Rocky C. Valmores^1,, Laila S. Lomibao²

This study investigated the effects of face-to-face and e-laboratory experiments on students’ basic science process skills and interest toward learning physics. A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group design was employed involving 47 Grade 12 STEM students from the Misamis Oriental Institute of Science and Technology, Inc. Two intact sections were randomly assigned as control group, which was exposed to face-to-face laboratory experiments, and an experimental group, which engaged in e-laboratory experiments. Data were gathered using two validated instruments: a 26-item researcher-made science process skills test involving concepts on Kinematics and Newton's Laws of Motion with acceptable internal consistency of KR-20 = 0.77, and an adapted questionnaire to quantify interest in learning physics. Descriptive statistics, including mean and standard deviation, summarized the science process skills and interest scores, while Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) tested differences between groups. After the intervention, students in the face- to – face laboratory experiment increased in basic science process skills, while the students in the e- laboratory experiments slightly decreased. ANCOVA confirmed a significant effect of laboratory method on students’ basic science process skills. The results suggest that the face-to-face laboratory experiments was more effective in developing basic science process skills compared to e-laboratory experiments. In contrast, students’ interest toward learning physics showed minimal changes, and ANCOVA results indicated no significant difference between the students' interest towards physics. These findings suggest that face-to-face laboratory experiments are more effective for developing basic science process skills, while both methods yield similar outcomes in student interest toward learning physics. Hence, it is recommended that schools should establish well-equipped laboratories to provide students with hands-on learning experiences that develop their basic science process skills and interest towards learning physics.

basic science process skills, physics interest, face-to-face laboratory, e-laboratory, quasi-experimental design