In teaching chemistry and biosciences courses to undergraduate and postgraduate students, hands on laboratory experience is at the heart of provision and is hard to replace. However, many skills such as experimental design, problem solving, and data analysis can be gained in online virtual experiences. Our department has run a blended approach to teaching provision, including laboratories this academic year due to the covid pandemic. Hands on ‘wet’ labs have been supplemented with virtual experiences. We will present our approach to virtual laboratory classes at the postgraduate level, using an HPLC simulator as exemplar. Students are provided with ‘pre-lab’ and ‘post lab’ sessions, as we would for hands on wet labs. During the lab students work in an online group environment with tutor support. Students follow a structured script which leads them through the simulations. They record their observations, measurements, and data analysis in a virtual lab book.

Adaption of virtual laboratory provision for online learning in analytical and bioanalytical sciences

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.