-Lab and Activity/Lab•10 minutes
Planning Your Warm-Up/Pre-Lab•10 minutes
Planning Your Activity Sheet•10 minutes
Close Your Lesson with a Synthesis/Post-Lab•1 minute
Synthesis / Post-Lab Examples •10 minutes
Planning Your Synthesis/Post-Lab•10 minutes
Allow Time for “Teachable Moments”•1 minute
Homework and Distance Learning•2 minutes
3 discussion prompts•Total 30 minutes
Reflecting on Lesson Structure•10 minutes
Reflection about the Example Lessons•10 minutes
Ideas for a Warm-Up/Pre-Lab•10 minutes
Module 5: Assignment Submissions and Conclusions
Module 5•2 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you will submit an Activity Sheet of your own!
What's included
1 reading1 assignment1 peer review
Show info about module content
1 reading•Total 2 minutes
Next Steps •2 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
Final Conclusions•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 120 minutes
Lesson with Activity Sheet•120 minutes
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