Interactive science simulators from the University of Colorado Boulder. Classifies as IR, IA or IT depending on whether the simulator gives feedback or transforms the lesson outcome.
Interactive Amplify (IA)
Probability prediction game with simulator
The teacher poses three probability scenarios (e.g. five coin flips in a row, two dice rolling double sixes, drawing two aces from a shuffled deck). Each student commits to a prediction on a class Padlet before the simulator runs. The PhET probability simulator runs each scenario one thousand times. Students compare their predictions to the empirical results and post a one-line revision of their intuition.
Tools: PhET Simulations, Padlet
Virtual circuit lab with shared results
Each student designs and tests three circuits in a PhET circuit simulator (a series circuit with two bulbs, a parallel circuit with two bulbs, a circuit with mixed series and parallel). They post current and voltage readings into a shared class spreadsheet. The class scrolls all rows and the teacher highlights anomalies, asking the contributing student to debug their circuit.
Tools: PhET Simulations, Google Sheets
Interactive Replace (IR)
Building atoms by dragging electrons in a chemistry simulator
Students drag electrons onto an atomic structure diagram for the first ten elements. They submit a screenshot of each correctly-built atom to the teacher. The simulator does not give in-line corrective feedback; it just renders what they place.
Tools: PhET Simulations
Passive Transform (PT)
Virtual lab demo of dangerous reaction
The class watches a virtual simulator demonstration of an alkali metal reacting with water (e.g. caesium, francium-style demos that are too violent or expensive for school labs). The teacher pauses to discuss observable phenomena, asks students to predict products, then lets the simulator complete the reaction with chemical-equation overlay.
Tools: PhET Simulations
This page is one of a growing set of PICRAT examples by cell, subject and key stage. Page maintained by Andy Perryer.