Using Visualisations in Secondary School Physics Teaching and Learning: Evaluating the Efficacy of an Instructional Program to Facilitate Understanding of Gas and Liquid Pressure Concepts

Abstract

An instructional program using four simulation applets was used to facilitate understanding of gas and liquid pressure concepts among twenty-two students in a Year 9 class from an independent secondary school in Singapore. A comparison group consisting of twenty-two students was taught using traditional didactic, chalk-and-talk instruction. Administration of a gas and liquid pressure conceptual test comprising ten multiple-choice items in a pretest-posttest design indicated significant improvement in understanding using the simulation applets compared to the didactic instruction. A seven-item attitudes questionnaire indicated that the students generally found the animation applets interesting and helpful in their physics lessons.