Acquisition of experimental chemistry skills with the use of virtual laboratory simulations

Abstract

The acquisition of laboratory skills is an essential aspect of any Biological Science degree.   Access to the physical laboratory has been limited in recent years and as such alternative provision was necessary to ensure students learn these essential skills.  This study focusses on the provision of virtual materials in the teaching and learning of the specific technique of acid-base titration on a Life Sciences foundation year chemistry module. To assess the efficacy of this alternative provision is in maintaining the acquisition of students’ experimental skills, worksheet outcomes were compared when students performed a titration themselves in the laboratory or virtually, using a Labster laboratory simulation. Student opinions of the virtual resources were generally positive, although perception of the utility of these virtual resources in student confidence to perform the experiment for real was lower for online only students.  This study demonstrates that the use of virtual materials successfully supported student understanding of the technique of acid-base titration, with comparable worksheet scores between online and in person cohorts. However, the reduction in confidence levels in online students should be noted, highlighting the importance of providing a range of materials to support student learning; including performing physical experiments to acquire essential scientific laboratory skills and increasing confidence.