ASSESSING PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS’ RECEPTION AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS VIRTUAL LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS IN LIFE SCIENCES
Journal: Journal of Baltic Science Education (Vol.19, No. 6)Publication Date: 2020-12-30
Authors : Mafor Penn Lydia Mavuru;
Page : 1092-1105
Keywords : inquiry-based learning; life sciences; pre-service teachers; virtual laboratory experiments;
Abstract
This research reports the assessment of pre-service teachers' reception and attitudes towards virtual laboratory experiments in Life Sciences with the aim of advancing adaptability to digital learning. Using sequential mixed-methods in a quasi-experimental design, 68 pre-service teachers in the 3rd year of a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) program were surveyed before and after virtual learning interventions. This phase was followed by qualitative data gathering using focus group interviews with all participants. Findings from quantitative data analysis revealed a positive significant difference in pre-service teachers' attitudes towards virtual laboratory experiments post learning interventions. From qualitative data pre-service teachers found the progression from using only traditional to including virtual experiments was useful in enhancing their conceptual understandings of Life Sciences concepts, convenience, inquiry-based learning, self-directed and autonomous learning. However, pre-service teachers noted that using virtual laboratories did not significantly develop their science process skills and as a result could not replace the experiences in a traditional biology laboratory. The implications of these findings project virtual laboratories as a supporting tool for experimentation in Life Sciences especially within and post the COVID-19 pandemic where issues of social distancing pose a threat to collaborative and inquiry-based science learning. Recommendations from these findings are discussed herein.
Other Latest Articles
- COVID-19 AS AN AGENT OF CHANGE IN TEACHING AND LEARNING STEM SUBJECTS
- THROUGH THE COVID-19 LOOKING GLASS: COPING SKILLS FOR STEM EDUCATORS IN THE TIME OF A PANDEMIC AND BEYOND
- BROADENING EDUCATIONAL PATHWAYS TO STEM EDUCATION THROUGH ONLINE TEACHING AND LEARNING DURING COVID-19: TEACHERS’ PERSPECTIVES
- STEM EDUCATION DURING THE COVID-19: TEACHERS’ PERSPECTIVES ABOUT STRATEGIES, CHALLENGES AND EFFECTS ON STUDENTS’ LEARNING
- THE INTEGRATION OF ONLINE TEACHING AND LEARNING IN STEM EDUCATION AS A RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Last modified: 2021-02-16 19:40:10