Effectiveness of Physics Education Technology (PhET) Interactive Simulations in Teaching Physical Science

The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of Physics Education Technology (PhET) interactive simulation in teaching Physical Science. Two heterogeneous sections in which each section is composed of 30 students were the participants of the study. It was conducted at Albor National High School- Albor, Libjo, Dinagat Islands. The group assigned as experimental group used the PhET Interactive Simulation in conducting the experiments whereas the other group utilized the conventional method with real laboratory apparatus in conducting experiments. Lesson logs were used as a guide in discussing and conducting classes on both groups. A 50-item multiple choice pen and paper test about selected topics in Physical Science was administered as pre-test and post-test for both groups. The data were statistically analysed using the frequency count and percentage, mean and standard deviation t-test for dependent means and ANCOVA. The study showed that the average score in the pre-test of the students from control group and experimental group were 67 % and described as did not meet expectation. However, the average score in the post-test of the two groups both described as fairly satisfactory. There was a significant increase on the mean scores of the students in control and experimental group between the pre-test and post-test. But, there was no significant difference on the post-test scores between the experimental and control group because the academic performance of the students in two groups had increase. It can be deduced that the students in both groups have the capacity to learn concepts in Physical Science. Also, the conventional method with real laboratory apparatus and PhET Interactive Simulation are both effective approaches in teaching Physical Science lessons since the academic performance of the students significantly increase from pre-test to post-test. Therefore, PhET Interactive Simulation can be used as instructional materials in conducting experiments in lieu