Pre-service teachers’ perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, attitude and intentions towards virtual laboratory package utilization in teaching and learning of physics

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate pre-service teachers’ perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, attitude and intentions towards the utilization of virtual laboratory package in teaching and learning of Nigerian secondary school physics concepts. Descriptive survey research was employed and 66 fourth and fifth year Physics education students were purposively used as research sample. Four research questions guided the study and a 16-item questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection. The questionnaire was validated by educational technology experts, physics expert and guidance and counselling experts. Pilot study was carried out on year three physics education students and a reliability coefficients ranging from 0.76 to 0.89 was obtained for each of the four sections of the questionnaire. Data collected from the administration of the research instruments were analyzed using descriptive statistics of Mean and Standard Deviation. A decision rule was set, in which, a mean score of 2.50 and above was considered Agreed while a mean score below 2.50 was considered Disagreed. Findings revealed that pre-service physics teachers perceived the virtual laboratory package easy to use and useful with mean scores of 3.18 and 3.34 respectively. Also, respondents’ attitude and intentions to use the package in teaching and learning of physics were positive with mean scores of 3.21 and 3.37 respectively. Based on these findings, it was recommended among others that administrators should equip schools with adequate Information and Communication Technology facilities that would aid students and teachers’ utilization of virtual-based learning environments in teaching and learning process.