PhET Project at the University of Colorado

I think found a hidden gem!

PhET Interactive Simulations, found here at http://phet.colorado.edu/, is an unbelievable website that provides interactive educational simulations with regards to lessons for physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science. On PhET, the simulations are (obviously) learning-based web applications and replicate natural phenomena, like "Glaciers" and "Projectile Motion", or scientific laboratories and experiments. Teacher and students can perform relevant activities to mirror how a scientist would study the phenomena. With PhET Interactive Simulations, you'll be able to produce and replicate, right on your local computer, what would take hundreds, (in some cases definitely) thousands of dollars to recreate with laboratories, research tools and equipment and/or special field trips to inconvenient and obscure destinations (i.e. glaciers).

For example, in the "Wave Interference" simulation, the student can study the wave phenomena with the options of creating waves through faucet water, audio speakers, and/or lasers. As academic exercises, the students will be able to use the tools provided (i.e. measuring sticks, a stopwatch, a lab-style wave detected) to detect constructive and destructive interference patterns and set-up slits to create and (thereafter) predict wave patterns. Please click right on the screen-shot below for an visual display of the "Wave Interference" simulation, which will double as an example of the bold and fun interfaces provided by PhET Interactive Simulations.

Advantages: Although the simulations look great, offer multiple ways to alter and modify the circumstances and outcome, and are very responsive to user interactions, PhET simulations are very easily to run. In spite of the video game-like usability and control, the PhET Interactive Simulations operate very smoothly with your web browser.

Basically, the PhET Interactive Simulations run completely on Java, which is just a programming language created by Sun Microsystems that facilitates very rich, interactive, and useful web applications (i.e. anything on a website that is asking you for information, and then doing something with it without refreshing your webpage, like an online Mortgage Calculator or video games is most likely Java). If you do not have Java, you can download it easily atwww.java.com. With a Java-enabled problem, you should have no problem using the simulations.

You'll also have the ability to download a specific simulation locally on your computer, so that you will be able to access and operate it without connecting to the Internet.

I love this application, and it is a little amazing that they give it away for free. PhET Interactive Simulations would be a great tool for classroom lectures and presentations, especially when you have access to an projector. Also, since the PhET Interactive Simulations are so fun and engaging, you can feel confident that you students will utilize them for homework assignments, should you developed questions that should be answered.

Disadvantages: I cannot think of many at all. The only aspect that is a little upsetting is that the "Teacher ideas and Activities" page (located here athttp://phet.colorado.edu/teacher_ideas/index.php), which requests user feedback and encourages the sharing and exchange of ideas on how to best utilize the simulations in the classroom, is largely unused. However, if more educators are turned-on to this application and contribute. that can change quickly.