The end is (almost) in sight for the chalkboard with hand-drawn diagrams of the way the world around us works. Thanks to Flash, a fairly simple to use Adobe product, quality interactive simulations are becoming more readily available on the internet that are well suited to classroom teaching.

Pearson Education and ForgeFX have teamed up to create simulation based learning applications that allow learners to become active participants in the classroom. I checked out some of their free web-based simulations to get an idea of what it’s all about.

Most of the simulations are quite interactive and give the learner an option of various different scenarios that provide different end results which is great for comparison and testing.

Here is an overview of the top 6 simulations:

Design and Test Simulator

This interactive 3D simulation allows students to work on the development of a piece of virtual machinery, capable of launching giant paintballs into the air. Using the Design and Test Methodology, students must create their hurling machine so that it is capable of hitting the multiple targets within the virtual world.

In order to hit all of the targets in the virtual environment, students must design their device so it is capable of launching for distance, height, and strength. Students are able to customize the arm length, spring strength, ball weight, angle of release, and tension in order to hit each target.

Students are given a budget that they must complete the project within, each shot at the target will cost the student part of their budget, so the fewer shots required the better the student does. Launchers must be designed for the assigned task, tested, modified, tested again, and repeated until the student has hit each target.

Topographical Map Simulator

This real-time 3D simulation illustrates how topographic maps are created and used to depict changes in elevation. A topographic map is characterized by large-scale detail and quantitative representation of relief using contour lines. Rendered in real-time 3D, it is easy to understand how topographic maps are created since the simulation shows the same virtual environment in both a 3D mesh and 2D map format.

Students are able to sculpt mountains and valleys in real-time and see the changes to the corresponding topographic map as well as the 3D environment. To represent elevation, relief, and slope on the topographic map the simulation uses contour lines and elevation level indicators, while it simultaneously renders the scene in 3D.

On a topographic map, a contour line connects points of equal elevation. Select the Raise or Lower tool, and then start digging into the 3D terrain. See how the changes you make to the mountain affect the topographic map and 3D terrain.

Seismic Waves Simulator

What happens to the ground during an earthquake? Find out by creating your own earthquake using this interactive 3D simulation. An actual earthquake will always create Primary, Secondary, and Surface waves, using this 3D simulation students can isolate waves to understand the different types of seismic activity.

Select the type of wave, the strength of the waves, the angle, and the zoom levels for the simulation to run. Waves can be played forward and backwards through time, in textured or wire-frame 3D models, all controlled by the user of the simulation.

During an earthquake the exact speed of P and S waves varies depending on the material they are traveling through. The ratio between the speeds of the two waves will remain relatively. P waves generally travel 1.7 times faster than S waves. Using this ratio, scientists can calculate the distance between any point on the earth’s surface and the earthquake’s focus.

3D Plant and Animal Cells Simulator

Cells are the basic unit of structure and function in living things. If you look inside cells, there are even smaller structures called organelles. Each organelle has a different function within a cell. Learn about plant and animal cell organelles in this interactive 3D simulation. View the cells from any angle by clicking and dragging, select a plant structure to learn more about its function.

Students are able to examine cells by dragging and dropping the cell to view it from any angle. Individual structures can be selected to view them in more detail.

4-Stroke Engine Simulator

Most automobiles use four-stroke heat engines. These four-strokes occur repeatedly in each cylinder in the engine. This is a real-time 3D simulation which allows the student to explore how a four stroke engine works and to gain an understanding of the different strokes involved.

The simulation gives students access to a running 4 cylinder engine, in a safe and risk-free environment. Students can use the simulation to learn how a piston works independently, and within a four-stroke engine. The simulation allows students to watch 3D animations of the four-stroke engine from any angle or distance, speed-up and slow-down the engine, as well as pause and show engine labels – all in real-time 3D. A complex mechanical process, like a four-stroke engine, is an easily understood lesson when delivered as an interactive 3D training simulation.

Biomes of the Earth Simulation

This online e-learning application helps students visualize how biomes are climatically and geographically defined as similar climatic conditions on the Earth, such as communities of plants, animals, and soil organisms, and are often referred to as ecosystems.

