Sept. 26, 2016
Motivating Students With Virtual Labs
(Provided by CalPac, Monday, September 26, 2016)
There is no doubt that students in science classes will have a better understanding of the subject matter when they are involved in the process of learning by conducting scientific experiments.
Conducting laboratory experiments in science classes will also increases students’ curiosity and activates their critical thinking skills to go behind the curriculum. It also helps them to have a better understanding the world around them.
As a research scientist who has worked in research lab for several years, I have never thought that virtual science labs could be as exciting and as fun as conducting the same experiments in the regular laboratory environment. The Virtual Labs that are offered at CalPac, help students learn a variety of laboratory techniques and practice methods used by lab technicians and researchers in a variety of careers.
For example, for the density lab assignment at CalPac, students are required to calculate the density of an object by calculating the mass and the volume of the same object using several laboratory tools such as an analytical balance, and a graduate cylinder.
The virtual lab is also less time-consuming than a traditional lab. For instance, in the traditional lab, sometimes you have to wait maybe 12 hours for a process to take place, while in a virtual lab it only takes a few minutes!
Let’s not forget about the laboratory safety of each student which is a great concern of the science teachers, parents and administration is not considered a negative factor in virtual labs. Accidents do happen in classroom laboratories and there is no way to avoid it. Accidents could be as small as a figure cut as a result of touching a broken beaker or can be a skin burn from touching a chemical or working with a Bunsen burner in the lab. However, in virtual labs, accidents may happen but it will not physically harm the student in any way; it is all virtual!
So often, in a regular classroom, despite all the information that the science teachers provide for the students ahead of time to conduct an experiment, students seem to have a hard time following the directions. In contrast, in virtual labs, Students can easily review the basic knowledge learned in the class before going to the procedure section of the virtual laboratory over and over again or they can refer back to this section once they find something that they are not clear about. Students can also use various tools for learning in the virtual labs, such as web-resources, and animated demonstrations.
These days, increasing the cost of purchasing laboratory equipment are prevent school districts to provide funds for their schools. So often, the science department in each school is asking parents to donate funds for purchasing laboratory equipment such as simple pipettes and glass wares not to mention expensive equipment such aselectrophoresis, burettes and analytical balances and so on!
Considering the fact that technology for kids is a source of learning and entertainment today, virtual labs can be considered as a great tool for motivating students towards learning at the comfort of their own home!
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