Physics Education Technology (Phet) Simulation in Teaching Electromagnetism for Senior High School Students

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the significant learning differences between traditional instruction and PhET simulation-based Instruction in learning Electromagnetism for senior high school students. The physics curriculum in the Philippines includes competencies that promote the use of simulations to teach the concepts. These interactive simulations are designed to capture students' full attention and help them grasp the ideas critically. A thorough evaluation of its efficacy is still lacking. The researcher used quasi-experimental research design to test the cause-and-effect relationship with the use of PhET Simulation in teaching Electromagnetism. A t-test was performed to determine whether there was any significant difference between students taught in traditional instruction and students taught in PhET Simulation-based Instruction. Results revealed that experimental group's mean gain was 5.32 compared to the control group's 3.02, yielding a test statistic of t = -10.32 and a Cohen's d of -2.66 — a very large effect indicating that PhET simulation-based instruction produced substantially greater learning improvement than traditional instruction. This study concluded that PhET Simulation-based Instruction produce a significant impact on the learning of students on the concept of Electromagnetism. Utilizing PhET Simulation Activities can make meaningful difference to the learning of Physics concept specifically Electromagnetism.

Keywords: PhET Simulation-based Instruction, Traditional Instruction, physics learning, quasi-experimental design, teaching physics