Effects of Virtual Lab Experiences on Students’ Achievement and Perceptions of Learning Physics

Abstract

In engineering education, laboratory experimentation is as significant as theoretical education. However, inadequate laboratory facilities affect students’ abilities to learn. This study aimed to investigate the effect of virtual labs on students’ learning achievements and their perceptions of virtual physics lab activities. The study was carried out with 240 first-year engineering students enrolled in a physics laboratory course at a private university. In the study, data on learning achievement were collected from quizzes completed by students after the experiments. The data on the perception of the students about the virtual laboratory were collected at the end of the term, with the Virtual Laboratory Perception Scale shared online. The research results indicated that simulation-based physics experiments could positively affect students’ learning achievements. In addition, it was revealed that most students had very positive perceptions of virtual laboratory activities. The results obtained from this study can guide educators to prepare more effective laboratory environments.