Background: In learning mechanics, students often believe that "force is exerted on moving objects." As this misconception called "motion implies a force" (MIF) is difficult to correct, various teaching methods have been proposed, such as showing refutational/explanatory text (Palmer & Flanagan, 1997; Takagaki, 2004),…

This research studied the effectiveness of the simulation-based learning assisted with scaffolding approach to address students' misconceptions (MCs) about projectile motion. The five MCs were related to the direction of the force acting on an object (MC1), the acceleration of an object at the top of the trajectory (MC2), the directions of…

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of simulation-supported inquiry-based learning on pre-service teachers' conceptual understanding of capacitors. The participants consisted of 50 pre-service teachers studying at a state university in Turkey. The participants were divided into two groups of 25 each on the basis of their…

This study investigated the effectiveness of simulation-based instruction on students' greenhouse effect achievement. The simulations were chosen from the Physics Education Technology Project (PhET) website. The research was a pretest-posttest with a control group design quasi-experimental study. The sample of the study consisted of 45 6th grade…

Newton's third law of motion is probably one of the easiest and simplest laws in physics for students to recite. However, when they are given questions where they must apply the understanding of the law to solve a problem, it often becomes a challenge. They seem to forget about the fact that action and reaction are opposite and equal. In this…

In this research article we explore the efficacy of a game-based learning approach to improve students understanding of the fundamental concepts of physics such as, heat and temperature. Heat and temperature are complex to learn by traditional learning methods. Students face complexities in learning such concepts of Physics. These complexities…

As computer-based visualization techniques are becoming more important across the landscape of astronomy education, this pre-test/post-test study using the Size, Scale, and Structure Concept Inventory (S3CI) looked at the impact of using a hybrid combination of hands-on and computer-based activities on the learning of five semesters of non-science…

Background: Information Communication Technologies are increasingly present in the African educational system at all educational levels. However, their integration into pedagogical practices to improve the quality of teaching and learning across disciplines remains the exception. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to compare the learning…

The purpose of this study was to investigate both the individual and relative effectiveness of two conceptual change interventions, gender and their interactions on preservice science teachers' conceptual understanding and their misconceptions in mechanical waves. The interventions are conceptual change texts enriched with concept cartoons (CCTCC)…

Physics is a tough and challenging topic. Facilitating the learning of physics requires an innovative and constructivist view of teaching that promotes an active learning environment and an effective implementation of educational technology. The purpose of the study is to investigate whether the use of computer simulations combined with hands-on…

Recently Watkins, Bargagliotti, and Franklin (2014) discovered that simulations of the sampling distribution of the mean can mislead students into concluding that the mean of the sampling distribution of the mean depends on sample size. This potential error arises from the fact that the mean of a simulated sampling distribution will tend to be…

This article draws on a one-semester study to investigate the effect of videos and 3D animations on students' conceptual understandings about basic computer units. A quasi-experimental design was carried out in two classrooms; videos and 3D animations were used in classroom activities in one group and those were used for homework in the other…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the use of 3-D printed models as an instructional tool in a middle school science classroom for students with visual impairments and compare their use to traditional tactile graphics for aiding conceptual understanding of geoscience concepts. Specifically, this study examined if the students'…

Although the use of simulation to teach the sampling distribution of the mean is meant to provide students with sound conceptual understanding, it may lead them astray. We discuss a misunderstanding that can be introduced or reinforced when students who intuitively understand that "bigger samples are better" conduct a simulation to…

The 2014 study, "Conceptualizing Astronomical Scale: Virtual Simulations on Handheld Tablet Computers Reverse Misconceptions," examined the effects of using the true-to-scale (TTS) display mode versus the orrery display mode in the iPad's Solar Walk software application on students' knowledge of the Earth's place in the solar system. The…