Cool Tools: The Pedagogical Edition
So you may not know that during, and just out of, college I worked at IBM's Thomas J. Watson Research Center writing computer based physic simulations. Now that was a long time ago but until recently I hadn't seen much that was even as good as what I had done (no ego problems here). But now I've found something that is so much better. Interactive Physics Simulations from the University of Colorado. These simulations really are cool tools and there are so many of them just waiting for you to download them.
Among my favorites:
Balloons and Static Electricity
What does this have to do with FairerScience you say? Well a lot. These simulations are applications of physical science concepts in ways that are accessible, interesting and let you test out your conceptions and misconceptions . They are set up so they can be used at pre college and undergraduate levels. And "Integrating applications into the teaching of fundamental concepts increased women's recruitment and retention at Carnegie Mellon in computer science and at Drexel in engineering." (Give me a yell if you want the references).