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

科罗拉多大学的PhET交互式模拟小组正在扩展他们的物理模拟专业知识，以开发8到10个模拟，旨在提高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，将真实的生活现象与基础科学联系起来，提供动态的互动和反馈，并通过显示和控制的内容进行询问。 在该项目的第二部分，一组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，所有这些都与完善的，基于研究的教学方法相协调，如点击问题，同伴指导和/或辅导式活动，以利用学习成果与模拟相结合。 该项目的第三部分重点研究课堂实施，包括学生学习和参与的措施，以及模拟设计的研究。 这条链是建立化学模拟设计的具体特点如何影响参与和学习，如何模拟教学整合的各种模式影响课堂环境以及学习和参与，以及模拟设计和课堂环境因素如何影响教师使用西姆斯。 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（以确保技术先进的软件，图形和界面）与化学教育研究人员携手合作，并正在使用建立的PhET团队循环通过编码，测试和完善，以实现有效和用户友好的sim目标。模拟，课堂材料，和教师支持资源形成了一套免费的，基于网络的资源，任何人都可以使用，以提高化学教学和学习。 这些模拟正在促进对科学和技术的深刻概念理解和积极态度，这反过来又导致美国和世界各地的学生在化学入门课程中的教育得到改善。

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.