At the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), we received funding in 2007 from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The grant, which is to run through May 2012, is part of the GK-12 program that places graduate students, studying for degrees in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), into middle and high school classrooms. Our program is called C2PRISM: Computation and Communication: Promoting Research Integration in Science and Mathematics. While NSF’s main purpose is to provide experiences for STEM graduate students to communicate science to lay people, our project’s goals also include providing students with math and science role models and exciting educational experiences; to provide teachers with knowledge about cutting edge areas of science and enhance their competency in using computation and technological resources in their classrooms. The two major efforts of the grant are to train the graduate student Fellows to work with their partner teachers (each year 8 C2PRISM Fellows work one on one with a partner teacher at one of several Newark, New Jersey high schools) during a three week long summer workshop and to visit that teacher’s classes twice each week throughout the school year...

During the spring and autumn 2010 a study with Algodoo was carried out in the elementary school Sjöfruskolan located in Umeå, Sweden. Participating in the study was 3 teachers, 17 students from the 3rd grade and 37 students from the 7th grade. The purpose for the study was to observe how Algodoo is used in a learning situation in a classroom, and how teachers and students use and interact with Algodoo. The study also wanted to examine how Algodoo affects attitudes to science and the process of learning physics. For the school participating in the project the study also has been a way to motivate teachers and students to involve new technology like interactive whiteboards, student laptops and new software’s.

In the study Algodoo was used during the lessons both as a tool for the teachers in their briefings but also for the students to elaborate with in small groups. The teachers planned the lessons together and arranged it according to the curriculum and with guidance from lesson plans that comes with Algodoo.

In a questionnaire for the students about the lesson with Algodoo, the Algodoo environment obtained a high overall popularity among all students. Most of the students (everyone except one!) expressed a wish to use Algodoo in their future science classes. The students found Algodoo easy to use and easy to learn. The questionnaire also indicated that the overall interest in physics increased and gave the students a high level of stimulation, which not only resulted in an increased level of concentration, but also generated a more fun and educating lesson.

In an interview with the teachers their attitude and experience against Algodoo was discussed. All three teachers found Algodoo very useful in lessons, especially for elaborating and exploring with. They did also noticed that the students learned how to use and control the software very easily, engaging them, and making them want to explore physics. In the beginning of the project the teachers were a little bit more sceptical, careful and restricted against new technology. They didn’t really see the advantages and felt like it would consume a lot of time to learn the Algodoo software. During the project their attitude against Algodoo changed dramatically. They found Algodoo both easy to learn, stepping through the Crash course tutorial, and easy to use in the classroom with guidance from the Lesson plans document. All three teachers still use Algodoo in their classes learning and exploring together with the students.

The Algodoo Team and Teachers at the Elementary school Sjöfruskolan

Algodoo was introduced to three schools during the scholastic year 2009/2010. Students and teachers from St.Thomas More and Maria Regina colleges had the opportunity to try the software. These students were also given the chance to demonstrate this software in front of other students during EMBED, the annual ICT fair organised by the eLearning centre held during May 2010 at the Excelsior Hotel.

During the same event, students from various schools had the opportunity to attend a dedicated workshop. They had the occasion to create various simulations. All students enjoyed the software. Students who detest Physics found Algodoo to be enjoyable and were using Physics through this way. Some students became so addicted to this software that they purchased ite to be used at their own leisure at home.

The software was also introduced to Physics teachers during their INSET courses. Most teachers remarked positively and have eagerly enquired when and how this software is to be introduced. Since the software is relatively cheap, some teachers have suggested that they would be asking their respective heads to purchase the software. There is a great probability that as from this scholastic year 20010/2011, Algodoo will feature in Physics classrooms. The introduction of interactive white boards in all science rooms will boost the introduction of Algodoo.

For the future one hopes that Algodoo infiltrates all secondary schools. However, primary schools are also being considered. The introduction of science concepts during early years can be seen as an investment for future students in the secondary sector. The benefits of Algodoo simulations can never be underestimated.

Jeffrey Zammit

eLearning Support Teacher
Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education (DQSE)
Malta

I´m writing to report an activity included in our school project – Fisicarte – which is related to your super original and creative software Algodoo.

We work in a middle size school that is organized like this: 11 primary schools with students from 1st till 4th grade and 1 basic/comprehensive school with students from 5th till 9th grade.

This year a group of teachers created a project including 85 4th grade students and 30 8th and 9th grade voluntary students. We’ve organized several experimental activities related to Physics and during five weeks we included Algodoo in some of those activities. All teachers and students loved the experience of discovering and working with the software.

We’re experiencing a great time at our school because we´ve recently won the 1st price of the national contest – SCIENCE AT SCHOOL – which is organized by very important Portuguese institutions: Illido Pinho Foundation (http://fundacaoip.locais.net), Espirito Santo Bank (http://www.bes.pt) and the Ministry of Education (http://www.min-edu.pt).

At some point in the project we asked the students to write a letter to the Algodoo creator about what ever they were feeling. This is what a student in the 4th grade wrote:

"Dear Algodoo creators,

Taking part in contests has always fascinated us. And if these contests reveal realities far beyond our imagination, we support them with great interest. The teachers who directed/organized the presentation of these incredible experiments were just amazing. Thus, what was an unknown world has become a tempting and magnificent field: we were speechless by some experiments such as the anti-gravity man or the robot dance. After all we saw, everything seems easier and our wish to go further is growing bigger.

It’s your duty to afford young people experiments, which arouse their curiosity and renew their inventive spirit.

Thank you! It was fantastic!"

Thanks and congratulations for your work!

Pedro Isodoro

Physics and Chemistry School Teacher

Cluster of Schools of Carregal Do Sal