Advancing Learning 2021

Is Science a static body of facts? Not at all! Interactive tools may be the way to promote interest and motivation in learning among your students and involve them in science.

Interactive tools such as virtual science labs have the potential to change the way we teach and learn in STEM courses. They allow teachers to engage students in a number of ways.

Do these tools empower teachers? Do they engage students in better learning experiences? Do they reduce teachers’ workloads? Are they suitable for all the courses? What are the challenges associated with virtual labs as educational activities?

In this presentation we will share lessons learned by incorporating virtual science labs into college general education courses during a pilot project in Winter 2021. This project was a collaboration between George Brown College, eCampusOntario, and Beyond Labz. We will share sample activities, insights, suggestions, benefits and challenges of using virtual labs in science courses.

By the end of this session, participants should be able to do the following:
· Explore different ways to incorporate interactive tools into science courses.
· Describe benefits and challenges of using these tools.
· Analyze the connection between learning outcomes and specific activities performed via virtual labs."