screen capture of calibration of spray equipment

Virtual laboratories

An online interactive demonstration of processes and systems which allows learners to practise in a controlled and safe environment

Samples

Inspect vehicles

Simulation in which learners carry out a routine vehicle inspection.

This simulation is embedded in a task in which learners practise the steps in inspecting vehicles. Additional resources to support the learner to complete this task can be accessed from the URL above then clicking on "Urban Security' then 'Training" then "Inspect Vehicles".
Source On your Guard - Security Operations Toolbox, Lead agent West Coast College of TAFE
URL http://flexiblelearning.net.au/toolbox/series5/501.htm
Use Certificate II in Security Operations
Delivery Can be delivered via a CD or web. Can be incorporated into a Learning Management system such as WebCT, Janison or Blackboard.
Customisation This resouce has been designed to allow for customisation of tasks, content, images and interactions.
Availability Details of how to purchase this Toolbox are available on the Flexible Learning Toolbox site

NurseryLive!

NurseryLive! is a time-based simulation of the daily operations of a wholesale production nursery.

As in most nursery environments plants will grow, sicken, die or be sold depending on a combination of factors including weather, the environment and your intervention. The goal is simple: choose a season, pick an order and grow the plants to fill it! The simulation environment encourages experimentation with different interventions and effective task prioritisation to achieve the largest yield.
Source NurseryLive!, developed by Holmesglen TAFE
URL http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/products/nursery.htm
Use RUHHRT303A - Maintain nursery plants
RUHHRT317A - Control pests and diseases
RUHHRT353A - Select chemicals and biological agents
Delivery This simulation can be used in conjunction with other online resources such as the Horticulture Toolboxes
Customisation This is a complex simulation and is not designed to be modified.
Availability Details of how to install this simulation are available on Australian Flexible Learning Framework site listed above.

Physics applets

A large collection of interactive java applets for use in physics.

Source University of Oregon Department of Physics website
URL http://jersey.uoregon.edu/
Use physics students
Delivery  
Customisation NA
Availability Publically available website
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Why include virtual laboratories?

Features

  • creates situations where learner can practise skills in a controlled and safe environment
  • unlike online demonstrations, virtual laboratories ask learners to interact in some way with the task by inserting information, making decisions and executing steps
  • provides opportunities for learners to revisit tasks.
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Integrating virtual laboratories

Often virtual laboratories are available on the web. As developing your own will be costly, both in time and money, you should search for examples which may be able to be used in your teaching program.

Design steps

  1. Clearly define the steps in a process using a storyboarding process.
  2. Design the visual look and feel of the interactive.
  3. Decide on what happens if the learner gives incorrect input.
  4. Decide on feedback to the learner.
  5. Integrate the virtual demonstration into the complete learning design.

Assessment

Observation of learners undertaking a virtual exercise may form part of a formative assessment. It is likely that within the VET system final assessment will involve applying the skills learnt in the virtual laboratory to real life tasks.

Generic skills

Using virtual laboratories engage learners in developing technology skills.

Technical notes

Often online virtual laboratory exercises will require the end user to have plug-ins (Flash, Shockwave, audio and video) installed on their computers. Increasingly these plug ins are standard on computer systems but you need to make sure that your learners can download any software that is required to make the exercise run.

Virtual Worlds enable trainers to engage learners in an experiential environment that can take on a variety of dimensions depending on the context of the training delivery. In aVirtual World learners can experiment, plan, solve problems, negotiate, collaborate, evaluate, learn from mistakes and take risks, while acquiring a wide range of life and employability skills.

There are a variety of software packages available specifically to develop simulations. See the Resources section.

Skills

The development of multimedia demonstrations generally requires higher level development skills. It is often easier for the teacher to access existing demonstrations and incorporate these into their teaching and learning design. Try LORN for learning objects that include a virtual laboratory component.

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See also

From the Framework

More resources from the Australian Flexible Learning Framework

  • Virtual Worlds – Real Learning
    The New Practices in Flexible Learning 2006 Virtual Worlds – Real Learning! project was designed to capitalise on the willingness of learners to engage with virtual worlds, by using a range of pedagogical activities to move learners from playing to an enhanced learning experience.
    http://virtualworlds.flexiblelearning.net.au/

Tools and resources

Social bookmark for this strategy

http://del.icio.us/designelearn/virtual_laboratory

Last modified: 11/6/08