11th IPSG and how to make SLS lessons more inquiry-based?
Grateful to be able to share with all junior college physics teachers during the 11th instructional programme support group #IPSG about #StudentLearningSpace. I covered how to construct a student-centered, pedagogically and technologically sound lesson with quizzes to encourage students to make the effort to strengthen the sense-making of the content knowledge covered. And of course the magic show of asking the audience to suggest what Simulation they wanted to be in their own SLS lesson. Just Google "radioactivity html5" or whatever you want to be followed by the word html5, and something from our Open Source Physics at Singapore digital library may appear the search list. https://sg.iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/interactive-resources/physics/06-quantum-physics/02-nuclear/316-decaychangenweethreestate
Click download model and upload to SLS as a media and it will work seamlessly.
Thanks to Charles Chew for the kind invitation to share about #SLS and Seng Kwang Tan for the photo.
Main Themes and Important Ideas from Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore:
The primary theme of the "Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore" excerpt is the promotion and utilization of open-source, interactive simulations and resources for enhancing physics education, particularly within the Singaporean context using the Student Learning Space (SLS) platform. Key ideas and facts include:
1. Integration with the Student Learning Space (SLS):
- The resource emphasizes seamless integration of Open Source Physics (OSP) simulations into Singapore's SLS platform. Teachers are encouraged to upload downloaded models as media within SLS.
- The process of uploading and using these simulations in SLS is described as straightforward: "Click download model and upload to SLS as a media and it will work seamlessly."
- The platform handles file scanning for viruses and automatic display of the index.html file within the uploaded zip archive, making it user-friendly: "SLS will scan the files for a computer virus, which there is none inside and display the index.html file automatically in the zip."
2. Promotion of Inquiry-Based Learning:
- The title of the post explicitly mentions "how to make SLS lessons more inquiry-based?". This suggests a pedagogical focus on shifting towards student-centered, inquiry-driven learning experiences.
- The use of interactive simulations is presented as a key strategy for achieving this, enabling students to explore concepts virtually: "magic! your own inquiry enabled virtual laboratory in SLS".
- The presenter shared methods for constructing "a student-centered, pedagogically and technologically sound lesson with quizzes to encourage students to make the effort to strengthen the sense-making of the content knowledge covered."
3. Availability of a Wide Range of Interactive Simulations:
- The website hosts a vast library of ready-to-use interactive simulations covering various topics in physics (Secondary and Junior College levels) and even some mathematics.
- These simulations are primarily built using JavaScript and HTML5, making them accessible across different devices, including handphones.
- The excerpt provides examples of simulation topics, ranging from quantum physics ("radioactivity html5") to mechanics (e.g., "Spinning Gyroscope"), waves (e.g., "Single Slit Diffraction"), electricity and magnetism (e.g., "Magnet Falling Through A Ring"), and even mathematics (e.g., "Pythagoras' Theorem").
- The inclusion of "PICUP" (Physics Interactive Curricular Units Project) resources highlights a focus on research-based and pedagogically sound simulations.
4. Ease of Finding and Utilizing Simulations:
- Teachers are advised to simply "Google '[topichttps://sg.iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php serves as the central repository.
5. Community and Sharing:
- The mention of the "11th instructional programme support group #IPSG" indicates a community of physics educators in Singapore who share and learn from each other.
- The author expresses gratitude for the opportunity to share their knowledge: "Grateful to be able to share with all junior college physics teachers...".
6. Recognition and Development:
- References to awards like the "Platinum and Gold MOE Service Excellence Award (MSEA) 2017" suggest recognition of the efforts in developing and sharing these resources.
- Ongoing development and updates are implied by the various dates in the titles (e.g., "20180117", "20250311") and the use of AI tools ("created using AI GPTo1", "Bringing the EJS Java based Magnetic Bar Field Simulation to Life in HTML5 using GPTo1").
7. Licensing and Usage:
- The content is licensed under the "Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 Singapore License," promoting open sharing and adaptation.
- Commercial use of the underlying "EasyJavaScriptSimulations Library" requires a separate license and contact with the University of Murcia (um.es).
Main Themes and Important Ideas from "Decomposition of Vector (any mutually perpendicular) Advance Model":
Overall Significance:
These excerpts highlight a significant initiative in Singapore to leverage open educational resources and interactive simulations to enhance physics teaching and learning. The focus on integrating these resources within the national SLS platform and promoting inquiry-based pedagogies demonstrates a commitment to student-centered education. The wide variety of available simulations, created and shared by educators, provides valuable tools for teachers to bring abstract physics concepts to life and engage students in active learning. The specific example of the vector decomposition model showcases the type of interactive tools being developed and shared within this community.
