Shannon's+Presentation

= The applications of animations and simulations in science classroom =

__ Overview of Presentation __
** 1. **** Why do we need animations and simulations in science teaching? ** n Problems in Science teaching and learning à  misconceptions: scientific language; abstract conceptions; lack of evidences for observation; lack of hands-on experience. n Possible solutions à  animations and simulations online: visualize the conceptions; animated lessons; simulated experiments. n Why are animations and simulations necessary? •Training students in scientific observation • Training students in thinking / analyzing • Let students get more hands-on experiences n Why are the simulations useful? · Opportunities for students to get their own experience; · Students learn the lesson inductively; · Simulations compensate the real experiment trainings. ** 2. **** What are the animations and the simulations? ** n   Wiki-definition: “ ** Animation ** is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement”; “**Simulation** is the imitation of some real thing, state of affairs, or process”. n  The animations and simulations we’re looking for are software or programs specially designed for educational purpose: scientific and professional, accurate and vivid.  ** 3. **** The availability of these tools for the classroom. ** n The best websites for free online animations: a) [] b) [] n  The best websites for free online simulations. [] **4. ****Examples:**
 * // Animations //**

//1) Visualize the conceptions://
­ -- Einstein's special relativity- length contraction: [] ­ -- Charge a metallic sphere by induction: [] ­ -- Projectile motion: [] // 2) Correct the misconceptions // ­ --  Distance and displacement: they are not “interchangeable”; they are not “the same”.   []   ­ --  DC current:    []  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">­ --  The properties of gases:  []  // 3) Stimulate the class atmosphere // <span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; msobidifontsize: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';"> ­ The monkey and the zookeeper: (questioning in story-telling-style) [] // 4) Questioning: // What if the zookeeper shoots below the monkey? What if considering the air resistance? <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msospacerun: yes;"> **// Simulations: //** //  5) Simulation online: //  [] :  1D motion **5.** **Benefits to teachers** • Engage students in active learning if it’s used properly; • Less classroom management if students are focused on learning; • Share a variety of intelligent resources over the world. ** 6. Criticisms ** •It’s challenging to use both tools properly in the classroom; •It’s hard to find a good simulation tools; •Few free good simulation tools; bad tools will cause more flaws; •Risk to computer system for downloading free software. Explore these three websites I provide. Choose the topic you’re interested in and check how it’s helpful to understand concepts and correct misconceptions; what’s useful to teaching? Fill the working sheet with your comment, questions, and suggestions. Write down your pro and con. ** 7. Additional resources for further exploration ** <span style="font-family: Wingdings; color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Ø <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial;">General animations • // []: // a personal blog with animations in biology and chemistry • // []: // general animations <span style="display: none; font-family: Times New Roman; color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; msobidifontsize: 9.0pt; mso-hide: all; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msohide: all;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; msobidifontsize: 9.0pt;">•//[]// <span style="display: none; font-family: Times New Roman; color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; msobidifontsize: 9.0pt; mso-hide: all; msohide: all;"> •//[|http://www.upscale.utoronto.ca/GeneralInterest/Harrison/Flash/#em]// <span style="display: none; font-family: Times New Roman; color: #545472; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hide: all; msohide: all; msofareastlanguage: EN-US;"> <span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Ø <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Simulations • [] <span style="display: none; font-family: Times New Roman; color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; msobidifontsize: 9.0pt; mso-hide: all; msohide: all;"> • [] <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; msobidifontsize: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial;"> • [] <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; msobidifontsize: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial;"> • [|http://www.chem.iastate.edu/group/Greenbowe/sections/projectfolder/animationsinde][|x.htm] <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial;"> <span style="display: none; font-family: Times New Roman; color: #545472; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hide: all; msohide: all; msofareastlanguage: EN-US;"> Ø Websites where you can buy simulation software [] [|http://www.physicscurriculum.com/software.htm?gclid=CKyBn8LRopsCFRpN][|5Qodk1JwCQ] <span style="display: none; color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hide: all;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; msospacerun: yes; msofareastfontfamily: SimSun; msofareastlanguage: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; msoansilanguage: EN-US; msobidilanguage: AR-SA;">
 * 6. Activities and Discussions **