Whether students plan on becoming geologists, biologists, nanotechnologists, or astrophysicists, they will all need to have an operational understanding of the laws of physics that govern our universe. In all disciplines of science, physics is the foundation which we use to describe the interaction between objects and the world around us. It is important then, for students to have a firm grasp in understanding the laws of forces and motion, which can be used to describe phenomena from the subatomic level to the creation and expansion of the cosmos.
Two of the best websites I have used in my classroom to help students understand force and motion is the Physics Education Technology (http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/index.php?cat=Motion) and online physics games (http://www.physicsgames.net/). The PhET website provides various interactive simulations for students to manipulate and measure the forces and motions of objects and related phenomena. To demonstrate force and motion, students can manipulate various objects and view measurements of those forces through graphs and various recording devices offered in the simulation. Also, students can change variables in the simulations such as mass, friction, location, etc to see how objects react under varying conditions. For example, in the “Energy Skate Park” simulation a skater is placed on a ramp and graphs can be displayed showing the kinetic and potential energy of the skater as he moves along the ramp. Students have the ability to change the shape of the ramp, skaters, friction, location, and display different types of graphs. These simulations are fantastic for force and motion demonstrations either as whole class discussion, in small groups, or individually, and I have implemented them in all three situations.
Another great website my students love is a compilation of physics games in which students are challenged to solve a problem or overcome a series of obstacles as they move through various levels of increasing difficulty. These games are highly engaging and require students to think critically in order to be successful in the virtual world. For example, in the game “Cover Orange” the goal is the find a protected location for the orange(s) to avoid being rotted by the storm cloud. In order to do this, obstacles must be overcome and objects must be moved to save the oranges. These obstacles become increasingly more difficult as the game progresses requiring higher level thought processes to solve the problem and protect the orange. These games can be used in small groups or individually. I find that using the games in with pairs of students works the best as students can work together to solve the challenge. These games require students to have a basic understanding of force and motion to move the objects on the screen to win the challenge of that particular level.
I use the motion simulations from the PhET website frequently when teaching friction, gravity, Newton's Laws of Motion, periodic motion, and potential and kinetic energy. First I use the simulation as a demonstration model when covering the topic, then I may provide a laptop to groups of 2 or 3 students to work on together changing variables and observing reactions of the objects. I also use the PhET simulations in review for tests, as each student will get a laptop and questions to answer requiring them to manipulate the simulation and analyze the graphs in order to answer the questions.
The physics games can either be used as a station for students who finish work early, or as an extension lesson all it's own. The students work in pairs and choose one of the games. They play the game until they are unable to continue to any higher level, or if they finish the game. At the end of their playing session, students are to write a summary of the challenges they faced, the forces they had to apply or overcome, as well as some of the types of motion they recognized. Students view this activity as fun and don't realize they are actually applying some of the things they have learned in the process.
These are not the only websites that will enhance student interest in science, but these are two that I implement in my classroom. Other websites which can serve a similar purpose are listed below along with a link to those sites.
Amusement Park Physics. http://www.learner.org/interactives/parkphysics/
Forces in Action. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/10_11/forces_action.shtml
Galileo Drops the Ball. http://www.seed.slb.com/labcontent.aspx?id=10206&terms=galileo
Laws of Motion. http://www.neok12.com/Laws-of-Motion.htm
Newton’s Laws of Motion.http://science.discovery.com/interactives/literacy/newton/newton.html
The challenges with using technology in the classroom is that the teacher has to have access to computers, and also count on the fact that the technology will work when they need it to. Also, one may face criticism from parents or administration who may view the students playing games as not instructionally driven, however it you are able to produce evidence that their learning is applicable to these games and that it meets state standards then hopefully the parents and administration will be supportive.