Effects of Computer-Based Simulations on Senior Secondary School Students’ Performance in Physics Practical, Osun State, Nigeria

The study determined the effects of Computer-based Simulations (CBSs) on the academic performance of senior secondary school students’ in Physics Practical. It also determined the influence of sex on the effects of the simulations on students’ academic performance in Physics practical. Pretest - posttest control group quasi experimental design was adopted for the study. Two intact classes of students of Physics in senior secondary II (SS II) were purposively selected for the study. The classes were randomly assigned into experimental and Control group. Physics Practical Performance Test (PPPT) was used for data gathering. Data collected were analysed using ANCOVA and 2 – way ANOVA. Results showed that CBSs had significant effects on students’ academic performance in Physics practical (F (1,74) = 5.51; p < 0.05). Sex has no significant influence on the effect of CBSs on students’ academic performance in Physics practical (F (1,74) = 0.05; p > 0.05). It is therefore concluded that CBSs can be employed in the teaching of Physics practical at the senior secondary schools. Keywords: Computer-based simulations, Learning Outcomes, Physics practical, Senior secondary II (SSII). DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-21-06 Publication date: July 31 st 2021