The Effectiveness of the PhET Program in Academic Achievement and Technological Literacy among Fifth-grade Science Students in Physics

Abstract

This research aims to identify the effectiveness of the PhET program in improving the academic achievement and technological literacy of fifth-grade science students in physics. To achieve these objectives, the researcher employed an experimental design with two independent and equivalent groups: an experimental group and a control group. Based on this design, the research sample was randomly selected from Rabia Al-Adawiya Preparatory School for Girls, located in the Imam Ali neighborhood in the center of Karbala Governorate. A class of 35 students was chosen to represent the experimental group, and another class of the same number was selected to represent the control group. The researcher formulated 120 behavioral objectives and prepared daily lesson plans for the two research groups. She also developed two research instruments. The first instrument was an achievement test in physics, designed in its final form to include 50 multiple-choice questions, each containing four answer choices. Its validity and reliability were verified. The second instrument was a technological literacy scale consisting of 25 items, using a five-point Likert scale. Its validity and reliability were also verified. After statistically analyzing the results, the researcher concluded that the experimental group outperformed the control group in both the achievement test and the technological literacy scale. In light of these results, the researcher concluded that employing the PhET program in laboratory teaching leads to increased interaction and learning motivation, as it provides an interactive learning environment that encourages the student to explore, experiment, and repeat attempts. The researcher recommended the necessity of integrating technology into the curriculum by including interactive activities and scientific simulation programs (phET) within physics and science lessons, which enhances understanding and practical application and develops technological culture among students.