The Effect of Virtual Laboratory Applications on 8th Grade Students' Achievement in Science Lesson

Abstract

The aim of this study is to reveal the effect of using virtual lab application in science teaching on students’ academic achievement and students' views on virtual lab application. The study group of the research consists of 62 students studying in the 8th grade of a secondary school in Antalya in the 2019-2020 academic years. Mixed method design was used in the research. In the quantitative dimension of the study, the control group and the experimental group taught with virtual laboratory applications were compared in terms of achievement. The qualitative dimension of the study was composed of the data obtained from the interview forms conducted with the experimental group students after the application and the data obtained from the observation forms made during the application. Research results revealed that virtual laboratory applications increased the academic success of the experimental group students. On the other hand, it has been shown that virtual laboratory applications contribute to students’ meaningful learning by enabling the concretization of abstract subjects, and that these applications positively support students' interest, excitement and motivation towards the science course because they are found attractive.