How To Teach Science through Digital Simulations?

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Different researchers noticed that there is a lack of conceptual understanding in students regarding science concepts. They are unable to grasp the concept if they are taught only through reading material. Providing them with different experiments can sometimes be harmful as few ones are complicated and involve dangerous material. In this case, they need something to scaffold their understanding. For this, educators and researchers are recommending digital simulation.

What is Digital Simulation in the Science Class?

Digital Simulation or computer simulation means the digital implementation of a model to demonstrate how a specific phenomenon will take place in real life. Researchers have noticed a lot of benefits of this phenomenon in the classroom. It provides interactive, meaningful and authentic learning opportunities for science learners. It facilitates teaching them about abstract concepts and lets students make observations and get instant feedback. There are a lot of concepts such as DNA or RNA that are complex to understand. So, digital simulation can help students in learning about the insides and outsides of this concept. Spatial, causal and temporal science phenomena are because they are either too fast, too slow, too large or too small. Some examples are hurricanes, earthquakes, chemical reactions and plant growth. In these concepts, digital simulation comes as a handy tool.

Now, you must be wondering how to make digital simulation a part of the classroom or curriculum. Well, there is good news. Science Practical Simulator (SciPracSim) is an app or website that provides digital simulation for science students.

Introduction to Science Practical Simulator (SciPracSim)

It is a STEM educational app that allows students to learn through experiments in an innovative and safe environment. It provides students with different simulations and imagery while explaining the whole concept through step-by-step instructions. Students can learn the concept through visuals and can perform practical experiments by following the instructions. They can record and save the videos too for future use.

It also encourages learners to write and perform detailed experiments, identify key equipment and understand experimental calculations. With visuals, it has added text too to facilitate the learning. The simulations on it are truly enjoyable and can alternate lab experiments of Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Moreover, the experiments on it are curriculum-based so it can prepare students for exams too. That's why, it is facilitating blended learning, remote learning and making information accessible for those students who can't attend school.

Types of Students Using SciPracSim

It is suitable for students of age 11-16 whose curriculum is linked to GCSE. It can prepare students for practicals and exams. Moreover, it has taken special care to assist students suffering from dyslexia or visual impairments. 

For dyslexia, this app has different color background options. You can select any color from the six options present on the Settings page. For visual impairment, this app has given another option too. You can zoom the board where instructions are present. So, you can read them.

This app also invites everyone to share more recommendations and ideas with them for facilitating students with learning or physical disorders. So, you can contact them with your recommendations.

Pricing and Availability of SciPricSam

It is available in app form for Android and iOS users. You can download the app for free on your mobiles and tablets. But, you have to shop in the app to get access to its features. 

For schools, it is available in a web-based application form. Institutes can connect as many devices as they want with this website. They just need to make sure that these devices are affiliated with their institutes. It includes teachers using it in the classroom and students using it at home through the institute’s login details. Institutes can get all the practicals of it for only 50 pounds sterling for the whole year. Teachers and school staff can also request a two-week free demo of the simulator. For this, they need to fill out a form present on its website.

Types of Practicals

There are different types of Biology, Physics and Chemistry practicals present on the app. Some examples are water purification, neutralization, rates of reaction, making salts, density, force and extension, waves, resistance, enzymes, osmosis, food tests and much more. You can find different experiments in each science subject.

Benefits for Students Using Science Practical Simulator

Students can benefit from this app in various ways. Primarily, they can be taken through different steps of experiments with the help of simulation and text. This will ensure that they understand the concept and are ready to do the practical experiment in the lab. This ensures their safety during any complicated task.

After that, they can use the app for revision purposes too. When exams are near and they need to revise, they can use the app for this purpose. It will take them to the digital explanation of experiments and concepts they have learnt in the classroom. Moreover, there are formative assessments at the end of each practical that help students assess their knowledge. These assessments are based on those questions that usually come in GCSE exams.

With it, this app also has an amazing tracking progress feature. Students can track their progress through this app which can motivate them to keep learning.

Benefits for Teachers Using Science Practical Simulator

This app helps teachers in explaining practicals to students while making sure that they are safe. They don't need to fret about the health and safety of students while they are performing experiments because this app explains everything in detail. Moreover, they can retain the attention of students because attractive interactive material will keep them engaged in the classroom. Moreover, teachers can keep track of the progress of each student. They can know whether students are completing their homework or not. Assessments after every lesson help teachers in knowing whether students understand the concept or not.

Conclusion

To conclude this conversation, we can say that SciPracSim is facilitating students and teachers to learn science with the help of digital simulation. This app allows teachers and institutes to integrate technology in the classroom to upgrade their teaching methods. Educational stakeholders can do remote teaching and learning with the help of this app. The best thing about it is it is cost-effective so you don't need to worry about budget here. This makes it a perfect science app.

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