Using instructive simulations to teach young students simple science concepts: Evidence from electricity content

Abstract

This research aimed to determine the effectiveness of applying instructive simulation experiments (SE) to the development of deeper conceptual understanding, retention of static electricity contents, and engagement of 4th-grade students. The correlation between student achievements and engagement was examined. 76 4th graders (10–11 years) were assigned to one of the groups: direct – DI + SE (DSE) and indirect instruction – II + SE (ISE) group. The results indicate that the ISE group showed significantly better achievements on the highest cognitive level compared to the DSE group. The application of SE had a significantly greater impact on the perceived behavioral, cognitive, and agentic engagement of the ISE group compared to the DSE group. A positive correlation was observed between student engagement and achievements.

Keywords:

• Conceptual understanding
• instructions
• primary school
• science education
• simulations

Acknowledgments

The authors thank to the Projects that supported the realization of this research, as well as the students who participated in the research. We also express our great gratitude to Kathy Perkins, director of the PhET program, who supported us in the realization of this research and the application of simulations.

Credit authorship contribution statement

Mirjana Maričić: conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, writing-original draft, writing-review & editing; Stanko Cvjetićanin: conceptualization, methodology, writing-review & editing, validation, supervision; Branko Anđić: conceptualization, methodology, writing-review & editing, validation; Mia Marić: methodology, writing-review & editing, validation; and Aleksandar Petojević: writing-review & editing, validation.

Consent for publication

All authors have read and approved the final version of the article.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards and principles of the conducting a survey of the Faculty of Education in Sombor, University of Novi Sad, as well as School of Education, Johannes Kepler University. An ethical approval was not mandatory – necessary for the type of collected data (i.e. anonymous test and survey data) at the time when the study was conducted.

Informed consent

For the realization of the research, permission (consent) was sought from primary school principals, school pedagogues and psychologists, as well as teachers from selected classes, parents of children as well as the children themselves. Participation in the study was voluntary. The data was collected, saved and analyzed anonymously.

Research involving human participants – rights

The study involved human participants (fourth grade students, aged 10–11) who voluntarily chose to participate in the research. All research participants are guaranteed anonymity.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under [grant number CC-BY 4.0.] https://phet.colorado.edu, by the STEAM-Box Project, licensed under [grant number 2020-1-HU01-KA201-078743], by the Quality of the education system of Serbia in the European perspective Project, licensed under [grant number: 179010], and the project Innovation of online teaching in Vojvodina, funded by the Provincial Secretariat for Higher Education and Scientific Research of AP Vojvodina, R. Serbia [grant number: 142-451-2372/2022-01/01]. This work was also supported by Ministarstvo Prosvete, Nauke i Tehnološkog Razvoja.

Notes on contributors

Mirjana Maričić

Mirjana Maričić (Ph.D. in the field of methodology of integrated science education) works as a Ph.D. assistant at the Department of Sciences and Management in Education, Faculty of Education, University of Novi Sad. Her research interests include the methodology of teaching sciences, methodology of teaching integrated sciences, STEAM education, inclusive education, instructional design, using technology to develop a learning environment in science education. She is the author and co-author of a large number of papers in international journals.

Stanko Cvjetićanin

Stanko Cvjetićanin (Ph.D. in the field of methodology of chemistry education) works as a full professor at the Faculty of Education and Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad. His research interests include the methodology of teaching chemistry, methodology of teaching integrated sciences, inclusive education, STEAM education, instructional design, using technology to develop a learning environment in science education. He is the author and co-author of a large number of papers in international journals.

Branko Anđić

Branko Anđić (Ph.D. in the field of methodology of biology education) works as a researcher at the Department of STEM Education, School of Education, Johannes Kepler University for two years. He is interested in research in STEAM education and the adaptation of its content to students and also students with disabilities. He has been involved in 9 international and 5 national projects in education. He is the author of a large number of papers prestigious international journals, as well as textbooks and manuals for teachers.

Mia Marić

Mia Marić (Ph.D. in the field of psychology) works as a full professor at the Faculty of Education in Sombor, University of Novi Sad. Her research interests include psychology of education and developmental psychology, especially different internal and external factors related to students’ achievement and education of primary school and preschool teachers. She has published the scientific papers in relevant international journals in this field.

Aleksandar Petojević

Aleksandar Petojević (Ph.D. in the field of mathematics) works as a full professor at the Faculty of Education, University of Novi Sad. Scientific disciplines: Number Theory and Cognitive Science. He also deals with the methodology of mathematics. Review of 7 international journals. Participant of several domestic and 2 international projects.