I think most science teachers have used PhET from time to time. When I received the email about PhET Studio, I was naturally curious. What did they change? Is it worth spending the time on learning it?
Simulations offer an interactive and visual way for students to explore complex scientific concepts, and PhET Studio takes this to the next level. The customization and flexibility means students can engage with content at their own pace while focusing on key ideas without unnecessary distractions. For example, starting a simulation with the mass scale already turned on saves time and keeps learners focused on discovery rather than navigation.
Here is what I discovered about PhET Studio
- There are 39 labs, currently, available on Studio.
- They are adding math labs on PhET.
- It is very user friendly. It is intuitive how to use the simulations and how to save changes you want to make.
- You can assign simulations with different presets to students. This would allow for more differentiation and support for students.
- You can customize the starting screen for you students
- This is a big deal. When I have them discover the parts of the atom that are heavy, I have to tell students multiple times to click on the scale to see the mass. Now, I can just start with it turned on.
- It is free for this school year. If the license is purchased in 2025 it is $50 for the year and in 2026 it is $100.
Overall, I am going to keep using PhEt Studio for the labs I already do and keep watching it. In my classroom they have a lot of potential. By making science and math concepts more tangible, simulations foster curiosity, deepen understanding, and support inquiry-based learning—all in a user-friendly platform that’s free for the school year.
Kate Metz, Independent School District 1 Science Teacher
10 years in Education, BS Biology MSU Denver