Clases Interactivas Demostrativas y simulaciones PhET para la enseñanza de la mecánica newtoniana en la escuela técnica

Abstract

This paper presents a classroom experience carried out in a technical secondary school with an orientation in electromechanics, located in a small town in the province of San Luis, Argentina. The proposal was implemented in a fourth-year class of 20 students aged 16 to 17, with the aim of fostering the understanding of Newton’s laws, particularly the concepts of net force, applied force, and friction, through active learning strategies based on Interactive Lecture Demonstrations (ILDs). The teaching sequence combined the use of PhET interactive simulations with stages of prediction, observation, and collective discussion, promoting reflection on students’ prior ideas and encouraging scientific reasoning. Although the school has a laboratory, it lacks adequate materials for conducting physics experiments, which motivated the incorporation of digital and interactive resources as an alternative. The results of a student opinion survey and teacher reflections reveal a high level of engagement and conceptual understanding, highlighting the value of ILDs for promoting meaningful learning, conceptual change, and the development of scientific literacy in contexts with limited resources.