The DTW Foundation, in collaboration with PhET Interactive Simulation, recently hosted a three-part virtual workshop series aimed at providing innovative educational tools to STEM educators in Nigeria and Africa.
This workshop series, held in August 2024, introduced PhET simulation, an interactive technology designed to enhance science and mathematics education. With over 300 active participants and over 1,500 registrants, the workshop was a huge success and an important step in the advancement of STEM education.
DTW Foundation is an educational organization founded by Mrs. Blessing Seun Chukwuka and is dedicated to empowering students and educators in Nigeria and across Africa. The foundation focuses on strengthening STEM education, especially in math and science, through free resources and innovative educational tools. DTW Foundation organizes workshops such as PhET simulation training and provides video tutorials for national exams such as WASSCE, NECO, JAMB, JSCE, NCEE through its educational YouTube channel DTW Tutorials with over 63,000 channels. well known. Subscriber. The foundation’s mission is to bridge gaps in education, promote interactive learning, and help educators create more engaging classroom environments.
PhET is a project of the University of Colorado Boulder that provides free interactive simulations for science and mathematics teaching and learning. These simulations cover subjects such as physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics, making complex concepts easier to understand through hands-on exploration. PhET’s goal is to enhance classroom instruction by providing dynamic, visually appealing tools that promote inquiry-based learning and critical thinking. Accessible both online and offline, PhET simulations are widely used by educators around the world to create more interactive and engaging educational experiences for students.
Workshop 1: PhET Simulation Overview (August 7, 2024)
The first session, held on August 7th, brought together over 260 STEM educators from across Africa. The session, held on Zoom, began with opening remarks by Blessed Mrs. Seun Chukwuka, Founder of DTW Foundation, Dr. Rebecca Vieira of PhET Global, Professor Akinola Samson Olayinka of Edo State University Uzairwe, Mrs. Uzairuye and others. esteemed facilitators. Rita Oladiran, founder of BiSTEM24 EdTech, and Joy Chidinma, an experienced chemistry educator.
Dr. Vieyra led the session by guiding participants through the PhET website and demonstrating how to access educational resources and download simulations for offline use. This was followed by an interactive demonstration of the PhET simulation by Ms Oladiran to show educators how this technology can transform teaching in the classroom. Professor Olayinka provided deeper insight into teaching strategies for using PhET simulations and provided practical approaches to engage students in inquiry-based learning. The session ended with an engaging Q&A where educators expressed their enthusiasm for implementing simulation.
Workshop 2: Activity Design Using PhET Simulation (August 14, 2024)
The second session, held on August 14, focused on designing effective classroom activities using PhET simulations. After addressing participant questions regarding access to PhET resources, the workshop moved into a deep dive into active learning strategies. Professor Olayinka demonstrated how to create customized activity sheets designed to maximize student participation. The session was then divided into themed breakout rooms where participants worked hands-on with simulations to create activity sheets. These interactive discussions created a sense of excitement and collaboration among educators, and many educators expressed enthusiasm for implementing these strategies in their classrooms.
Workshop 3: PhET-based lesson planning (August 21, 2024)
The third and final session, held on August 21st, focused on creating and implementing PhET-based lesson plans. Professor Olinka emphasized the importance of careful planning when incorporating simulation into lessons. Ms. Oladiran outlined the structure of the PhET lesson plan and emphasized the need for open-ended questions and pre-study assessments to ensure student readiness. Ms. Chidinma shared her classroom experience using PhET simulations and provided practical advice for educators.
The session ended with a lively discussion on the potential challenges of integrating PhET lesson plans into traditional education systems, especially in terms of approval from external examiners. Many educators suggested creating a centralized lesson plan database to support teachers in implementing PhET-based lessons. The DTW Foundation is actively considering this idea.
Impact and future plans
Through a three-part workshop series, educators across Nigeria adopted PhET simulation as an innovative tool for STEM education. Participants shared their enthusiasm in the workshop’s WhatsApp group, where over 1,200 educators exchanged ideas and posted Coursera certificates after completing their PhET courses. The course period is open until October 29, 2024, allowing more teachers to earn the certification.
In addition to positive feedback, the proposal to create a centralized lesson plan database also resonated with participants. The DTW Foundation is committed to supporting educators by growing this work and fostering continued collaboration within the education community.
The success of the PhET workshop series demonstrates the growing momentum to integrate technology into STEM education, and DTW Foundation, along with its partners, is determined to continue empowering educators across Nigeria. Through these workshops, teachers are equipped to create interactive and engaging classrooms that inspire the next generation of scientists and innovators.
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