Study Guide: Inquiry-Based Learning with SLS and Vector Decomposition
Quiz
Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each.
- What does IPSG stand for, as mentioned in the first source? Briefly describe the purpose of the 11th IPSG event discussed.
- What is SLS and what was the focus of the presentation given to junior college physics teachers regarding it?
- According to the first source, how can teachers easily find and integrate interactive simulations into their SLS lessons? Provide a specific example of a search term.
- What file type is typically downloaded for the interactive simulations from the Open Source Physics at Singapore library to be used in SLS? What step follows the download?
- What is the "magic" described in the first source regarding the integration of these simulations into SLS?
- Name three examples of physics-related interactive simulations listed in the first source.
- Besides physics, what other subject area appears to have interactive simulations available according to the list provided? Give one example.
- What does PICUP stand for, given its frequent appearance as a tag and in simulation titles?
- According to the second source, what is the title of the advanced model discussed, and who are the listed authors?
- What licensing information is provided for the "Decomposition of Vector (any mutually perpendicular) Advance Model"? What software was used to compile it?
Answer Key to Quiz
- IPSG stands for instructional programme support group. The 11th IPSG event focused on how to make Student Learning Space (SLS) lessons more inquiry-based, specifically for junior college physics teachers.
- SLS stands for Student Learning Space, a platform used for educational purposes. The presentation focused on constructing student-centered, pedagogically and technologically sound lessons within SLS, incorporating quizzes and interactive simulations to enhance understanding.
- Teachers can easily find interactive simulations by Googling the topic they want followed by the word "html5". For example, one could Google "projectile motion html5" to find relevant simulations.
- The file type typically downloaded is an ejss_model* file. The step that follows the download is uploading this file to SLS as a media.
- The "magic" refers to the seamless integration of the downloaded file into SLS, where the platform automatically scans for viruses and displays the index.html file, creating an inquiry-enabled virtual laboratory.
- Three examples of physics-related interactive simulations are "radioactivity html5," "Spinning Gyroscope JavaScript HTML5 Applet Simulation Model," and "Single Slit Diffraction Model HTML5."
- Mathematics also appears to have interactive simulations available. One example is the "Shoot Prime Numbers Game Simulator HTML5."
- The provided text does not explicitly define what PICUP stands for, but it is frequently associated with interactive physics simulations and exercises.
- The title of the advanced model is "Decomposition of Vector (any mutually perpendicular) Advance Model," and the listed authors are weelookang@gmail.com, Fu-Kwun Hwang, and Tat Leong Lee.
- The "Decomposition of Vector (any mutually perpendicular) Advance Model" is released under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license and was compiled with EJS 6.0 (191124).
Essay Format Questions
- Discuss the benefits and potential challenges of incorporating inquiry-based learning through interactive simulations like those found in the Open Source Physics at Singapore library into secondary and junior college science curricula, referencing the information provided.
- Analyze the role of platforms like SLS in facilitating the integration of technology and pedagogy in student-centered learning environments, drawing upon the context of the 11th IPSG presentation.
- Explore the significance of open educational resources (OER) such as the Open Source Physics at Singapore digital library in broadening access to interactive learning tools for educators. Consider the licensing implications mentioned in the source.
- Based on the examples provided, evaluate the range and potential applications of the JavaScript HTML5 applet simulations listed in the first source for teaching various scientific and mathematical concepts.
- Compare and contrast the information presented in the two sources regarding the creation and use of interactive models for educational purposes, considering the target audience and subject matter of each.
Glossary of Key Terms
- IPSG (instructional programme support group): A gathering or group focused on supporting and improving teaching practices, as indicated by the "11th instructional programme support group" reference.
- SLS (Student Learning Space): An online learning platform used in Singaporean schools to deliver lessons and resources to students.
- Inquiry-based learning: An educational approach where students learn by exploring questions and problems, often through hands-on activities and investigations.
- Open Educational Resources (OER): Teaching, learning, and research materials that are freely available for everyone to use, adapt, and share.
- HTML5: The latest evolution of the standard that underpins the web, used here to create interactive simulations that can run in web browsers without the need for plugins.
- JavaScript: A programming language commonly used to add interactivity to websites and web applications, including the simulations mentioned.
- Applet: A small application, often written in Java or JavaScript, designed to run within another application (like a web browser).
- Simulation: A computer-based model of a real-world system or phenomenon, allowing users to interact with and explore its behavior.
