PhET Blog

In the new #HTML5 Least-Squares Regression simulation, students can flexibly explore ideas related to correlation, best-fit lines, residuals, and outliers. Build a data set or use real-world data to discover the meaning of a correlation coefficient and determine when a linear fit is reasonable.

Least-Squares Regression is appropriate for any grade level that is studying scatter plots, best-fit lines, regression, or correlation, and is specifically aligned with Common Core State Standards in high-school mathematics.

Now at our For Teachers site, we’ve added tips on how to productively guide a student’s exploration with PhET Sims. See the latest video Facilitating Activities with PhET: An Overview, and download support materials including:

Effective Facilitation of Activities in Elementary and Middle School. A detailed overview of facilitation strategies to help students work effectively on activities using PhET simulations.

PhET’s Reflection Rubric. A rubric for teachers to reflect on the success of an activity using PhET simulations in K12.

PhET (http://phet.colorado.edu) will be unavailable from Friday, March 20 at 10:00 PM Mountain Daylight Time until Saturday, March 21 at 8:00 AM Mountain Daylight Time due to necessary maintenance performed by the University of Colorado Office of Information Technology.

We apologize in advance for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

Will you be attending the National Science Teachers Association National Conference in Chicago, March 12-15, 2015? Join PhET at the following events

• Thursday, March 12, 8:00-9:00 AM: PhET Workshop “Adapt Your Teaching to Support the NGSS Practices Using PhET Interactive Simulations” Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, Adler A/B.
• Friday, March 13, 8:00-9:30 AM: PhET K12 Specialist Trish Loeblein at “Chemistry with Vernier” McCormick Place, W185a.
• Friday, March 13, 11:00-12:00 PM: PhET Table at NESTA Climate, Ocean, and Atmosphere Share-a-Thon McCormick Place, Skyline W375e.

Stop by our booth #554 and play with the latest HTML5 PhET sims, learn about our Teacher’s Tips, or just say “hi.”

PhET is one of many providers of “Open Educational Resources” (OER) and is a big supporter of the larger open education movement. This week brings many opportunities to learn more about OER projects and the opportunity for OER to impact teaching and learning worldwide. See their list of events here http://www.openeducationweek.org/event/ And, use the hashtag: #openeducationwk on Facebook and Twitter to spread the word of OER!