Long distance lab affairs: Physics achievement and metacognition effects of distance laboratories in a senior high school in the Philippines

Abstract

Due to the necessity to continue learning even during the pandemic, schools opened utilizing distance learning modalities. However, there is a dearth of evidence on the effectivity of this modalities in physics. In this study, we investigated the effects of three physics distance learning modes; the module-only (MO), virtual lab plus module (VLM), and the physical lab plus module (PLM) classes in physics achievement and metacognition employing the pretest-posttest and repeated measures research designs. All learning modules used were in digital formats sent through free messaging platforms. Analysis of data includes paired samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, repeated measures ANOVA, and independent samples t-test. Results revealed that all three distance learning modes have significantly higher post-test than pre-test scores. Further analysis showed, however, that only VLM had significantly higher gain scores than MO. Initially, at pre-MO and post-MO administrations, male students had significantly higher metacognition but this diminished after they perform both virtual and physical labs. It was in post-PLM where students have significantly better metacognition than pre-MO and post-MO. This study showed that not only do physical and virtual labs supplement distance modular learning, they are also complementary that both must be used in distance learning.