7.++Simulations

· Jake Beeney-Edutopia · [|www.edutopia.org/simulation-nation] · This website provides teachers with numerous virtual learning activities to help them keep their students attentive, interested, and learning all at the same time. I believe these virtual learning activities have a dual learning purpose. While the students utilize technology during these lessons they become more familiar with new technology which is essential in education today. Aside from helping students keep up with technology these lessons also teach the students new information in a variety of areas such as math, social studies, and science. This site has been recently updated keeping it fresh and also there are reviews from other users covering how they benefited from these virtual learning activities.
 * Submit your examples of simulations here. You should focus on simulations that would be important to teachers or educators. Check page 213 in your text if you have questions related to simulations. Please be sure that your submission contains your name, website title and address (hyperlinked), and at least a 100 word review of the simulation (see** **submission example** **with questions).**

= · Casie Golliday – “simSchool, a classroom simulator for educators.” = = · [] = = · This site is for teachers to use to simulate their own classrooms or a preset classroom and learn to understand students’ behavior and learning styles and to practice their classroom management techniques. If you’re a new teacher and want to improve or test your skills to give u more confidence then you can sign up and chose a preset class. You can choose from 1 student, 5 students or 18 students. Then you have the option to choose the types of personalities in the classroom, either fixed or random. After, you have the option to either have a simplified simulation or one that includes visual, auditory and kinesthetic variables. During the classroom simulation you can assign assignments and choose what to say to them either positive r negative. Each students is also on your “main computer” on your virtual desk and that has each students grades and a little about them. Its really good practice. =

Elise Davidshofer—Powers of Ten [|**http://microcosm.web.cern.ch/Microcosm/P10/english/welcome.html**] Powers of Ten is a simulation that is based on the movie, “Powers of Ten” by Charles and Ray Eames. The simulation is good for students in middle school or early high school classes. If you as a teacher could get a copy of the movie that this is based on, this might be a good follow-up activity. There is a section that describes how the powers of ten work. However, the website also give a picture of a flower bed and the picture is adjusted based on the power of ten that you choose—even I was amazed at this cool feature on the website!


 * Benjamin Culik - The MegaPenny Project
 * [|Megapenny Simulation]
 * The MegaPenny Project is a simulation that helps students to visualize huge numbers. This would be a great simulation for students in middle school classes. People regularly talk about millions of miles, billions of bytes, or trillions of dollars, but it's still difficult to grasp exactly how large those numbers actually are without being able to see them. This simulation shows, step by step, increasing amounts of pennies, and really shows how big these numbers are. It also provides the value of the pennies, size of the pile, weight, and area. It even shows comparisons that are easy to understand, showing the size of the pile of pennies relative to things like a football field, school bus, and the Sears tower.


 * Cara Philpott-Code Blue: A Simulation Covering Six Major Body Systems and Important Public Health Issues
 * [|http://www.interact-simulations.com/c/product.html?record@TF41034+s@qVFAIvYFD21+w]
 * This simulation allows students to work in groups to learn about the circulatory, respiratory, nervous, digestive, muscular/skeletal, and immune systems of the human body. The students are healthcare professionals that learn about the six systems and diseases that can cause severe damage to the systems. They learn about health, prevention, and risks. They take board exams, form medical clinics, develop code cards, and present cases on grand rouds as physicians. The students have patients that they must present on grand rounds-the disease, the system or systems effected, the treatment of the patient and the outcome for the patient.

· Alanna Blackburn – Pythagorean Theorem Lesson · [|**http://www.arcytech.org/java/pythagoras/pyth_tip1.html**]

· This website is awesome for students to go to in order to help them learn more about the Pythagorean Theorem. This topic is usually discussed in grades 6, 7, or 8. It is important that teachers are aware of such a wonderful website so that students are capable of accessing the site. This specific website goes through the Pythagorean Theorem step by step and gives many different tips on how to remember this theory. The website also has a variety of different activities to participate with in order to really make sure the concept is understood from basic concepts to complex concepts. There is also a table of contents that can be accessed so that students and or teachers know exactly what they can navigate through this website.


 * Kelli Hogan-Wordz
 * [] -Click on "Language Arts" in the red box at the top of the page. Click on the first game in the left colum called "Wordz."
 * This website is really helpful for students because it is mainly an educational website that has hundreds of fun games for the students to play. The games on the website can be played by students in all grade levels. It has games for the following subjects: math, science, language arts, and social studies. Though most of the games on the website are education-based there is also an arcade where non-education games can be played. This is a positive characteristic because some students might get worn out on the education games, and they might want to take a break and play games of their choice. The particular game I chose is called "Wordz", and it is from the language arts category. I thought this game was really neat because it helps students with spelling. The game requires the students to switch letters around to form words, and once they find all the words on that level they are able to succeed to the next level. This game is helpful for students of all ages because as the level increases, the words get more challenging.


 * Zach Wolf - InterAct
 * [|http://www.interact-simulations.com]
 * InterAct is one of the best sites I have found online that provides simulations for students. It has a huge variety of simulations which are all categorized by the subject as well as grade level. It makes it quick and easy for teachers to find exactly what they need that would suit their class. The simulations must be bought by the teacher, but are very reasonably priced, and in most school districts these simulations would most likely be covered by the school. The site allows you to view a preview from the simulation as well as the teacher’s guide before purchasing so you don’t end up wasting money on something that isn’t right for the subject your teaching.


 * Trevor Mitchell- Digital frog
 * []
 * The digital frog website is an online simulation of a frog dissection. The program is a virtual dissection of a frog that allows students to dissect without all the hassle. In addition the student is able to discover anatomy and physiology with direct connections between muscle and skeletal structures of humans and frogs. Along with the software comes a workbook to follow along with as the student learns about the dissection of a frog. The program does not stop simply at a virtual dissection but goes on in depth to explain the physiological attributes of the frog such as the heart and cell reproduction. This is a great resource for teachers who want to dissect without the trouble and ethical concerns of live dissection.

Gizmos offers over 450 online simulations for grades 3-12. There is a browse gizmos tab where you can find simulations by grade and topic. Teachers can also find simulations that go with a specific textbook. Gizmos also offers a few college level simulations. To use this site there is a yearly fee. You can also sign up for a 30 day free trial that gives you access to the entire gizmo library to see if it's something you would use regularly. Teachers once they join can give a class code to their students to enroll in a class and participate online.
 * Ashley Brinkman-Gizmos!
 * []


 * Sarah Sedivy - Educational Simulations
 * []
 * The first subject header is English Studies Simulation and the click on the first one that says Alphabet Superhighway. It says the grades K-12 can do. Its worldwide website sponsered by the US Department of Educations Read Write Now.