Use Golems to make digital online Physics simulators.

 "Golems is a 3D recreational physics simulator. Build robots, spaceships, clocks, catapults or cannons. Add sensors, timers, switches, motors.

Give it a brain. Make a mouse trap - or make a mouse. Take the wheel and pilot your machine yourself. Build anything."

 Students are always in the library playing online physics games that look an awful lot like Mario Brothers. I think this is a strong indicator that interest is there for more interactive Physics applications that require higher order critical thinking and that lead to greater intellectual engagement.With Golem, intermediate and secondary students will be challenged with decisions involved in the designing and building of simple and complex digital mechanisms. Students produce videos which can then be uploaded to YouTube, TeacherTube, Moodles, wikis and websites. Upload the videos into VoiceThread and post for comment and analysis by fellow classmates.

 Tutorial/Golems 101  The Golem tutorial provides a basic explanation of the tools that are used to create the simulators. Golems' tool menu provides: User Controlled Machines, Batteries, Distance Sensors, Function Modifiers, Decay Circuit, and Memory Latch. You will learn how to work with them by building a very simple vehicle. 

  The Golems site is a public wiki, and like any wiki it is under constant construction.  

(Finally, I am not a Physics person - please forgive any errors in statements that I have made. Constructive comments are, indeed, welcome.)