The simulation lets you take part in an around-the-world scientific expedition researching Earth’s biomes. A biome is a group of land ecosystems with similar climates and organisms. It is mostly the climate—temperature and precipitation—in an area that determines its biome. Interact with the 3D globe to see the worldwide distribution of the biomes on our planet.

Click and drag anywhere on the 3D globe to spin and view it from any direction. Select one of the nine biomes to see where they occur on Earth, or show all locations at once to see where biomes occur in relation to each other. Click on the stars to get photographs and detailed climate information, including average temperature and precipitation levels, for cities located within each biome.

Summary

If you’re charged with educating and training students, you’re aware of the challenges associated with keeping them engaged with educational material. Using highly-realistic 3D simulations, that are web-based, allows you to provide students with immersive content that keep them engaged for longer periods of time. You can see all the simulations here.

Past exam papers are normally a mission to find. TestGrab, a new service launched recently by EvaluNet, offers past exam papers for download from their web site, all based on the grade 12 matric exams for South Africa.

Subjects included are:

• Accounting
• Afrikaans
• Business Studies
• CAT
• Consumer Studies
• Economics
• English
• Geography
• History
• Hospitality Studies
• IT
• Life Science
• Mathematics
• Maths Literacy
• Physical Science
• Tourism

These past papers are based on the 2010 March and November matric exams. The past papers can be accessed from the Free Stuff section of the TestGrab web site.

A teaching presentation on the properties of gases for high school Physical Science.

HowStuffWorks, a creation by the Discovery Channel, is the award-winning source of credible, unbiased, and easy-to-understand explanations of how the world actually works. Founded by North Carolina State University Professor Marshall Brain in 1998, the site is an online resource for millions of people of all ages.

From car engines to search engines, from cell phones to stem cells, and thousands of subjects in between, HowStuffWorks has it covered. No topic is too big or too small for their editorial staff to unmask, or for you to understand. In addition to comprehensive articles, the helpful graphics and informative videos walk you through every topic clearly, simply and objectively. Their premise is simple: Demystify the world and do it in a simple, clear-cut way that anyone can understand.

The site is particularly helpful for science, biology, geography and history teachers.

Click here to visit HowStuffWorks.

This ultra cool science periodic table is great for a quick summary for each element. Clicking on an element in the periodic table gives you background information about the element as you can see in the screenshot below. It’s an excellent, interactive way of helping learners both remember and understand the elements. Click here to open.

After 6 soccer filled weeks you may be ready for Physics, Food, Penguins and a passion for science!

From the 18 – 19 July, versatile Physics Professor, Peter Barham of Bristol University UK, renowned for delivering edutaining demonstrations in restaurants, bars, lecture halls and classrooms, will visit the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre.

Winner of the 2003 Kelvin Medal (Institute of Physics), the 1997 Sci-Art prize and the 1999 Institute of Physics Prize for the promotion of Public Awareness of Physics, Prof. Barham will be performing the following Science Demonstrations at Sci-Bono:

• Sunday, 18 July, 14:30 – 15:30 pm, GET SCIENCE LICKED – The physics of ice-cream
  A family science show demonstrating several different ways to make ice-cream.  Audience members will get to taste the home-made ice-cream while learning about the formation of ice-crystals and the laws of thermodynamics. The show is suitable for all ages.
• Monday 19 July, 11:30 am and 14:30 pm, A PASSION FOR PENGUINS
  Sharing his love for penguins, Prof. Barham helps school learners to understand the role of research in conservation and the need to develop non-invasive techniques for studying the endangered African penguin. This lecture demonstration is aimed at Grade 4 – 9 school learners.
• Monday 19 July, 19:00 – 20:30 pm, THE SCIENCE OF TASTE AND FLAVOUR
  What makes some foods taste really good together while other pairings are just plain disgusting? In an interactive lecture, Prof. Barham demonstrates how science can help us in the kitchen. Suitable for ages 15 and up.

