This tutorial explains how resistance to current flow occurs at the molecular level, and shows how an electric conductor consists of electrons floating freely around atoms.
Type of Material:
Simulation/animation.
Recommended Uses:
The material can be used by an individual user who wants to learn about current flow and also by instructors in their classes.
It could be recommended for courses on electrical properties of materials in electrical engineering topics. Useful for traditional and hybrid/blended teaching
Technical Requirements:
There are no specific technical requirements.
Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers were used to access the material. It seems that all facilities are active for any browser.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
The major goal is to show current flow at the molecular level. To achieve this goal an animation of the current flow is presented and a slider allows to choose the value of the current - a simulation style.
The simulation is addressed to students of fundamentals of electrical engineering degrees interested in learning about resistance of conductors.
Target Student Population:
High school, college and technical students.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
The user must have basic knowledge of the atom structure - free electrons in the outer most shells that randomly move from one atom to another.
Basic knowledge of chemistry.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
The material has an introductory paragraph to explain the physical phenomena. The simulation/animation is well designed and below it there is an explanation on how to use it and the meaning of the simulation/animation in physical terms.
Concerns:
The material should be integrated by the teacher into a structured course on basics of electricity as to understand the concepts
The major concern is related to accesibility by persons who are either blind or visually impaired since the understanding of the phenomena relies on the moving image of the material.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
The material helps users understand the physical phenomena. Simulatios/animations enrich the understanding of current flow.
The material could be used for self-learning as well as a supplementary material in traditional or blended/hybrid courses on electricity. The learning objective is clearly stated. Physical phenomena are presented graphically, easy to understand.
Links to this material can be added to online courses, modules or reference materials.
Concerns:
Cannot be used as a standalone material. To become useful for effective learning it should be combined with extra exercises and quizzes, or to become integral part of additional lectures on the topic of electricity.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
The simulation is easy to use. Visual design of the simulation allows continuous visualization of the phenomena.
Concerns:
Limited accessibility for disabled people.
Creative Commons:
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