LibGuides: Resources for Online Teaching and Learning: Biology, Chemistry &amp; Physics: Online Simulations and Educational Tools

Online Simulations and Visualizations for Science Majors

BioRender
A collection of pre-made icons and templates from more than 30 fields of life sciences to help you create professional science figures.
CalcPlot3D Interactive Figures
A collection of interactive biochemistry graphs contributed by a Chemistry Professor at College of St. Benedict/St. John's University.
Learn Genetics
Interactive techniques labs, online lessons in genetics, cell biology, evolution, human health, plants, neuroscience, and ecology.
Molecular Workbench
Visual interactive simulations for teaching and learning science (Java Required).
PhET Simulations
Founded in 2002 by Nobel Laureate Carl Wieman, the PhET Interactive Simulations project at the University of Colorado Boulder creates free interactive math and science simulations. PhET sims are based on extensive education research and engage students through an intuitive, game-like environment where students learn through exploration and discovery.
Praxilabs
Online simulations with prompts embedded to walk students through lab.
Virtual Laboratory
Videos, descriptions, simulations throughout lessons on subjects including water properties, Ecoil, growth, mutation, and adaptation (Adobe Flash Player required).
WOLFRAM Demonstrations Project
Covers Developmental biology, Growth processes, Molecular biology, Natural forms, Plant biology, Zoology, and Ecology.

BioRender
A collection of pre-made icons and templates from more than 30 fields of life sciences to help you create professional science figures.
CalcPlot3D Interactive Figures
A collection of interactive chemistry graphs contributed by a Mathematics Professor at Monroe Community College.
ChemCollective Virtual Labs
A collection of virtual labs, scenario-based learning activities, tutorials, and concept tests. Teachers can use our content for pre-labs, for alternatives to textbook homework, and for in-class activities for individuals or teams. Students can review and learn chemistry concepts using our virtual labs, simulations, and tutorials.
ChemCompute
The Chem Compute website allows students to easily access state of the art computational software for free including GAMESS, TINKER, Psi4 / JUPYTERHUB, and NAMD..
ChemReaX: Chemical Reaction Simulator
ChemReaXTM is a web app offered by ScienceBySimulation for modeling and simulating basic chemical reactions. The software is intended for chemistry students and their teachers at the undergraduate and high school (AP/IB) levels.
GasSim: Gas Law Simulator
GasSimTM is a web app offered by ScienceBySimulation. GasSim is a gas law modeling and simulation tool, intended for undergraduate and high-school students in chemistry or physics courses. GasSim includes a database of gas properties for 76 gases.
Molecular and Protein Interactive Figures
Molecular Workbench
Visual interactive simulations for teaching and learning science (Java Required).
PhET Simulations
The PhET Interactive Simulations project at the University of Colorado Boulder creates free interactive math and science simulations. PhET sims are based on extensive education research and engage students through an intuitive, game-like environment where students learn through exploration and discovery.
Praxilabs
Online simulations with prompts embedded to walk students through lab.
WOLFRAM Demonstrations Project
Covers Chemical kinetics, General chemistry, Inorganic chemistry, Organic chemistry, and Physical chemistry.

Astro Simulations, from the Columbia University Center for Teaching and Learning
Online implementation of several NAAP simulations.
CalcPlot3D Interactive Figures
A collection of interactive biochemistry graphs contributed by a Chemistry Professor at College of St. Benedict/St. John's University.
Foothill College AstroSims
Online Astronomy simulations (currently planetary configurations and dark matter. Soon: Ptolemaic model, cosmological redshift, gravitational lensing) (mix of re-implementations of NAAP simulations and entirely new simulations)
GEAS Project Laboratory Exercises
Online hands-on and Image/spectra-based lab exercises for Distance learning (full access provided on request; includes archive of images and spectra and video tutorials)
HTML5 Simulations
Manipulate systems and experiment with climate change, motion, forces, gravity, momentum, energy, rotation.
Molecular Workbench
Visual interactive simulations for teaching and learning science (Java Required).
Nebraska Astronomy Applet Project
Simulations of a wide range of astronomical phenomena, organized into units of related simulations with reading.
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(Written in Flash, however, Windows and Mac installable versions available at https://astro.unl.edu/downloads/)
PhET Simulations
Founded in 2002 by Nobel Laureate Carl Wieman, the PhET Interactive Simulations project at the University of Colorado Boulder creates free interactive math and science simulations. PhET sims are based on extensive education research and engage students through an intuitive, game-like environment where students learn through exploration and discovery.
Physics Simulations
Interactive physics labs (change values and experiment).
Planet Maker
Online simulation to experiment with creating planets.
Praxilabs
Online simulations with prompts embedded to walk students through lab.
SDSS Skyserver projects
Activities to examine many topics in astronomy including H-R diagram, spectroscopy, galaxy classification, Hubble's Law and others.
WOLFRAM Demonstrations Project
Covers Acoustics, Astrophysics, College physics, Electromagnetism, Quantum physics, Statistical mechanics, etc.

General Online Educational Tools

Canva
An online design tool that offers users the opportunity to create professional-looking posters, slideshows, images, event flyers, resumes, cards, certificates, infographics, and other media. The tool allows students to design visuals to showcase their knowledge in unique ways.
Glogster
Glogster is a Web 2.0 platform that allows users to create interactive online posters called glogs, by adding images, videos, audio and text. As a learner-centered tool, Glogster supports students’ building of knowledge by allowing them to construct their own meaning of the content. Free 7 day trial.
Google Sites
A Google web application that allows users to create wikis and websites, with ease of use and collaborative design. Google Sites is free to use (with a paid option that offers more storage capability).
Powtoon
An online platform for creating short video presentations. Powtoon gives anyone the ability to create professional videos and presentations. You can select from royalty-free libraries of animation, live-action video, images, designed backgrounds, soundtracks, and moving graphics, or you can use your own visual content and voiceover.
Sutori
A “collaborative instructional and presentation tool.” It can be used as an alternative to traditional presentations such as PowerPoint or Prezi. The stories can be viewed one panel at a time, like a slideshow, or scrolled through, like a timeline. (Limited version: Free)