Effect of use of computer animations on students’ performance in selected concepts in physics

Abstract

The study examined the effect of computer animations on students’ performance and conceptual understanding on Kinematics in one dimension and Projectile Motion in Uncle Rich SHS in the Central Region of Ghana. The research design employed in this study was the quasi – experimental using pretest and posttest equivalent control group design. Samples of ninety-three (93) SHS 2 students from two intact classes were used with Uncle Rich SHS 2 (Winneba) being the experimental group and Unique Academy SHS (Swedru) being the control group. An instrument known as Mechanics Conceptual Based Test (MCBT) was used to gather data for the study. Percentage, Frequency count, Mean, standard deviation, and mean gain were used to answer research questions, while independent sample t–test was used to test the hypotheses. The result shows that students taught using computer animations in an interactive learning setting performed better on the MCBT than those taught using the traditional lecture method. There was a remarkable improvement in the conceptual understanding of those exposed to the computer animation instructional approach than those exposed to the traditional method. This reflected in the performance of the experimental group. The treatment further improved the interest of students towards the teaching and learning of Kinematics in one dimension and Projectile motion. It is therefore recommended that computer animation instructional tool be incorporated in teaching and learning of Physics in Ghanaian S.H.S classroom.