The Design, Application and Evaluation of a Gamified Virtual Laboratory to Aid in Distance Learning.

With a growing demand for distance learning and open universities, combined with recent advances in technology, interest has turned to developing virtual alternatives to the traditional “hands-on” chemistry laboratories. With a larger proportion of tertiary students studying off-campus, these laboratory experiences need to be interactive, engaging, and informative to adequately substitute the laboratory experience. Here we describe the generation and investigation of a gamified, interactive virtual laboratory tool as both a replacement and as an additional resource to the traditional aspirin synthesis laboratory experiment.

Preliminary feedback from these two delivery formats indicates that off-campus students enjoyed, and were engaged with the interactive format, praising the one-on-one style experience and the ability to revisit areas of concern. Students utilising the virtual laboratory as a supplementary tool for their traditional laboratory experience also appreciate the opportunity to revisit areas of uncertainty, however, do not require the interactive tools as these skills had already been achieved in the physical laboratory. Overall, this investigation shows promise for the interactive virtual laboratory as a beneficial resource for both complimenting the laboratories and acting as a substitution for the traditional laboratories.