6 Ways Virtual Labs Save Teacher's Time to Focus on Student Needs

How virtual labs expand what students can learn at home... and maximize time together in class.

It’s no secret that we ask a lot from our STEM educators, but virtual lab technology transforms how teachers can manage time for themselves and their students. Here are 6 ways that virtual labs help educators focus their energy where it’s needed most.

1. Waste less time during wet labs with practice simulations

Wet labs can go wrong in so many ways. Students can break equipment, fumble protocol, or simply fail to achieve results on their first attempt. Virtual labs help educators get in front of waste by training lab skills in advance. Dashboards empower teachers to see which students completed training, who struggled, and how they can get the entire class where it needs to be, before the wet lab even starts.

2. Automate grading and assessments to target gaps

Teachers do not always have time to ensure every student has mastered any given subject, and grading alone eats critical hours needed for lesson planning. Virtual labs offer built-in assessments that do the grading for teachers. See exactly where students struggled, and save time for planning on how to address those needs in class.

3. Reduce lecturing with interactive homework that accelerates comprehension

Introducing new ideas is a heavy lift in STEM teaching, where complex topics often elude student comprehension. Virtual labs ground scientific concepts in interactive, visual simulations that demonstrate how science is applied in the real world. Instead of relying on lengthy lectures to introduce new units, teachers can use virtual labs to get students excited about a topic, and help them grasp ideas visually.

4. Flip learning to empower students after the bell

Lectures and wet labs are critical to STEM, but they leave many students racing against the bell. Virtual labs empower students to try simulations as many times as they need to at home until they grasp a concept, while saving class time for addressing any questions they might have.

5. Avoid leaving anyone behind with in-class simulations

Running through virtual labs together in class can provide a more interactive framework for collective problem solving than traditional lectures. Some learners struggle more with the lecture format, but in-class labs offer opportunities for students and teachers to work through challenges together. Studies show that learning outcomes increase by as much as 101% when traditional teaching is supplemented by virtual labs.

6. Inspire your class, because engaged students waste less time

Every educator knows that all time is not created equal. There are good days and bad days, and the most productive sessions are often when classrooms are alive with curiosity and discussion. Virtual labs help students visualize, touch and experience science. For teachers, that means students are doing the homework and participating in discussion the next day. When it comes to quality time, an engaged classroom is hard to beat.

About Labster: Labster offers interactive, 3D virtual science labs that bring science to life. Labster helps students visualize theory, access state-of-the-art lab environments, and take their learning beyond the classroom, from the quantum realm to the surface of Mars. Expand your curriculum, target learning needs, and foster content mastery to prepare the next generation of scientists.