Exploring Preservice Teachers' Perception of Simulation-based Learning in Physics Education: A Preliminary Study of Lao People's Democratic Republic

Abstract

With the importance of understanding physics concepts of sound wave and learning physics perception and of preservice teacher education in preparing student teachers before they have undertaken teaching the concept, it would be better to know the status of their conceptual understanding of the topic and their learning physics perception. Consequently, there are two phases in this study as follows: (l ) investing understanding of the topic and perception after learning in the conventional learning activities by using conceptual understanding test and questionnaire, respectively; and (2) exploring understanding of the topic during learning in the proposed computer simulation-based inquiry learning and the perception toward the proposed learning. The results from the 3rd year student teachers from Teachers College in Dongkhamxang, Lao PDR, showed that most of the preservice physics teachers held misunderstanding of sound, such as reflection, refraction, interference, and speed of sound in the different mediums and temperature. Moreover, all of them held misunderstanding of sound diffraction concept. Interestingly, after finishing in the proposed computer simulation-based inquiry learning, they reflected that the highest score relied on enjoyment, perceived of usefulness, perceived learning, perceived satisfaction, perceived ease of use, and flow, respectively. It leads to rethinking of pedagogy used for teaching physics of sound wave in order to improving the preservice physics teachers' conceptual understanding and fostering their perception in Laos.