EFFECT OF VIRTUAL LABORATORY LEARNING ON PSYCHOMOTOR SKILL ACQUISITION AND PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND OFFICE PRACTICE AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ABEOKUTA NORTH

Abstract

This study focused on effect of virtual laboratory learning on psychomotor skill acquisition and physical performance in physical education and office practice among secondary school students in Abeokuta North. An adapted quasi-experimental design with control groups was applied to the study. The participants of the study were all the senior secondary school students taking Physical Education and Office Practice from public and private secondary schools located in Abeokuta North Local Government, Ogun State. Data were collected using the Virtual Laboratory Learning Achievement Test (VLLAT), Psychomotor Skill Assessment Scale (PSAS), and Physical Performance Rating Scale (PPRS). The findings revealed that students exposed to virtual laboratory learning achieved significantly higher mean scores in psychomotor skill acquisition (78.42 and 80.16) than their counterparts in the control groups (64.18 and 66.27). The independent t-test analysis further showed that the virtual laboratory learning programme had a significant positive effect on students' psychomotor skill acquisition (t = 5.84, p < .05). In addition, the Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) results indicated a significant difference in physical performance between students in the experimental and control groups, with the experimental group recording superior performance (F = 18.42, p < .05). The study concluded that virtual laboratory learning enhances students' psychomotor skill acquisition and physical performance by providing opportunities for active engagement, repeated practice, and improved understanding of learning tasks. Based on the findings, it was recommended that teachers, school administrators and educational stakeholders should integrate virtual laboratory learning into the teaching of Physical Education and Office Practice to improve students' practical competencies and overall learning outcomes.