PhET Simulation and Gender on Students' Academic Performance in Physics

This study was carried out to examine the effect of PhET Simulation technology and gender on secondary school Physics students’ academic performance in Uyo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. Three research questions were raised and three research hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study adopted Quasi-experimental design using non-randomized pre-test post-test control group. The population consisted of all the 3,183 senior secondary one Physics students during 2023/2024 academic session in all the 15 public secondary schools in Uyo L.G.A., Akwa Ibom State. A sample size of 202 respondents was selected using Purposive sampling technique. One experimental and one control groups were drawn giving a total of two intact classes. The experimental group was taught using PhET Simulation technology while the control group was taught using expository method. A researcher-made instrument titled ‘Physics Performance Test (PPT) was used as pre-test and post-test. The instrument was face validated by three validators in Faculty of Education, University of Uyo and a reliability coefficient of 0.83 was obtained using Test-retest method. Mean and Standard Deviation were used to answer all the research questions and Analysis of Covariance was used to test all the hypotheses at .05 significant level. The findings of the study showed a significant difference in the academic performance of Physics students taught with PhET Simulation technology and those taught using expository method. The finding showed a no significant difference in the performance of male and female Physics students taught with PhET Simulation technology and a no significant difference also exists in the academic performance of urban and rural Physics students taught with PhET Simulation technology. Based on these findings, it was concluded that PhET Simulation technology enhances students’ academic performance in Physics in Uyo LGA, Akwa Ibom State. It is recommended among others that PhET Simulation technology should be used in the teaching-learning process to enhance students’ performance in Physics.