Science simulation

Draft

Introduction

Science simulations are computer simulations that focus on science areas, in particular: physics, biology, chemistry, and earth science.

See also:

• computer simulation]
• math simulation

PHET Interactive Simulations

“Founded in 2002 by Nobel Laureate Carl Wieman, the PhET Interactive Simulations project at the University of Colorado Boulder creates free interactive math and science simulations. PhET sims are based on extensive education research and engage students through an intuitive, game-like environment where students learn through exploration and discovery.” Interactive Simulations For Science And Math (retr. April 24, 2019).

The PhET project is anchored in constructivist and socio-constructivist learning theory. Sims are designed to “encourage and support the active process of constructing knowledge, an interactive exchange between the student(s) and the content, rather than transmitting knowledge.”

Guiding

As also discussed in the guided discovery community, giving a "pure" simulation to a student is not very effective, i.e. both researchers and practitioners agree that learners need some explicit or implicit guidance and scaffolding. The question is how and how much.

Perkins et al. (2012) highlight the overarching importance and use of implicit scaffolding within sims. “Explicit scaffolding or guidance is ubiquitous in education. Within science instruction, an environment with significant explicit guidance can result in students merely following directions as opposed to engaging in sense- making and productive inquiry. Implicit scaffolding aims to retain a student’s sense of autonomy while creating an environment in which multiple, natural, investigative pathways and questions lead toward the desired knowledge acquisition. In short, implicit scaffolding guides without students feeling guided.”