- PICUP (Physics Interactive Curricular Units Project): A project likely focused on developing interactive resources and curricular materials for physics education, given its frequent association with simulation titles.
- EJS (Easy JavaScript Simulations): A free authoring tool that allows educators and students to create and modify interactive simulations in JavaScript.
- CC-BY (Creative Commons Attribution): A specific type of Creative Commons license that allows others to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the work, even commercially, as long as they credit the original creator.
photo by Seng Kwang, thank bro. |
Just Google "radioactivity html5" or whatever you want to be followed by the word 'html5' |
Click download model |
upload to SLS as a media |
select the file, on the handphone use the file picker to select the ejss_model* file. |
SLS will scan the files for a computer virus, which there is none inside and display the index.html file automatically in the zip. |
magic! your own inquiry enabled virtual laboratory in SLS |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the primary focus of the Open Source Physics at Singapore (OSPS@SG) initiative highlighted in this source?
- The primary focus is to promote student-centered, pedagogically sound, and technologically enhanced learning, particularly in physics education at the secondary and junior college levels in Singapore. A key strategy involves leveraging the Student Learning Space (SLS) platform by integrating interactive simulations and quizzes to encourage deeper sense-making of scientific concepts. The initiative emphasizes making these resources easily accessible and usable by teachers.
- How does OSPS@SG aim to make physics lessons more inquiry-based using SLS?
- OSPS@SG promotes inquiry-based learning by providing teachers with readily available interactive simulations, primarily in HTML5 format. Teachers can easily find these simulations by searching online (e.g., "radioactivity html5") and then seamlessly integrate them into their SLS lessons as media. These simulations function as virtual laboratories, allowing students to explore concepts and conduct experiments in a digital environment, fostering active learning and investigation.
- What types of interactive resources are offered through OSPS@SG?>
- OSPS@SG offers a wide array of interactive resources, predominantly JavaScript/HTML5 applet simulation models. These cover various topics in physics and mathematics, ranging from mechanics (e.g., projectile motion, oscillations) and waves (e.g., diffraction, standing waves) to electromagnetism (e.g., magnetic fields, circuits), nuclear physics (e.g., radioactivity), and even mathematical concepts (e.g., calculus, geometry, statistics). The list of resources is extensive and includes simulations, games, quizzes, and tools for visualization and analysis.
- How can teachers integrate the interactive simulations from OSPS@SG into their SLS lessons?
- Teachers can integrate these simulations into SLS by first finding a relevant HTML5 simulation from the OSPS@SG digital library (often through a simple web search). They can then download the model file (typically a ZIP containing an index.html file) and upload it as media within their SLS lesson. SLS automatically scans for viruses and then displays the index.html file, effectively embedding the interactive simulation within the lesson for student use.
- What is Easy JavaScript Simulations (EJS) and what role does it play in the OSPS@SG initiative?
- Easy JavaScript Simulations (EJS) is a tool used to create many of the interactive simulations available through OSPS@SG. It allows developers to build interactive models, often based on underlying computational physics, which can then be exported as platform-independent HTML5 applets. The mention of "Compiled with EJS 6.0" in the "Decomposition of Vector" source indicates its use in creating that specific model. EJS facilitates the creation and sharing of these inquiry-based learning tools.
- Beyond physics, are there other subject areas covered by interactive resources from OSPS@SG?>
- Yes, while the initial focus mentioned is on physics, the extensive list of resources reveals simulations and tools relevant to mathematics (e.g., calculus, geometry, algebra, statistics) and even some primary science topics (e.g., magnets). This suggests a broader scope for utilizing interactive simulations for STEM education within the Singaporean context.
- What are some examples of specific interactive simulations available through OSPS@SG?>
- The sources list numerous examples, including simulations for "radioactivity html5," "O level Chemical Covalent Bonding Dot and Cross Diagrams," "Vector Addition by Graphical Method," "Single Slit Diffraction Model," "Projectile Motion," "Magnetic Field From Loop SImulator," "Decomposition of Vector," and many more covering a wide range of physics and mathematics topics. There are also games like "Shoot Prime Numbers Game" and "Mini Magnetic Golf Game" to engage students in a more playful way.
- What is the licensing for the resources provided by OSPS@SG, and are there any restrictions on their use?
- The contents of the OSPS@SG website are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 Singapore License. This license generally allows for the sharing and adaptation of the materials, provided that attribution is given and any derivative works are shared under a similar license. Separately, for commercial use of the EasyJavaScriptSimulations Library itself, users are directed to read the EJS license and contact the developers at the University of Murcia (um.es) directly