It's a Virtual World - Simulations

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Simulations

Students today need "to participate in the processes that makes up intellectual accomplishment, tasks that are generally inquiry driven, span different media, link different disciplines, have more than one right answer, multiple routes to each of these answers, an understandable purpose and a connection to the real world outside."

"Kids are completely comfortable with the visual bombardment of simultaneous images, text and sounds because they provide experiences that can convey more information in a few seconds than reading an entire book."

Simulations
Simulations are animations that model a real environment or system. Below we have divided them into those that provide an opportunity to test variables and those that test within a more complex real world situation.

Interactive Simulations
What happens when I .... ?

From Marco Polo/NCTM
(National Council of Teachers of Mathematics)

* Interactive Math Tools--tools only
o K-2 Bobbie Be ar Counting Strategies
o 3-5 Cubes
o 6-8 Codes
o 9-12 Vector Investigation - Storm Chaser
o 4-12 Robot Sketcher
o PK-5 Patch Tool
* Electronic Examples--include teacher helps
o K-2 The Concept of Triangle and the Properties of Polygons
o 3-5 Understanding Distance, Speed and Time Relationships
o 6-8 Comparing Properties of the Mean and Median
o 9-12 Using Graphs, Equations, and Tables

From Marco Polo/AAAS
(American Assoc. for the Advancement of Science)
* Science NetLinks
o K-2 Nowhere to Hide--camouflage and pollution
o 3-5 Break it Down--parts of a system

From Other Sources
o Amazing Space--comet simulations
o Tornado simulation
o Strombolian (Volcano) Eruption
o Rollercoaster simulation
o Destroy the Castle

Interactive simulations within a more complex real world context.
What would it be like to be .... ?

From Educational Web Adventures
o Bridge to Classroom--bridge designer (test in an earthquake)
o Amazon Interactive--villager (manage the growth of ecotourism)
o A. Pintura Art Detective--detective (determine the mystery artist of a painting)

From Other Sources
o Jason Digital Lab Spacecraft Engineer--spacecraft designer
o NASA's Mars Exploration Program--planetary explorer
o MarsQuest Online--planetary explorer
o Escape from Planet Knob -- worker on another planet trying to get home
o Earthquake simulation--builder (test in an earthquake)
o Understanding Slavery--witness at a slave auction
o The Underground Railroad--escaping slave
o Order in the Court--colonial justice (hear cases)
NOVA Interactives Archive--search by subject