Using Virtual Experiment To Teach Science Using ICT

Why use virtual experiment to teach science?

To take the advantage of using current technology to use the software environments which:
- mimic a real situation of interest,
- current computer technology allows the creation of special purpose,
- is accessible and rich environments that have, in the area of data collection and analysis,
- the potential to give learning experiences well beyond those of traditional textbook exercises.
- can be freely used over the web.

Another advantage is that some experiments are too dangerous to be demonstrated in the science lab, for example experiment that involves using fire, can be demonstrated using virtual experiment.

Virtual experiment allows the teacher to mimic the real situation virtually such as in teaching explosions and about the spread of infectious diseases.

The Activity:
Virtual Experiment on changing the state of water (liquid, solid and gas) and also some of the process that are involved in changing the state (evaporation, condensation, freezing, melting and boiling).






The pupil trying the virtual experiment on the IWB.


Another pupil trying the same activity.


The pupils answering the exercise sheet.


The Lesson Plan


LP virtual expt -

The Fill-in-the-blanks exercise

fill in the blanks exercise -

Report:
The activity was done in SR Katok, Brunei III on Monday, 19th October 2009 with Primary 5 pupils due to unexpected circumstances. The same activity was done by my group partner, Md. Suria bin K. Karim (08B1042) at SR Muhammad Alam, Seria on Saturday, 17th October 2009 with year 4 pupils.

Evaluation of the activity:
Most of the pupils enjoyed the lesson and some of them prefer this than using the actual manipulative in the science lab. This is reflected in their ability and understanding towards the lesson from the marks that they got from the exercise sheet that was given. On average, the pupils got 7 marks out of 10. although none of them got 10 out 10, the mode from the marks is 6.