There are so many software packages that are available to aid a science teacher that it can be very difficult to decide exactly what type of software package that you should use. A good rule of thumb would be to try a piece of software out and if you feel comfortable using it and have a good knowledge base of how to integrate into your classes, then you should use it.

Integration Strategy: PhysicsCD Software

Physics CD Software – This is a piece of software that any science teacher teaching grades 10 through 12 could easily integrate into his or her curriculum.  The software covers a wide range of physics topics that could be integrated into your science classroom.  For example, if you wanted to teach trajectories of different articles as they are thrown or shot into a given space you could easily simulate it with this software and have graphs, charts and other data at your finger tips with out actually performing the experiments in a live environment.

Relative Advantage - Using software of this type allows visual, graphic examples to help clarify concepts that the students are trying to learn. Students can also manipulate scenarios (variables) to see how the forces of physics will work under different situations and conditions. Also, software of this type can give students immediate results and feedback as to how their experimentation will work. Another advantage of using physics simulation software of this sort is that it takes a lot of work setting up hands on experiments. Even though hands on experience is vital to the learning process, preliminary testing and simulation with this sort of software will take a lot of guess work out of the process.

Expected Outcome of Using Physics Software - Utilizing software of this type students will be able to visually and qualitatively, recognize the connections between different forms of energy and aspects of physics. Students will also be able to explain and demonstrate different aspects of physics as it applies to their lessons and then be able to put it into a report format for their instructor. Using software of this type will allow the students to use their reasoning skills and allow them to evaluate their experimentations much more quickly than standard methods.

Resources and Links for Physics Software:

Physics Academic Software -( http://www.webassign.net/pas/) This is a site that publishes physics software for the academic community. This site works in cooperation with prominent organizations in the physics and sciences communities.

Physlink.com (http://www.physlink.com/Education/Software.cfm) This is a really fun resource site that sells all sorts of physics, astronomy and scientific teaching software. Not only do they sell physics software, but they sell all sorts of scientific gags and gifts.

Free Physics Software (http://www.saintmarys.edu/~rtarara/software.html) This is a site of free software that is geared mostly for 7th through 9th grade students. There are several pages of simulation software that can aid in your quest to teach your students physics, while keeping your budget intact.