This project (2018-1-SE01-KA201-039098) has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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TITLE
PhET Interactive Simulations, Area builder
LEARNING OBJECT
The relationship between polygons with different side lengths and area.
NAME OF AUTHOR(S)
Karina Hensberry et al
NAME OF PRODUCER
University of Colorado, Boulder
DATE OF PRODUCTION
2020
TYPE OF PRODUCT
Web Site/Portal, Mobile Apps, Downloadable software
SUBJECT TAUGHT
Math
TARGET GROUP AGE
10 – 13 years old
TUTORIAL SUPPORT
Yes
DESCRIPTION
PhET Interactive Simulations are web-based simulations to explore concepts in natural sciences and math. A user can filter for subject (physics, chemistry, biology, math and earth science), grade level (elementary school to university), compatibility (Java, Flash or HTML), accessibility (alternative input, interactive description, zoom and magnification or sound and sonification) and between 80 different languages. It is possible to download simulations to your computer.
The simulations are simple and intuitive. It is easy to alter parameters and observe the results. Teachers can use the simulations for demonstrations or students can use them for practical exercises. PhET offers video material where teachers describe how the simulations can be used in the classroom. They aim at inquiry-oriented teaching, encouraging students to ask questions.
The advantage of using PhET interactive simulation for area calculations is the possibility to observe how polygons with the same area can look different. The area builder contains a game where the students should build different polygons with different side lengths and calculate areas for different polygons collecting stars as a measurement of their performance. The game becomes a challenge and engage the students which drive their performance at the same time as they have to think.
The teacher has to teach the concepts about area before using PhET and then give instruction and examples how to use the PhET simulation together with the students.
COMMENTS
Carl Wieman, a Nobel prize laurate, created PhET interactive simulations to improve teaching and learning. It belongs to a project at the University of Colorado, Boulder and is associated with research projects on students’ usage and design of the simulations, studying how efficient simulations are for learning and how students interact with the simulations.

PhET and Area builder was used at Ronnaskolan for a sixth-grade mathematics lesson introducing the area concept. The students were working with the game at the difficulty level 1–4 creating polygons with different area and calculating areas from different polygons.
The students liked the game, and the teacher thought the students were more engaged and thinking. The disadvantage is that the teacher could not follow the students’ performance.