Physics instruction in secondary schools: An investigation of teachers’ beliefs towards physics laboratory and ICT

Abstract

This paper reports on the examination of physics teachers’ beliefs and perceptions of laboratory and ICT supported physics instruction. The findings indicate that the teachers in the sample were generally positive about the affordances offered by the physics lab and ICT in physics instruction. However, school culture context, mainly the need to cover the physics content in the mandated curriculum and to prepare the students for their examinations, constitutes a critical factor shaping teachers’ views about physics education in secondary schools. There are three discrete groups of physics teachers identified, which exhibited a rather consistent approach across the research items: (a) a group of traditional teachers, whose beliefs are dominated by rigorous presentation of the physics content while they are unwilling to incorporate laboratory and ICT‐based activities in their classroom practice; (b) a second one consisted of non‐traditional teachers, who are positive about the adoption of laboratory and ICT‐based subject instruction; and (c) a third group of undecided teachers who combine elements of both belief structures and vacillate between traditional and non traditional approaches. Moreover, the multivariate analysis indicates that personal factors (for example teaching experience, age, teacher training and ICT competence) are strongly associated with teachers’ beliefs and perceptions. The paper ends with some implications for the effective preparation and continuous support of physics teachers.

Keywords:

• physics education
• ICT
• teachers’ beliefs

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr Samuel Cohen for the helpful discussions and the ideas shared. They also wish to thank Dr Vassilis Komis for his help in MCA analysis.

Notes

1. In the Greek educational system there are two types of secondary schools: (a) Gymnasium, providing lower secondary education (3 grades in total); and (b) Lyceum, providing upper secondary education (3 grades in total).