Exciting world of
Virtual Manipulatives!
ExploreLearning: An award-winning developer of
online simulations for math and science education.
by Murtaza Ozdemir
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ExploreLearning.com
The world's largest collection of online
interactive simulations.
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ExploreLearning.com
 ExploreLearning.com is a
subscription based site of an
extensive collection of over 400
virtual manipulatives (simulations of
math and science concepts), which
the developers call "Gizmos.“
 Currently the simulations library
encompasses most math and
science requirements for
grades 6 through 12: Algebra,
Geometry, Physics, Data
Analysis, Biology, Chemistry,
and Earth/Space Science.
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What is a Gizmo ?
Each gizmo is a brief, animated
Shockwave presentation, accompanied
by controls, a series of assessment
questions, and an "exploration guide"
that suggests a series of experiments for
students.
Every Gizmo has an Exploration Guide
that help students develop critical
thinking skills and conceptual
understanding . In addition to
containing specific instructions on how
to use the Gizmo, each Exploration
Guide provides a guided activity for
students to use when they interact with
a Gizmo.
Upon clicking the button, a popup
window will display containing the
Exploration Guide. Feel free to move
the popup window around on your
screen to allow you to easily go back
and forth between the Gizmo and the
Guide.
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What Makes a Gizmo a Gizmo?
• Interactive simulation that makes key concepts easier
to understand and fun to learn.
• The Gizmos provide visual and dynamic
representations of abstract concepts to make it easier
to understand.
• Gizmos provide instant feedback and are selfdemand/self-pacing/self-evaluating.
•
Click the button below to see a sample Gizmo.
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…What Makes a Gizmo a Gizmo?
• Gizmos are designed as supplemental curriculum
materials.
• The content is correlated with national and state
standards.
• Works easily with all major textbooks.
• Includes assessment and real-time reporting.
• Web-delivered and successful in many settings, e.g.,
instructor-led demonstrations, individual or group work in
computer labs, library, or from home.
• Easy to use - requires no special training. All you need
is an internet-ready computer and a projection
device.
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Why Do They Call Them Gizmos?
The use of the word Gizmo to
describe goes back to the
origins of ExploreLearning.
Dr. Raman Pfaff first coined
the term "gizmo" to describe
the new learning tool he
created while he was a
graduate student in nuclear
physics. When Dr. Pfaff joined
ExploreLearning Team
(employee number 2), the
name Gizmos came with him
and it stuck.
Not only does it sound fun,
which the Gizmos are, but also
because it implies that the
Gizmo is a piece in a larger
machine, if you will, the
machine being the whole of
the teaching and learning
process of which a Gizmo is
one part.
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Sample gizmo: Growing Plants
•You can gather data, do calculations, view
diagrams and take the screenshots….
Let’s see a Gizmo about “Growing Plants”…
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Gizmos are fun, easy to use, and flexible enough to support many
different teaching styles and contexts:
Many computers (in a computer lab,
or with a full set of laptops)
Two-to-five computers in your
classroom
One computer (teacher-led
investigation, using a projector)
Using Gizmos independently
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ExploreLearning won awards for…
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Testimonials…
Gizmos: "Greatest Thing Since the Graphing
Calculator"
… I want you folks to know that, as a 25-year
career high school math teacher, I find your
Gizmos to be the greatest thing to happen to
mathematics since the graphing calculator.
Janice DeLong
Instructor of Education at the University of Maine
at Presque Isle
source: http://blog.explorelearning.com/testimonials
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Effective *and* Efficient on the Easternmost Tip
of Canada
"...I used a Gizmo on rational functions in the
classroom and the students loved it. It condensed my
lesson by 20 minutes or more...I have a Master's of
Education in Information Technology and I have
always been keenly interested in learning
objects. Your "Gizmos" happen to be the BEST I
have ever used."
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Isadore Snook, a mathematics e-teacher at the
Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation in
Newfoundland, Canada
source: http://blog.explorelearning.com/testimonials
"A "Must-Have" App"
"... ExploreLearning is one of those rare "must-have"
applications of computer technology for math
classrooms.
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I am always on the lookout for new technologies
which will boost our students' interest in and
understanding of mathematics. The Gizmos of
ExploreLearning provide such a tool, enabling
students to inductively study both math and science.
…
From a technology standpoint, ExploreLearning is
ideal: no software to install since it is web-based and
features exceptionally easy management for
teachers. From an educational standpoint, it is
instructionally sound, motivating for students, and
comes with lots of options for teachers including
individual student accountability."
Joe Hill, the Directory of Math and Technology of
Rockingham County Public Schools in Harrrisonburg, VA
source: http://blog.explorelearning.com/testimonials
Thousands of Schools are using
ExploreLearning.com
This award-winning site is used by schools throughout the US
and around the World.
Just few of them:
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•
•
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Oklahoma Public School District, OK
St. Paul's Episcopal School, AL
Deerfield High School, IL
Abington High School, MA
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Western Albemarle High School, VA
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Why Gizmos Work: Research Evidence
Meta-analysis of educational research provides empirical evidence
for the instructional effectiveness of ExploreLearning's Gizmos.
Based on the summarized findings of over 100 educational
research studies involving 4,000+ experimental/control group
comparisons, a meta-analytical study (Marzano, 1998) identified
several instructional techniques that have a strong positive impact
on student achievement.
( Source: http://www.explorelearning.com/index.cfm?method=cCorp.dspResearch )
Click the button below to read the full study in PDF
format: Why Gizmos Work: Empirical Evidence for the
Instructional Effectiveness Of ExploreLearning's
Interactive Content.
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…How much does it cost?
From: Jeff Prevost
Hello Murtaza,
Thanks for requesting information about ExploreLearning! The types of licenses you
asked about are outlined below, but, please note I'll need student enrollment numbers to
give quotes for school site and district licenses. I'd be happy to introduce ExploreLearning
to your school or district. Let me know if you have any questions, need a proposal or
would like a presentation demo. ~ Jeff
Individual Teacher Accounts:
Teacher Plus Accounts are $599 (per teacher) for 12 months and allow student enrollment
and interaction. Includes remote access.
ExploreLearning Licenses / School or District Math and science departments: provide number
of students enrolled Math or science department: 500 student science license
$2995.00. 500 student math and science license $3500.00
Professional Development:6 hour onsite PD implements ExploreLearning Gizmos in math and
/ or science classrooms and incorporates best practices such as inquiry based learning with
features such as alignment with state standards and textbooks. Cost: $1,500 per day
Includes travel and expenses, with seating for up to 20 teachers.
Online Training:1 hour of online training: covers ExploreLearning site orientation, 2 - 3
Gizmos and features such as textbook and state standards alignment. Cost: $350 per hour,
up to 10 teachers per session.
Jeffrey Prevost
ExploreLearning
jprevost@explorelearning.com
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…So point your browser to
ExploreLearning.com to see the
Exciting world of the GIZMOS!
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