Effect of Integrating Virtual Reality Laboratory and Physical Laboratory on Male and Female Senior Secondary School Students’ Achievement and Retention in Chemistry

Author

Udegbunam, Chiemeka Anastasia, Oragba Njideka Cordelia

Abstract

 This study investigated the effect of integrating virtual reality laboratory and physical laboratory on the achievement and retention of male and female Senior Secondary School II (SS II) students in Chemistry. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. A quasi-experimental research design was adopted for the study, which was conducted in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. The population comprised 364 SS II Chemistry students, from which a sample of 65 students was selected. The instrument used for data collection was the Chemistry Achievement Test (CAT), developed by the researchers. The instrument was validated by three experts, comprising one expert in Measurement and Evaluation and two experts in Chemistry Education, all from Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe. A reliability coefficient of 0.74 was obtained using the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient, indicating satisfactory reliability. Data collected were analysed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions, while t-test was used to test the null hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that female students obtained higher mean achievement and retention scores than their male counterparts when taught Chemistry with the integration of virtual reality laboratory and physical laboratory. However, there was no significant difference between the mean achievement scores of male and female students. In contrast, a statistically significant difference was found between the mean retention scores of male and female students taught Chemistry through the integrated virtual reality and physical laboratory approach. Based on these findings, it was recommended, among other measures, that educational agencies and other relevant stakeholders should organize workshops and seminars to equip Chemistry teachers with the knowledge and skills required for the effective integration of virtual reality laboratories with physical laboratory instruction.

Keywords

Virtual Reality Laboratory, Physical Laboratory, Gender, Achievement and Retention

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References

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