EVALUATION OF VIRTUAL LABORATORY PACKAGE ON NIGERIAN SECONDARY SCHOOL PHYSICS CONCEPTS

The study evaluated accessibility, flexibility, cost and learning effectiveness of researchers-developed virtual laboratory package for Nigerian secondary school physics. Based on these issues, four research questions were raised and answered. The study was a quantitative-based evaluation research. Sample for the study included 24 physics teachers, 35 computer experts and 29 physics students who evaluated the package using a questionnaire and physics achievement test. Data gathered were analyzed using descriptive statistics including mean and standard deviation. Findings from the study revealed that the package was adjudged accessible to students within the school (average mean response of 2.98 out of 5), the flexibility of the package was rated low (average mean response of 2.35 out of 5), and the package, though expensive to develop (total amount spent = $587.50) was considered profitable considering its unquantifiable educational benefits. Also, there was improvement in the achievement scores of students after learning the physics concepts using the package with mean gain score of 33.45. Based on these findings, it was recommended that, developers of learning packages such as virtual laboratories should ensure high flexibility of the packages in order to improve students' access to such on mobile devices and internet, and government should assist schools financially by providing needed funds for the development of contextually relevant learning packages as their benefits to students' learning of physics concepts are enormous.