PhET Simulations
What’s New in Chemistry:
Free, Researched, Web-
Based Resources
Trish Loeblein and Emily Moore
PhET Interactive Simulations,
University of Colorado

Introductions & Goals
Who are you?
A. STEM teacher
B. Administration
C. Teacher trainer
D. Technology Instructor/ Coordinator
E. Other

Introductions & Goals
What do you know about PhET?
A. Never heard of PhET
B. Seen PhET, but never used in class
C. Used PhET some in class
D. Use PhET frequently

Introductions & Goals
Who would you describe your grade level interest?
A. Middle School
B. High School
C. Middle and High School
D. Teacher Training

Introductions & Goals
What are your goals today?

Session Outline
1. See what’s new for Chemistry in PhET Simulations Project
2. How sims support inquiry
• Features of sims that enable productive inquiry
• Design and Research
• Specific features for MS/HS learners
3. What does inquiry learning with a sim look like?
4. Activity Design for Inquiry

What is PhET?
Suite of >100 interactive sims on science!

Where is PhET?
Or download!
(

140 MB) http://phet.colorado.edu

Who is PhET?
University Faculty, Post-docs,
K-12 Teachers, Computer Developers

How can PhET be free?
NSF
University of Colorado
The O’Donnell Foundation
Carl Wieman &Sarah Gilbert
Hewlett Foundation
Collaborative agreement with King Saud University https://phet.colorado.edu/en/about/sponsors

Accessible
• Open-use License: Creative Commons – Attribution
• Easy to translate for World-wide Use:
Over 2700 translations in 59 languages
• Over 15 million sims run per year, and growing
PhET sims run from website 2004-2010
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Downloaded
Run Online
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

 Pick and choose which sims to use by topic, keyword, or grade level
 Customize to your environment and your learning goals
 Search database of activities of over 500 by PhET or
Teacher-users

Circuit Construction Kit CCK in middle school:
“Make the light bulb light”
CCK in high school:
“Explain why the light dims when you turn the heater on”

Design

Design
Interviews

Design
Interviews
Classroom
Use

Design
Interviews
Classroom
Use

Design
Research Base
Classroom
Use
Interviews

In the sim intuitive?
Before

In the sim intuitive?
Before After

Compare these tools?
Thoughts on these tools …
Sodium
Chloride http://www.flinnsci.com

Implicitly scaffold inquiry through design of controls and representations
Use accurate, dynamic visual representations
Show the invisible
Create a game-like environment
Make simulations highly interactive
Provide real-time, animated feedback as students play
Allow actions that would be difficult or impossible in the real world
Provide an intuitive interface, usable without instructions

What does sim-based inquiry learning look like?
Lecture/classroom
Visual Aid, Demo complement,
Interactive Lecture Demos, & Concept tests
?

What might sim-based inquiry learning look like?
Lab and Recitation
Group activity, Exploration and discovery
?

Designing Activities Comparison:
Build an Atom sim Discussion
1. What will students be doing in each activity?
2. What will students learn in each activity?
3.
What’s the teacher doing?
Find out the charge of an atom that has 6 protons / 5 neutrons/
6 electrons. Show the full symbol for this atom.
Investigate to find what determines the mass of an atom. Test your ideas and change if needed.
Show examples that fit your rule.

Tips for Productive Inquiry
• 5-10 minute open play:
– Establish student ownership for sim
– Students get familiar with controls
• Minimize/eliminate “sim-specific directions”
• Use open, investigative questions
• Use “Creating PhET Activities” handout

Pre-test
How do we assess PhET?
Sim
Post-test
Activity

How do students feel?
How __________ was this recitation compared to others?
1. useful for your learning
2. enjoyable
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
N = 155 useful enjoyable more same less

Stay in touch with social media

How can you contribute?
Send us your ideas for new sims
Report bugs
Email: phethelp@colorado.edu
Share your ideas for class use

• Suite of interactive simulations (>100)
• Physics, chemistry, math
Expanding into biology, earth science
• Research-based and user-tested
• Free!
Online or downloadable (~140 MB)
• Easy to use and incorporate in class http://phet.colorado.edu