Research Article
Elizabeth Darko Agyei, Douglas Darko Agyei
EUR J INTERACT MULTIMED ED, Volume 2, Issue 2, Article No: e02111
ABSTRACT
The dwindling interest and perceived difficulty experienced by science students in learning physics at the senior high school level of education in Ghana speak to the need for the creation of authentic instructional platforms that promote enhanced learning as well as motivate students’ interest in physics. This study used an explanatory case study design to examine the affordances of Physics Education Technology simulations (PhETs) as an instructional tool with the intent to explain how enhanced students’ learning of physics concepts with simulations through implementation processes are possible in the context of Ghana. Nine pre-service physics teachers were engaged as learners to mimic the role of senior high school science students in witnessing simulation-based physics lessons. Questionnaires, pre- and post-tests and focus group interviews were the data sources employed in this study. The results showed that the learners’ learning enhanced with the use of PhETs because their learning outcomes improved and also, they had positive experiences with the simulations. Consequently, the study advocates that enhanced learning of concepts in physics with simulations are possible through interactive implementation processes that are exploratory and demonstrative in nature and context-sensitive.
Keywords: high school physics, ICT, students’ learning, simulations-supported lessons
Research Article
Lea Dela Cruz Kabigting
EUR J INTERACT MULTIMED ED, Volume 2, Issue 2, Article No: e02108
ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of computer simulations and conventional teaching in Physics concept learning on high school students.
The descriptive-experimental design was used in this study. The teacher-made test and evaluation questionnaire were used for gathering data. The data gathered were statistically treated and analyzed using SPSS software.
Findings of the study revealed that there were 40 or 50% male student respondents and 40 or 50% female. The pre-test score of the experimental and control groups did not differ significantly, while pre-test and posttest of the experimental and control groups were found to be significantly different. The evaluation of the teachers and students on lecture with computer simulation and conventional lecture methods did not differ significantly in terms of effectiveness/appropriateness, students’ participation/interaction, influence on cognitive skills and influence on content knowledge. There was a significant relationship between the sex and performance of the student respondents who were exposed to lecture with computer simulation method while the performance of the male and female student respondents exposed in conventional lecture method did not differ.
Based on the findings of this research, the use of computer simulation as instructional material in teaching Physics is recommended. This may be used to improve the performance of the students. It may be tried in other schools and respondents. Further studies may be undertaken in other Science subjects to establish the validity of the effectiveness of Lecture with Computer Simulation in teaching-learning process. Developers of instructional materials may improvise other teaching aids that may suit the needs and interest of the students.
Keywords: computer simulation, physics, teaching method