Virtual Science Labs Educating Students In The Classroom And At Home

By Nancy Gardner


Computer labs everywhere have been used as a sort of glorified typewriting class throughout the Eighties and Nineties. However, with the introduction of virtual science labs, the personal computer is coming out of the dust bin. These computer lab courses are encouraging students to pursue scientific extra curricular learning, with a slant toward those who embrace a more active learning style.

Most any scientific discipline can be taught in this way, whether it is an active online class or a CD Rom teaching tool. Either way it requires the student to take a very active approach in learning the material contained therein. Teachers have been delighted to find that some mediocre students have been able to turn their future around because the coursework utilizes a style of learning that works for them.

It is well documented that people have different learning styles, and some students learn better by doing something. Taking notes and memorizing data are nearly impossible tasks for some, and this can cause them to fall behind or just give up on themselves entirely. The fact is, many very intelligent students get lost in this shuffle simply because of the teaching style used.

With young men being a more active gender, it is not unusual for young men to be the ones who need this hands-on style learning. While it is never recommended to ignore grades completely, teachers have learned over the years that good grades do not equate to success. The students who were taught to read through memorization words growing into functionally illiterate adults is one example.

In an effort to promote the true talents their child may have, many parents have resorted to homeschooling. With teachers so eager to put students on Ritalin or Adderall, parents seek to protect their offspring, and expand their base of knowledge beyond passing a standardized test. These lucky kids can work at their own skill level, in their own time, and not feel the pressure exerted by teachers, nor the humiliation of the red-pen grading of what is sometimes subjective material.

Being able to learn in their own way would make many mediocre students able to excel in the college environment. Unfortunately, with tuition costs astronomically high, unless they get flawless grades throughout high school, many do not get the opportunity. The student either does not wish to go into debt, or they disliked public school so much they cannot fathom pursuing more school after graduation.

Students who really put themselves into this material may even be invited to a college laboratory to explore additional studies on the topics that are most interesting to them, experiencing a true white-coat environment. This is a great opportunity that has always been available to homeschoolers. It really takes the student out of the book learning and into application of what they know.

All the programs which are available to school systems can be made available to parents who homeschool their children. This is important both for those students falling behind, as well as any student who is forced to take time away from school due to illness or injury. These courses help parents have a scholastic outline in some of the most difficult classes to teach from home.




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