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Number Sense for Primary Education with PhET Simulations

Rebecca Vieyra and Catherine Carter

PhET Interactive Simulations (https://phet.colorado.edu/), a project of the University of Colorado Boulder, provides fun, free, interactive, research-based science and mathematics simulations for use across, primary, secondary, and higher education levels. We extensively test and evaluate each simulation to ensure educational effectiveness. All simulations are open source and free to all students and teachers.

Read more

PhET Interactive Simulations (https://phet.colorado.edu/), a project of the University of Colorado Boulder, provides fun, free, interactive, research-based science and mathematics simulations for use across, primary, secondary, and higher education levels. We extensively test and evaluate each simulation to ensure educational effectiveness. All simulations are open source and free to all students and teachers.

In this course, you will (a) acquire teaching and facilitation strategies for how to use PhET simulations in a K-2 classroom, (b) explore how PhET simulations can support multilingual students, and (c) engage with lessons supporting students’ learning of counting, number sense, and place value.

To finish this course, you need to complete one assignment with peer review: complete one early math teacher guide (using a template) to plan a lesson on numeracy using one of the three PhET simulations introduced in this course.

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What's inside

Syllabus

In this module, you will learn about PhET’s teaching philosophy and how this philosophy is supported with meaningful sim-based lessons.
Make a Ten
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Suitable for educators teaching students from kindergarten to grade 2
Emphasizes providing a solid understanding of number sense for diverse student populations
Offers free, interactive, and research-based simulations for enhancing math lessons
Provides guidance on creating effective sim-based lessons for different classroom settings
Supports multilingual students by exploring how PhET simulations can benefit them
Requires completion of an assignment with peer review, ensuring active participation and knowledge retention

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Reviews summary

Phet simulations for primary number sense teaching

According to learners, this course offers practical strategies and engaging PhET simulations for teaching number sense effectively in K-2 classrooms. Students found the content highly relevant for primary educators, praising its focus on supporting diverse student populations and fostering a positive mathematical identity. The peer review assignment is often highlighted as a valuable, albeit sometimes varied, experience for refining lesson planning skills. While some experienced educators found the pacing a bit basic, the course is widely recommended for its clear, actionable content.
Peer-reviewed lesson plan assignment strengthens learning.
"The peer review assignment, while requiring effort, truly solidified my understanding and helped me refine my teaching approach."
"The final assignment reinforced the learning beautifully."
"The peer review really sharpened my lesson planning skills."
Focuses on strategies for multilingual and anxious students.
"I particularly appreciated the module on supporting multilingual students."
"The focus on math identity and reducing anxiety was a refreshing and much-needed perspective."
"The modules on supporting diverse learners were particularly strong."
Provides actionable methods directly applicable to K-2 settings.
"I've already started using these ideas in my classroom, and the engagement is noticeable."
"Very practical and relevant for primary education. The course provides solid methods for using the simulations to build foundational number skills."
"It provided concrete examples and templates that I could immediately adapt."
Learn how to use PhET simulations to boost number sense.
"This course was incredibly insightful! The way it integrated PhET simulations into practical K-2 lesson plans for number sense was brilliant."
"A fantastic resource for any early elementary teacher. The Number Play and Make a Ten simulations were presented with clear, actionable strategies."
"The PhET simulations are fantastic and the course shows you exactly how to maximize their potential for early math."
May feel basic or slow for those familiar with PhET.
"My only minor critique is that some parts felt a bit basic if you're already familiar with PhET, but for someone new, it's a great intro."
"I found the pace a bit slow at times, and some of the discussions felt repetitive."
"It's fine for absolute beginners but not for me."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Number Sense for Primary Education with PhET Simulations with these activities:
Refresh knowledge of early mathematics
Build a stronger foundation by reviewing the basics of early mathematics concepts like counting, number sense, and place value.
Show steps
  • Review counting principles and strategies
  • Explore different representations of numbers (e.g., number lines, ten frames)
  • Practice comparing and ordering numbers
Explore PhET simulations for early math
Gain familiarity with the PhET simulations used in the course and learn how to use them effectively in your teaching.
Browse courses on PhET Simulations
Show steps
  • Visit the PhET website and browse the simulations available for early math
  • Select a simulation and explore its features and functionalities
  • Watch video tutorials or read documentation to learn best practices for using the simulation
Attend a PhET workshop
Attend a PhET workshop to learn more about the simulations and how to use them effectively in your teaching.
Show steps
  • Find a PhET workshop in your area.
  • Register for the workshop.
  • Attend the workshop.
  • Implement what you learned in your classroom.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Collaborate with peers on lesson planning
Enhance your teaching skills by collaborating with peers to plan and develop effective lessons using PhET simulations.
Show steps
  • Connect with peers in the course or online forums
  • Form a study group and select a PhET simulation to focus on
  • Brainstorm ideas for incorporating the simulation into a lesson plan
  • Share and discuss lesson plans with the group for feedback and improvement
Design and implement a PhET-based lesson
Apply your knowledge and skills by creating a comprehensive lesson plan that incorporates PhET simulations to enhance student learning.
Browse courses on Lesson Planning
Show steps
  • Identify specific learning objectives for the lesson
  • Select and prepare the PhET simulation to be used in the lesson
  • Develop engaging activities and discussion prompts to guide students' exploration of the simulation
  • Plan for assessment and reflection to evaluate student learning
Support other educators in using PhET simulations
Contribute to the community by sharing your expertise and supporting other educators in their efforts to use PhET simulations effectively.
Browse courses on Mentoring
Show steps
  • Identify opportunities to share your knowledge and experience with other educators
  • Create resources or materials to support other educators in implementing PhET simulations
  • Participate in online forums or workshops to provide guidance and support to other educators

Career center

Learners who complete Number Sense for Primary Education with PhET Simulations will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

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Course image
Effort
2 weeks, 7.5 hours/week
Level
Introductory
Via
Coursera
Institution
University of Colorado Boulder
Instructors
Rebecca Vieyra
Catherine Carter
Language
English
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Suitable for educators teaching students from kindergarten to grade 2
Emphasizes providing a solid understanding of number sense for diverse student populations
Offers free, interactive, and research-based simulations for enhancing math lessons
Provides guidance on creating effective sim-based lessons for different classroom settings
Supports multilingual students by exploring how PhET simulations can benefit them
Requires completion of an assignment with peer review, ensuring active participation and knowledge retention
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