Using Digital Simulations - Professional Development #3

Hello again,

As science teachers who strive to use inquiry based instruction for our students, we can sometimes find ourselves frustrated or demotivated by the difficulty of the work, unsupportive colleagues or administrators, and others who just want to roll the tape of direct instruction and be done with it. Blazing a new trail can be invigorating and tiresome at the same time.



 But because of our own experiences, observations and learning, we understand the value of this type of student learning that extends past the walls of our classroom into life-long learning skills.

Likewise the implementation of educational technology has tremendous potential and benefits for our students but like anything in education can be accompanied by many bumps in the road.

So for a little shot of motivation - please watch this youtube video.



Considering your previous exploration of the PhET simulations and your knowledge of the 5E inquiry learning cycle, write a comment to this post that indicates where you think a digital simulation could best fit that learning cycle. Please include a specific example which names the simulation and describes it's part in the 5E's.  For a quick refresher on the learning cycle description click here :

http://faculty.mwsu.edu/west/maryann.coe/coe/inquire/inquiry.htm

http://mvhs1.mbhs.edu/coremodels/learningcycle/lcmodel.html