K-12 Report on Best and High Impact Practices
By Bud Gillan, Educator and Consultant
Yenka.
Think Scientifically.
Now the world’s best science software comes to America.
Addresses one of our greatest national needs.
Proven tools and curricula to improve science and mathematics literacy.
Born in Scotland.
A world leader in education, particularly math and science.
Used in Schools Worldwide.
Yenka is used extensively in 80 countries, like Germany, Holland, Italy, UK, France, Norway, Egypt,
New Zealand, Spain, Singapore, Australia, Mexico, and South Africa.
Millions of students use Yenka.
Yenka works with all kinds of students in all kinds of languages, from beginning secondary students
to the most advanced.
Thousands of teachers and schools.
Developed by educators to meet international, national, and local standards.
A New Generation of Products.
How are you going to teach this plugged-in generation? What today’s students (and teachers) will
have to know and how they learn is changing. Yenka’s highly interactive instruction can help.
Brilliant. Effective. Fun.
These are words used to describe Yenka by its users. Here are some more…flexible, groundbreaking, stunning, affordable, cool, simply amazing, addictive. OK, how come?
ScienceMan.
In my 17 years of teaching and 12 years of reviewing software and hardware on ScienceMan,
I've come across way too many "dogs". But I'm extremely excited about Yenka. It’s a 5 out of 5...
www.scienceman.com
Synopsis.
This is a story that tells itself. After working 20 years in the software and education world it was clear to me Yenka was
making a clear difference around the world and is indeed itself different. Really good software is hard and expensive to make.
Most of what is on the market simply falls short. But in typical UK humor and understatement they call Yenka “simulation”
software. It is surely way more than that. It is more like a completely interactive curriculum. It doesn’t matter whose
textbooks you use. This will make them better. It can change everything from how basic science to physics and chemistry,
technology, and mathematics are taught. Here are some reasons why.
Powerful Combinations.
Much of learning is visual, connecting what we see to what we think. Yenka is extremely visual, all virtual, and in real-time
allows seeing, reasoning, and comprehension to work together. These products are as much about epistemology (building
knowledge) and learning how to learn, as they are about the core concepts they teach. This is a potent collaboration.
Yenka helps students think scientifically while learning specific content. In plain English, it combines what, why, and how into
its lessons. Yenka’s math, technology, and programming products are built the same way. One look at the new Yenka
Coordinates or Inorganic Chemistry is proof.
Solid Research. Happy Teachers.
No doubt this is high tech stuff, but this is not open-ended, messing around until you figure out the answer. Yenka’s
comprehensive designs have a point and purpose to all functions and interactions. lt takes the student down an instructional
path and builds in multiple ways to learn. This will make the brain-based research folks very happy. While the products are
loaded with build-in lessons and models, Yenka also gives the teacher simple-to-use, but powerful tools to build their own.
Modeling, manipulatives, variables, equations, intelligent engines, real-time tools, on-time assessment, are a fraction of what
teachers and students have available. Across networks, whiteboards, small groups, or individually, Yenka’s design works for
teachers. Here is a sampler of what they are saying:
From the U.K.
How Science Really Works…
Experimental data is very comprehensive allowing chemistry students the opportunity to complete mole calculations. Data
from experiments can be displayed in different ways from word equations to graphs. The graphs can easily be manipulated to
display different variables and with different scales. This allows students to critically assess the best way of displaying the
data.
Sam Holyman, Science Teacher, Swanshurst School, UK (June 09)
From France.
The simulation is very precise and realistic...a very complete and well-presented software. Students really like it because
of its game-like appearance… it is so easy to use, it will captivate you.
Jean-Luc Richter, Physics Teacher, Collège J.J. Waltz de Marckolsheim
From Spain.
The simulations encourage further investigation, as students explain what they are thinking and understanding. In my
opinion, when several students work together with a programme, a powerful learning environment is created.
Antxón Anta Unanue, Collegio Alemán (June 09)
From New Zealand.
Exceptional. It was fast and efficient and very simple. I have started issuing to students and other staff and they find it
brilliant as well. Congratulations on a fine product and incredible service.
Jason Morgan, Physics teacher, NZ (Feb 09)
From Oxford and South Carolina
I recently decided to give Yenka Light and Sound modeling software a try after some of my own children enjoyed using it at
Oxford in the UK. At first it was to take advantage of the free home license (yes, FREE). Now, I'm using it in my classes. My
favorite built-in model is "Speed of Sound" - which lets you add media, such as vacuum, water, and wood, and see how the
speed of sound changes and then interacts with the sound wave in air - very cool!
J. Keith McElveen, Governor's School for Science and Mathematics, South Carolina
It’s Time.
What’s behind the glitter here? First, someone is beginning to make sense of the painful process of teaching (and learning)
with software. Secondly, smart programming and coding has re-engineered how interactive products are made. Educators are
clearly involved in the process. Modeling, real-time experiments, data analysis, a comprehensive portfolio of lessons, online
teacher training, 24/7/free home use, multi-faceted tools that allow seeing the math behind the science and vice versa,
running dangerous, expensive, difficult experiments, reasoning and thinking development, tools for learning algorithms,
equations, formulations, and graphing, content from teachers around the world and clear tie-ins to today’s state and national
standards, to list a few of the notables, help this report make its bold claim. Yenka is a welcome and affordable addition to
the American classroom.
Bud Gillan, Educator and Consultant. He is an award-winning author and educator, including the President’s Award by the
Council of State Science Supervisors and IBM CEO Excellence Award where he was K-12 Science Manager and Curriculum
Specialist. Bud has taught at the middle school, high school, and college levels. Currently, he is a science educator with Palm
Beach County Schools with ELL Endorsement and a science consultant with The Smithsonian Institute.