Computer-Assisted Experimentation in Physical Science Education for Moroccan Students

Abstract

CAEx (Computer-Assisted Experimentation) enables real-time experiments to be carried out using a computer; it includes data acquisition and sensor systems, as well as real-time measurement of numerous physical properties. The use of computer-assisted experimentation in the teaching of physics and chemistry in Moroccan secondary schools underwent significant development in 2009. We conducted an exploratory study of 122 physics teachers in Morocco, from the Fez-Meknes Regional Academy of Education and the Casablanca and Guercif provincial directorates, during the 2021-2022 school year. This study was carried out using an anonymous questionnaire. We undertook this study to evaluate the use of computer-assisted experimentation (CAEx) in physics teaching, particularly in secondary schools. The aim was to understand the reasons why some teachers make only limited use of CAEx, despite its supposed pedagogical richness. The data collected in our study, processed using SPHINX V5 software, revealed that most of the teachers surveyed were convinced of the pedagogical benefits of CAEx in the classroom. However, the overall results also confirmed the limited use of this technology. This contradiction is mainly explained by several factors, such as the lack of hardware in secondary schools, the absence of specialised software, student overload, the lack of teacher training and the failure to regularly maintain equipment. The results of this study are important because they highlight the obstacles to the more widespread and effective use of computer-assisted experimentation (CAEx) in physics teaching in Morocco. These obstacles include problems of infrastructure, training, and the availability of the necessary resources. Understanding these challenges is essential for education officials and policymakers, as it could guide the investments and reforms needed to improve science teaching in Moroccan secondary schools.