To make booking or to find out more email speaktoascientist@sci-bono.co.za or call Refilwe Pico at 011 639 8448.

Venue: Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, Newtown, Johannesburg
Date: 24 June – 4 July

The 4th annual Africa on Screen Film Festival opens at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre on Thursday evening 24 June with the première of the soccer documentary ‘The team that never played’. A collaboration between Australia and South Africa, the film revisits the collision of race, sport and politics through the lives of three very different men and their struggle to end Apartheid. In celebration of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, this years’ Film Festival includes a Soccer Film Festival at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre 25 – 27 June and 2 – 4 July.

The Soccer Film Festival complements the newly launched Science of Soccer Exhibition. R20 entry for adults and R10 entry for children offers all visitors an opportunity to explore the 11 “hands-on, feet-on, minds-on” exhibits in the world’s first completely Soccer themed Science Exhibition.  The visit includes an opportunity to view the 42 Lego stadia built by Gauteng learners, discover the links between Football and culture in the Is the ball round? Soccer lounge and provides access to two free daily screenings of the Africa on Screen Soccer Film Festival.  The soccer films will be shown in the Sci-Bono auditorium at 11:30 and 14:30.  Please see below the schedule and details.

The Africa on Screen Film festival boasts over 30 films including features, documentaries and shorts, with free screenings at Museum Africa, Sci-Bono and Arts on Main.

For more information on Africa on Screen:

Email: lara@redflag.co.za

Tel: 011 447 8283

The Grade 12 exam papers of November 2009 and March 2010 for Life Sciences are available here. Both the Afrikaans and English versions of the papers are available as well as the memoranda. These are excellent tools for teachers to use for revision before the final exams.

To download these papers click on the links below.

November 2009 papers:

Life Sciences:

LIFE SCIENCES Paper 1 November 2009

LIFE SCIENCES Paper 1 Memo (Eng) November 2009

LIFE SCIENCES Paper 2 November 2009

LIFE SCIENCES Paper 2 Memo (Eng) November 2009

Lewenswetenskappe:

LEWENSWET Vraestel 1 November 2009

LEWENSWET Vraestel 1 Memo (Afr) November 2009

LEWENSWET Vraestel 2 November 2009

LEWENSWET Vraestel 2 Memo (Afr) November 2009

March 2010 papers:

Life Sciences:

LIFE SCIENCES Paper 1 March 2010

LIFE SCIENCES Paper 1 Memo March 2010

LIFE SCIENCE Paper 2 March 2010

LIFE SCIENCES Paper 2 Memo March 2010

Lewenswetenskappe:

LEWNSWET Vraestel 1 Maart 2010

LEWENSWET Vraestel 1 Memo Maart 2010

LEWENSWET Vraestel 2 Maart 2010

LEWENSWET Vraestel 2 Memo Maart 2010

The Grade 12 exam papers for Physical Science of November 2009 and March 2010 are provided here. Both the Afrikaans and English versions of the papers are available here along with the memoranda. These papers are great revision tools that will help learners to prepare for the final exams.

Download the latest Science past papers at TestGrab.com – click here

To downlooad these papers click on the links below.

November 2009 papers:

Physical Science:

PHYSICAL SCIENCE Paper 1 November 2009

PHYSICAL SCIENCE Paper 1 Memo (Eng+Afr) November 2009

PHYSICAL SCIENCE Paper 2 November 2009

PHYSICAL SCIENCE Paper 2 Memo (Eng+Afr) November 2009

Fisiese Wetenskappe:

FISIESE WET Vraestel 1 November 2009

FISIESE WET Vraestel 2 November 2009

March 2010 papers:

Physical Science:

PHYSICAL SCIENCE Paper 1 March 2010

PHYSICAL SCIENCE Paper 1 Memo (Afr+Eng) Maart 2010 – if you have access to this memo or know where we can find it, please Contact Us.

Fisiese Wetenskappe:

FISIESE WET Vraestel 1 Maart 2010

Get more past papers at TestGrab.Com

A few hints on teaching in an interactive and engaging manner.