Teaching Electricity and Magnetism with PhET Simulations

Science educators often struggle to make invisible phenomena like electric fields and magnetic currents tangible for students. This course provides a clear framework for using PhET interactive simulations to bring these abstract concepts to life in your classroom. You will transition from traditional lecture-based instruction to an active, inquiry-based learning model, using digital tools to deepen student understanding of electromagnetism. By reading detailed pedagogical strategies and analyzing structured lesson templates, you will learn how to facilitate meaningful student exploration. What you'll learn: Understand the foundational principles of active learning and guided inquiry in physics education; Configure PhET simulations to model static electricity, circuits, and magnetic fields effectively; Design structured, text-based activity sheets that guide student exploration without giving away the answers; Apply strategies for facilitating classroom discussions around virtual lab outcomes; Integrate modern digital accessibility best practices to support diverse learners during simulation activities; Assess student conceptual understanding of electromagnetism through simulation-based tasks. This course begins with key terminology and foundational definitions of active learning before moving into practical lesson planning and implementation strategies. You will study written examples of successful simulation prompts and learn how to adapt them for your own classroom. This course is designed for science teachers, educators, and homeschooling parents looking to enhance their physics instruction, with no prior experience with virtual labs required. Start transforming your physics lessons with interactive digital strategies today.