Remarks on pupils’ feedback concerning the implementation of virtual experiments in Science teaching

AbstractThe huge steps of ICT development in the last decades proved that ICT tools provide many advantages in Science teaching by using not only traditional methods but also modern pedagogical approaches. One of the new technologies that can be used by the teachers in teaching Science is offered by virtual instrumentation (VI). Using this technology, different virtual experiments or simulations of real processes can be designed. These virtual experiments can be used in the educational contexts for simulating the real phenomena which are taking place in different systems. In addition, the virtual experiments or simulations can be used by the teachers and students in the classroom in order to assure a logical learning process, based on practical aspects. The paper presents some conclusion results from the feedback expressed by over 2800 pupils from five countries, concerning the use of new virtual experiments designed by 146 teachers who participated to the training modules “Virtual Instrumentation in Science Education” organized in the frame of Socrates-Comenius 2.1. European project “VccSSe - Virtual Community Collaborating Space for Science Education”. Different aspects and interpretation related to the challenges and difficulties encountered during the implementation process are also included. The results have proved that the use of virtual instruments can produce benefic changes concerning the social dynamics of the classrooms. The information - presented in a new way - has a great influence on development of an authentic learning