Active Learning in STEM with PhET Interactive Simulations Coursera

Overview

Learn how to engage your students and enhance learning in math and science with free virtual labs and simulations from the University of Colorado Boulder's PhET Interactive Simulations project. In this Active Learning in STEM with PhET Interactive Simulations course offered by Coursera in partnership with University of Colorado Boulder, you will explore active learning strategies that you can incorporate into your own classroom, either online or in person. You will also learn how to evaluate the effectiveness of a learning experience by implementing a simulation-based lesson in your own classroom.

Founded in 2002 by Nobel Prize winner in physics Carl Wieman, the PhET Interactive Simulations project creates free simulations for science and mathematics that are based on extensive educational research on the design of virtual tools for education and how to successfully implement them in the classroom.

Applied Learning Project

• In this specialization, you will use PhET simulations to find relevant resources for your own teaching, craft plans for two whole class strategies to try, revise an activity against the PhET Equity Framework, create your own student activity sheet, and create a comprehensive Teacher Guide that you will implement with your own students or colleagues.

What You Will Learn:

• Identify PhET resources that meet your classroom needs and implement them through active learning strategies.

• Implement a teaching activity based on a simulation in your class and evaluate the outcomes with a reflection tool.

• Encourage student participation using teaching strategies for the whole class, small groups, and individuals.