ASSESSING PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS’ RECEPTION AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS VIRTUAL LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS IN LIFE SCIENCES

TitleASSESSING PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS’ RECEPTION AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS VIRTUAL LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS IN LIFE SCIENCES
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2020
AuthorsPenn, M, Mavuru, L
JournalJournal of Baltic Science Education
Volume19
Issue6A
Start Page1092-1105
PaginationContinuous
Date PublishedDecember/2020
Type of ArticleOriginal article
ISSN1648-3898
Other NumbersE-ISSN 2538-7138
Keywordsinquiry-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.

URLhttp://oaji.net/articles/2021/987-1613414595.pdf
DOI10.33225/jbse/20.19.1092
Refereed DesignationRefereed
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