Instructional Software

Name: Cassy Smith

Software Title: PhET
URL: https://phet.colorado.edu/
Function(s) of Instructional Software (check all that apply):
Drill and Practice
Tutorial
Simulation
Instructional Game
Problem Solving
Features of the Software (check all that apply):
Assessment Monitoring/Reporting (Keeps track of student data and/or generates reports for the teacher)
Allows
teacher to create customized lessons for students
Multi-user or collaborative functions with others in class
Multiuser or collaborative functions with others beyond local class
Accessible to students beyond the school day
Accessible via mobile devices
Multiple languages
Safety, security, and/or privacy features
Strengths of the Software: Increase motivation, Makes experimentation safe, allows repetitions with variations,
allows observations of complex processes, can compress time or slow down processes, gets students involved
Suggestions for Improvement: It would be nice if it was usable on tablets and mobile phones. The PhET website is
in the process of making this happen. It would also be nice if there were more questions that could students could
answer to challenge their understanding after viewing a demonstration.
Standards Addressed. See https://www.georgiastandards.org/Pages/Default.aspx
SP5.b.Determinetherelationshipamongpotentialdifference,current,andresistanceinadirectcurrentcircuit
SP5.c.Determineequivalentresistancesinseriesandparallelcircuits
SCSh6.d.Participateingroupdiscussionsofscientificinvestigationandcurrentscientificissues.
Grade Level/Content Area(s): all grades; Science and Math
Blooms Level of Critical Thinking Required (check all that apply). See http://epltt.coe.uga.edu/index.php?
title=Bloom%27s_Taxonomy

Remembering
Understanding
Applying
Analyzing
Evaluating
Creating
Description of how to implement in the class:
Students will being class by investigating Ohms Law by using classroom computers. In small groups, students will go
to the ohms-law simulator on PhET. Students will leave the resistance set to a particular value and then change the
voltage of the system. Students will record how the current changes when the voltage changes for at least five
different voltages. Afterwards, students will be able to generalize how current change with voltage. Then, students will
leave the voltage the same and record how the current changes when the resistance changes for at least five different
resistances. Afterwards, students will be able to generalize how current change with resistance. The teacher will walk
around and give guidance to the students during simulations and differentiate instruction based on students needs.
After completing the simulations, the teacher will explain the history and practical applications of Ohms Law. The
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Instructional Software
teacher will demonstrate to the whole class how to solve math problems using Ohms law. Then, students will solve
math problems based on Ohms Law individually. The teacher will assess these problems to inform her how well
students understand the concepts and to determine if she needs to differentiate the instruction for different students.