Improving Grade 8 Students’ Academic Performance and Attitude in Teaching Science through Augmented Reality

Abstract

Strategic Intervention Material for Teaching Augmented Reality (SIMaTAR) is a collection of teaching and learning materials in Science which uses augmented reality technology to greatly improve learning experience through digital immersion in different 3D and 4D worlds and is under the innovative approaches in science education project of DOST-SEI. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of using SIMaTAR mobile application as a tool on improving the Grade 8 students’ academic performance, motivation, and attitude towards learning science as well as the teachers’ assessment upon using the application. Results showed that all indicators on the teachers and students’ assessment on SIMaTAR mobile augmented reality application were rated as strongly agree. All indicators of students’ attitude towards science showed improvement after implementing the AR application in science teaching. Further, the scores of the student participants in pre-test and post-test were remarkably increased after using the application. As for the challenges, results revealed that students do not have the gadgets to use and they lack the knowledge on how to manipulate the application. Through data analysis using paired samples t-test, it is concluded that the integration of SIMaTAR in teaching science increases the engagement and interest of the students in learning the subject and the application of mobile augmented reality could substantially improve the teaching and learning process.