ERIC Number: EJ1428886
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1450-104X
EISSN: EISSN-2077-2327
Investigating the Effects of Virtual Laboratories on Students' Motivation and Attitudes toward Science
Dareen Shukri A. Alnaser; Sufian Forawi
Science Education International, v35 n2 p154-162 2024
Allowing students to practice science inquiry in the classroom is fundamental for science education. Students should master investigation skills, promoting their understanding of science concepts. Virtual laboratories have emerged as a powerful interactive tool that can be a suitable alternative to real laboratories, especially when lacking enough equipment and safety measures. This mixed approach study investigates the effects of virtual science laboratories on students' motivation and attitude toward science (ATS). Students (n = 237) from grades (7, 8, 9, 10, and 11) were surveyed to evaluate their virtual laboratory experience in an American curriculum private school in Dubai with the theoretical basis of motivation theories. The study reported that virtual laboratories positively impact students' overall motivation in terms of intrinsic motivation, perceived usefulness (U), effort (E), perceived self-efficacy (SE), and ATS. Students, perceived SE and U significantly impact student attitudes toward science (p < 0.001). Students' perceived SE is a predictor of their E in the laboratory by 6.1%. Students with high SE put more E into completing a virtual laboratory task than students with low SE.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Secondary School Students, Secondary School Science, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Electronic Learning, Science Laboratories, Student Motivation, Student Attitudes, Virtual Classrooms, Self Efficacy
International Council of Associations for Science Education. Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Education, Buca, Izmir 35150, Turkey. Tel: +90-532-4267927; Fax: +90-232-4204895; Web site: http://www.icaseonline.net/seiweb/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education; Elementary Education; Grade 7; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Grade 8; Grade 9; High Schools; Grade 10; Grade 11
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Arab Emirates
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A