Abstract:

Learning in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) sectors is becoming less successful in South Africa. This performance gap is particularly noticeable in historically underprivileged schools and rural provinces like the Eastern Cape. The absence of hands-on science education due to resource scarcity has been identified as a significant factor. In the grade 11 physical sciences class of a rural high school, this study report offers a useful and efficient method for teaching electric circuits through simulations. The researcher was motivated by the findings of the National Diagnostic Report for Grades 12 for the four years prior, which showed that learners were having difficulties with practical topics about electric circuits. Two grade 11 classes were used in the study; sixty learners made up the control group and sixty-five learners made up the experimental group. Vygotsky's sociocultural theory, (Vygotsky, 1978), and Dale's cone of learning experiences model (Dale, 1960) serve as the foundation for this work. The instruments used in the study were interviews, statistical analysis, and observations. The study found that learners who were instructed primarily using theoretical methods did not perform as well on assessments as learners who were instructed through practical approach. The findings provide valuable insights into the potential benefits of improvising with simulations into physical sciences, especially in resource-limited rural settings. The study also showed that learners felt more strongly about having simulation activities in the physical sciences classroom because they thought that doing so enhanced their learning and performance on physical sciences tests and exams. The study suggests the integration of more practical work through simulations into teaching, which could have a favourable impact on learner performance in physical sciences in the Eastern Cape. More hands-on learning could aid learners in understanding practical questions about electric circuits and could also be used as a teaching approach to enhance learner learning in other curriculum areas.

Keywords:

Science Education, electric circuits, simulations, practical work, rural schools, physical sciences.