Challenge C Substantive Post 1

One open educational resource that I find particularly impactful is PhET Interactive Simulations which was developed by the University of Colorado Boulder. My English wasn’t very good in high school and it was hard for me to understand pure text theories, but the combination of graphics and lab simulators on PhET made it easier for me. PhET is an educational website offering free browser-based simulations that help learners explore complex scientific and mathematical concepts through interactive manipulation. It is a good example of an active learning tool that aligns with Mayer’s Multimedia Learning Theory and Merrill’s Principles of Instruction.

From Mayer’s Multimedia Learning Principles, PhET shows the Contiguity, Modality, and Segmenting principles. Information is presented both visually and auditory and the simulations are modular and self-paced, which allows learners to focus on one process at a time. Those principles minimizes extra cognitive load and supports cognitive processing and retention.

According to Merrill’s model, PhET supports learning through demonstration, application, and integration. Learners can see real-world phenomena such as chemical reactions and immediately test their understanding with simulations. This hands-on approach allows students to apply and test their new knowledge effectively.

PhET promotes both active and constructive engagement by allowing learners to manipulate and test, which shifts from passive receivers to knowledge constructors. Overall, it shows the educational power of open, interactive, and universally accessible learning tools and how active learning and multimedia design can enhance conceptual understanding for diverse learners.