Perception of Teachers on the Use of Simulation Software in Teaching Physics in Senior Secondary Schools in Kwara State

This study examines the perceptions of senior secondary school physics teachers regarding the use of simulation software as an instructional tool in Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. Simulation software provides virtual environments in which abstract and often dangerous physics experiments can be visualised and interacted with safely, offering significant pedagogical potential for resource-constrained schools. A descriptive survey design was adopted with a sample of 90 physics teachers drawn from public senior secondary schools across Ilorin East, Ilorin West, and Moro Local Government Areas. A validated questionnaire with 28 items assessed teachers' awareness, perception of usefulness, ease of use concerns, and barriers to adoption. Findings reveal moderate levels of awareness of simulation tools such as PhET Interactive Simulations but low actual adoption rates. Teachers perceive simulation software as highly useful for demonstrating concepts such as wave motion, projectile motion, and atomic structure. Key barriers to use include poor computer access in schools, low teacher confidence in operating software, and absence of institutional support. The study recommends awareness seminars conducted by the Kwara State Secondary Education Management Board, targeted ICT training for physics teachers, and a state-wide provision of laptops pre-loaded with offline simulation tools. Keywords: simulation software, physics teaching, senior secondary school, Kwara State, teacher perception