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Top 7 Free Virtual Labs For Students

Top 7 Free Virtual Labs For Students

Edited By Irshad Anwar | Updated on May 20, 2022 10:25 AM IST

What Are Virtual Labs?

Virtual labs are digital, interactive activities simulations that actually take place in the physical laboratory. Students can participate in the lab-based learning provided by virtual labs without being present physically in labs. Virtual labs simulate equipment, tools, procedures and tests used in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Physics, Biology as well in other disciplines.

Top 7 Free Virtual Labs For Students
Top 7 Free Virtual Labs For Students

How Does A Virtual Lab Work?

Virtual labs are operated online. Virtual representation of equipment and other supplies can be accessed by students. For example, equipment such as beakers, cylinders, pipettes; salts such as acid bases and other solutions might be available. A procedure is assigned where students need to follow the instructions step by step, observe and record the obtained results. Simulations of the result are available for the students to check their progress or misstep. Students are also allowed to start, stop, and replay the activities. Most virtual labs are integrated with the curriculum, record students’ progress, and assign credit as per learning goals.

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Downsides Of Virtual Labs

  • You cannot equalise the experience gained from virtual labs with physical labs as physical labs have a high impact on learning.

  • Need to have a strong internet connection

  • May experience glitches

Why Are Virtual Labs Significant?

  • You may have a similar experience as in those physical labs.

  • Students are allowed in lab-based learning activities without being in a physical lab and costs.

  • Remote access- In case, students are unable to attend the physical labs then virtual labs are the best option.

  • More functionality than physical labs as virtual labs may include access to additional resources and quizzes.

  • Helpful in expanding the lab-based courses.

  • A viable alternative for mid-level and introductory courses.

The following top free virtual lab sites are highly engaging and informative:

1. The OLabs

The OLabsThe OLabs

The OLabs are based on the idea that experiments can be taught virtually using the internet, more efficiently and less expensively. The OLabs have the content aligned with NCERT or CBSE textbooks and State Board syllabus up to senior-secondary level, including Biology Class 12 and Biology Class 11. Schools can access the OLabs for free after registration. The Olabs is funded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

Features:

  • Chemistry, Physics, and Biology Labs from Class 9 to Class 12. Maths and English lessons for Classes 9 and 10.

  • Animations, interactive simulations, and lab videos.

  • An understanding of and concepts of the experiment.

  • The ability to learn by performing, and recording experiments - anytime, anywhere, and individualised practice.

The OLabs Developed by Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham & Centre for Development of Advanced Computing(CDAC) Mumbai provide workshops and hands-on training sessions for a better understanding to show the potential use of Animation Labs and Online Simulation, and how to use the OLabs. The hands-on experimentation and live demo through interactive animations and simulation are included in the workshop.

Link – The OLabs

2. PhET Interactive Simulations

PhETPhET

The PhET - Physics Education Technology - Interactive simulations project was founded by Nobel Laureate Carl Wieman in 2002 at the University of Colorado Boulder. It creates interactive science and maths free simulation. The simulations are based on extensive research that is helpful to engage students through a game-like environment where students explore, discover and learn. The PhET has delivered over 1.1 billion simulations yet. This virtual lab has 103 language translations and 3122 teachers’ submitted lessons and investigated around 159 topics of physics, Chemistry, Biology, Math and Earth Science that are accessible by subject, and grade level.

Link - PhET interactive simulations

3. LabXChange Harvard

LabXChange HarvardLabXChange Harvard

LabXchange is an online community for collaboration, sharing and learning. It offers high-quality content from a variety of sources in the form of videos, and simulation assessments as online learning assets. Students and researchers can create their own profiles. Users can also create their own pathway by adding material to link the selected learning assert to build their own storyline, clarify objectives and adapt pathways. Users can also share their own pathways with a small group or privately for discussion and to receive feedback.

LabXchange offers more than 400 free lab simulations, around 5000 videos, 289 documents, 237 teaching guides, and 111 case studies in 14 different languages that can be embedded or shared and are searchable by level, subject, sources and languages. The subjects include Physics, Chemistry, Biological Science, Mathematics, scientific process, Global health, Health Science, Economics, science and society and online learning.

LabXchange curates and creates digital content and delivers on an online free platform where you can discover, engage, and share anything you learn on the platform. Users are allowed to take control of their learning and solve real-world problems as a community. Participation is free.

Link - LabXChange Harvard

4. PraxiLabs

PraxiLabsPraxiLabs

PraxiLabs won the 2019 Next Billion EdTech Prize during a Global education and skill forum held In Dubai.

It provides an interactive and immersive 3D simulation of a realistic lab for students to enhance students learning, understanding, and knowledge with the virtual hands-on experience. PraxiLabs provide study aids in different formats and assessment for better understanding and the feedback given by famous lab partner to guide the students for enriched experiences. Content is available in two languages: Arabic and English. A wide range of topics from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology are available that can be accessed by students from their devices anywhere, anytime. PraxiLabs offers an interactive user-friendly interface to enhance the learning experience. Students can create a free account and experience. There are also paid plans

Link - PraxiLabs

5. ChemCollective Virtual Labs

ChemCollective Virtual LabsChemCollective Virtual Labs

ChemCollective started as a project in the National Science Digital Library (NSDL) with the goal to support the instructors interested in improving Practical Chemistry education via engaging and interactive online activities. The simulation-based interactive exercise allows students to reinforce and explore fundamental complex, engaging and realistic concepts. All the basics from high school and college are included. Dive deep into Chemistry with these interactive virtual labs.

ChemCollective covers Thermochemistry, Kinetics, Stoichiometry, Equilibrium, Acid-Base Chemistry, oxidation/Reduction and Electrochemistry, Solubility, Physical Chemistry, Properties of the Solution and Analytical Chemistry/lab techniques. All topics include multiple customised experiments that are designed to replicate the lab experience. Short videos guide you before getting started.

ChemoCollective has scenario-based learning activities, virtual labs, concept tests and tutorials organised by faculties and staff at Carnegie Mellon.

Link - ChemCollective Virtual Labs

6. Bioman Biology

Bioman BiologyBioman Biology

Bioman Biology provides students with fun experiences while learning Biology. It offers virtual labs; interactive, quizzes and games based on standards and are easy to access. No registration is required for students while teachers can register for the account to track students’ progress.

This site gives immediate feedback on your activities, games and quizzes so that you can track your mistakes and make improvements. This site doesn’t require a complicated setup. The topics include Physiology, Cells, Ecology, Evolution and Classification, Respiration and Photosynthesis, Life Chemistry and Scientific Methods.

Link - Bioman biology

7. Free Gizmos

Free GizmosFree Gizmos

Gizmos are multifaceted, appealing and impressive interactive tools to investigate Science and Math topics. The 36 free Gizmos investigate the Circulatory System, Hubble’s Law, And Periodic Table Trends Via Virtual Labs And Simulations. Gizmo is manipulative and targets different aspects of the topic, assessments, and guides. Gizmos also support the latest assessments and educational standards. More than 400 Science and Math gizmos give something to measure, graph and compare. Contents are aligned as per Class 3 to Class 12 for Science and Math.

The STEM cases provided by Gizmos engage students in concepts, Science content and practices in-depth. Cases are real-world problems. So, when students try to solve them they go through foundation knowledge as well as through virtual guided inquiry.

Link - Explore Learning Free Gizmos

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