Improving Secondary School Students’ Learning of Electricity through Inquiry-Based Strategy Blended with PhET Simulation: A Design-Based Study in Bahir Dar City

Lingerew, Dessalegn

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dc.contributor.author	Lingerew, Dessalegn
dc.date.accessioned	2026-08-21T05:30:39Z
dc.date.available	2026-08-21T05:30:39Z
dc.date.issued	2026-06
dc.identifier.uri	http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/17052
dc.description.abstract	this study aimed to improve secondary school students’ conceptual understanding in the learning of electricity by addressing misconceptions through guided inquiry-based learning integrated with PhET simulations at Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. A pragmatic paradigm followed with mixed-methods approach guided the study. A one-on-one design-based research design guided iterative cycles of design, implementation, evaluation, and refinement of an inquiry-based intervention supported by PhET simulations. A total of 35 Grade 10 students were participated in the study. Data were collected through administration of standardized Electricity Conceptual Understanding test (ECUT), classroom observations, worksheet analysis, and focus group discussions. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statstics and one sample and paired sample t tests, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Baseline results revealed widespread misconceptions about current, voltage distribution, resistance, and circuit behavior, indicating low conceptual understanding. Findings show that integrating guided inquiry-based learning with PhET simulations improved students’ conceptual understanding of electricity and reduces misconceptions significantly. To conclude, guided inquiry with PhET simulations is an effective and an alternative instruction for teaching abstract electricity concepts.	en_US
dc.language.iso	en_US	en_US
dc.subject	Mathematics education	en_US
dc.title	Improving Secondary School Students’ Learning of Electricity through Inquiry-Based Strategy Blended with PhET Simulation: A Design-Based Study in Bahir Dar City	en_US
dc.type	Thesis	en_US