Using Advanced Classroom Technologies to Facilitate an Effective Virtual Laboratory Learning Environment in Y1 University Chemistry – Probing the Optimal Model for Leaners and Lessons Learned to Date

Proceedings of the 8th International Academic Conference on Teaching, Learning and Education

Year: 2024

DOI:

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Using Advanced Classroom Technologies to Facilitate an Effective Virtual Laboratory Learning Environment in Y1 University Chemistry – Probing the Optimal Model for Leaners and Lessons Learned to Date

Edwin McCullagh, Brian Murphy, Carmel Kealey, Sinéad Devery, Mary Booth, Ann O’Malley, Seán Reidy, Denise Rooney, Frances Heaney, Carmel Breslin, Aoife Morrin, Eric Moore, Christopher Burke, Bernard Drumm and Ronan Bree

ABSTRACT:

The Human Capital Initiative (HCI), a five-year government-led project in Ireland, commenced in 2020.   HCI is dedicated to increasing capacity across the higher education (HE) sector and to supporting skills orientated programmes, which address national needs.  This HCI project explores the role of virtual laboratories in HE as an innovative pedagogical tool.  The project involves a consortium of five, cross-sectoral, higher education institutes (HEIs) in Ireland.  To date, over 3,500 students have engaged with the project across 25 academic programmes, encompassing both the chemical and biosciences.  The Virtual Labs. Team has drawn on academic expertise from all five HEIs, leading international educational technology companies and enterprise partners in the pharmaceutical/biopharmaceutical sectors.  As part of the project, the Y1 Chemistry Team at the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biotechnology at TUS, has redesigned the delivery of the laboratory component of a 10 ECTS Y1 Chemistry module, to fully incorporate pre- and post-lab. virtual activities.   At the conference, an up-to-date overview of the project will be introduced as of November 2024, and the latest model of virtual laboratories adopted in Y1 Chemistry at TUS following full roll-out, and their benefits will be presented.  Several new aspects of the model will be discussed including the incorporation of advanced classroom technologies (Labster and LearnSci simulations), online assessment strategies adopted and recent feedback from learners, academics and enterprise partners.  How the pedagogical model may be applied in more advanced modules in Chemistry will be explored and recent lessons learnt from the project will be presented.

keywords: pre- and post- laboratory learning; blended laboratory learning; learning management system (LMS); online assessment; simulations