Sunflower Learning

Posted by LisaHill - 22/04/09 at 10:04 am

Subject Material: Biology, Chemistry, & Physics
Grades: High School (secondary science)

Moving Away From Textbooks
Sometimes it’s hard to understand why a current runs through batteries, or conceptualize how the heart circulates.  Sunflower Learning provides powerful interactive tools to help students, teachers, and home school parents  to understand this material.

Batteries Come Alive
I downloaded Sunflower’s online demo, and viewed a wide range of their interactive simulations.  Physics wasn’t my best subject in college, so I checked out Motors and Generators.  Way cool.  Students can build their own 3D generator, observe how current moves through a magnetic field, and experiment.

Then I moved onto Chemistry, and observed Atoms and Ions.  By changing the number of protons, neutrons and electrons, I created different elements and isotopes.   The interactive software models the inner workings of each elements, displays the electrons in their orbital shells, and allows students to visually observe atomic matter in 3D.  Pretty neat!

Sunflower offers a wide range of virtual labs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.  On a computer, the working screen area is open, uncluttered and easy to understand.  Activities are colorful and informative.  The tools provided are simple and self-explanatory.  Besides, students like to tinker and explore, and they’re learning while playing around with the software.  My 14-year-old son had a blast  solidifying and diffusing molecules, checking out different cells and playing Predator Prey.

In addition, Data Analyzer links with other software programs to create tables and graphs from generated data.

And Sunflower Learning labs are available in Spanish.

And There’s More
Educators not only receive the CD-ROM with specific programs, Sunflower Learning will also provide:

• Comprehensive teachers notes
• Worksheets, activities and quizzes
• Full site license to run programs on networks or school machines

This is not static science.  If homeschoolers, or a school district needs supplemental material that’s hands on, visual and interactive, check out Sunflower’s virtual labs and simulations.  Users will require a projector, student computers, or a white board.  And contact info@sunflowerlearning.com for a free  trial.

If educators wish to edit material, the optional Resource Builder offers this opportunity.

System Requirements: Mac OS X 9.0 and Power PC Processor; Windows  98 with PC Pentium III Processor & Internet Explorer 5.1; 64MB RAM; Linux – Sunflower for Science runs through Wine.
Contact: sunflowerlearning.com
Cost: Each program costs $150. Check online for special offers.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009 at 10:41 am and is filed under Animation, Homework Help, Media, Science. The entry is tagged under biology, chemistry, elearning, high school, learning, physics, school, secondary science, students, Sunflower Learning, teacher. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.