Effect of Using Virtual Lab Simulations on Student’s Learning in Online General Physics Courses

Abstract

A survey was conducted to collect the student’s learning outcomes when using virtual (simulation) labs in teaching. Two general physics courses [Phys I (2425) and Phys II (2426)] were chosen to conduct the survey. Five simulation experiments were performed by our students in Physics I and five experiments in Physics II. PhET (University of Colorado) interaction simulations were used by our students. The simulation experiments are covering most of the General Physics courses topics (Mechanics, Electricity, Heat, Thermodynamics, and Waves). Survey results show that performing the conventional simulation labs enhances the student's understanding of the theory and the physical concepts covered by the simulation. The resemblance of most simulations to real-life enables some of the students to improve or think of improving the simulation scenarios. The responses of our students indicate that the majority prefer that virtual experiments to be part of the conventional lab and not to be fully substituted.