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Integrating Digital Technologies into STEM Physics for Adult Learners: A Comparative Study in Second Chance Schools

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study explores how integrating digital technologies into STEM-based physics instruction can transform learning outcomes for adult learners in Greek Second Chance Schools, which provide educational opportunities for adults over 18 who have not completed compulsory education. In a comparative design, participants were divided into two groups: the experimental group experienced an innovative STEM approach, combining educational robotics, mobile sensing, and 3D printing within the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) 5E Instructional Model; the control group received enriched lecture-based instruction. Learning gains were measured using a rigorously developed, psychometrically validated multiple-choice physics test administered before and after the intervention. Results reveal that adults exposed to technology-enhanced STEM lessons achieved statistically significant improvements, outperforming their peers in the lecture-based group, who showed no measurable progress. Notably, these gains were consistent across gender and age. The findings highlight the transformative potential of digital technologies and learner-centered STEM pedagogies in alternative education settings, offering new directions for adult education and lifelong learning.

Source: Computers

DOI: 10.3390/computers15020094

Authors: Despina Radiopoulou, Denis Vavougios, Paraskevi Zacharia

Institutions: University of West Attica, University of Thessaly

Language: English

Topic: Science Education and Pedagogy

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Quality education, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,172