PhET Interactive Simulations: Using Research-Based Simulations to Transform Undergraduate Chemistry Education

科罗拉多大学的Phet互动模拟小组正在扩展他们在物理模拟方面的专业知识，以开发八到十个模拟，旨在增强学生在普通化学课程中的内容学习。这些模拟是为了提供高度吸引人的学习环境，将现实生活中的现象与潜在的科学联系起来，提供动态的互动和反馈，并通过显示和控制的内容来进行询问。在该项目的第二阶段，一群经验丰富的教师参与者正在开发和测试讲座材料、课堂活动和家庭作业，所有这些都与成熟的基于研究的教学方法相协调，如点击问题、同行指导和/或辅导式活动，以利用与模拟相结合的学习成果。该项目的第三部分侧重于课堂实施的研究，包括学生学习和参与的测量，以及模拟设计的研究。这篇文章正在建立化学模拟教学设计的特定特征如何影响参与和学习，模拟模拟教学的各种教学整合模式如何影响课堂环境以及学习和参与，以及模拟模拟设计和课堂情境因素如何影响教师对模拟模拟学习的使用。为了确保成功，该项目将SIM设计建立在教育研究的基础上，利用高水平的软件专业人员(以确保技术复杂的软件、图形和界面)与化学教育研究人员携手工作，并使用建立的Phet团队通过编码、测试和改进来实现有效和用户友好的SIM的目标。收集模拟、课堂材料和教师支持资源形成一套免费的、基于网络的资源，任何人都可以使用它来改进化学教学。这些模拟促进了对科学和技术的深刻概念理解和积极态度，这反过来又改善了美国和世界各地学生在化学入门课程中的教育。

The PhET Interactive Simulations group at the University of Colorado is expanding their expertise of physics simulations to the development of eight-to-ten simulations designed to enhance students' content learning in general chemistry courses. The simulations are being created to provide highly engaging learning environments which connect real life phenomena to the underlying science, provide dynamic interactivity and feedback, and scaffold inquiry by what is displayed and controlled. In a second strand of the project, a group of experienced faculty participants are developing and testing lecture materials, classroom activities, and homework, all coordinated with well-established, research-based teaching methods like clicker questions, peer instruction, and/or tutorial-style activities, to leverage learning gains in conjunction with the simulations. The third strand of the project focuses on research on classroom implementation, including measures of student learning and engagement, and research on simulation design. This strand is establishing how specific characteristics of chemistry sim design influence engagement and learning, how various models of instructional integration of the sims affect classroom environments as well as learning and engagement, and how sim design and classroom context factors impact faculty use of sims. To ensure success the project is basing sim design on educational research, utilizing high-level software professionals (to ensure technically sophisticated software, graphics, and interfaces) working hand-in-hand with chemistry education researchers, and is using the established PhET team to cycle through coding, testing, and refinement towards a goal of an effective and user friendly sim.The collection of simulations, classroom materials, and faculty support resources form a suite of free, web-based resources that anyone can use to improve teaching and learning in chemistry. The simulations are promoting deep conceptual understanding and increasing positive attitudes about science and technology which in turn is leading to improved education for students in introductory chemistry courses both in the United States and around the world.