Nicholas Kapetanis's List: Science

Interactive Physics Software

The constructivist philosophy believes that students excel by building and constructing for themselves the specific knowledge they need, rather than having a teacher dictate numerous facts. Teachers play an important role as knowledge facilitators.

With funding from the National Science Foundation, we have developed an interactive computer simulation for middle grades science students to learn scientific inquiry and 21st century skills. River City has the look and feel of a videogame but contains content developed from National Science Education Standards, National Educational Technology Standards, and 21st Century Skills.

Gizmos! Online simulations that power inquiry and understanding

teacher is able to make a PowerPoint presentation (usually in the form of a review game) with a question and 4 possible answers. Each student gets a little remote control and when a question is presented, each student can "lock in" their answer. After everyone locks in (you can't move to the next question before the sensor picks up everyone's response) a graph appears showing the percentage for each question. When all questions have been answered, I am able to print out detailed sheets telling me everything from what question Johnny and Suzy got wrong (individually) to what questions my class as a whole had the most trouble on. This is an AWESOME way to assess learning too!

The Science Olympiad tournaments are rigorous academic interscholastic competitions that consist of a series of team events, which students prepare for during the year. Some events follow the format of popular board games, TV shows and athletic games. These challenging and motivational events are well balanced between the various science disciplines of biology, earth science, chemistry, physics and technology.

Competition challenges teams of young people and their mentors to solve a common problem in a six-week timeframe using a standard "kit of parts" and a common set of rules. Teams build robots from the parts and enter them in competitions designed by Dean Kamen, Dr. Woodie Flowers, and a committee of engineers and other professionals.

SIMULATION: On the physics and mechanics of a medieval trebuchet, a type of catapult, its design, working and optimization through improved simulation and mathematical analysis.

Freeware simulations in science including a Molucular Workbench

RoboChamps - Microsoft launches virtual robot programming competition