When Diane Sigales was asked to design a Biotech class for Livingston High School in New Jersey, she knew that she didn’t want to settle for less. Discover how Diane used virtual labs to give her students skills beyond the limits of what she thought was possible.

Challenge

Diane wanted to give her students a real education in Biotech, but quickly found herself limited by the lab she could afford. Much of the breadth of skills and equipment needed to teach Biotech was beyond the scope of the typical time, budget, and resources available at the high school level.

Solution

Diane discovered Labster’s virtual labs and quickly found a library of engaging biotech simulations. She deployed Labster to introduce, practice, and review lab techniques that would have otherwise cost millions while inspiring students with interactive lessons that placed them in the shoes of scientists. 

What I love most about Labster are the skills and types of labs that are available. I don’t have the funds for it, I don’t have the space for it — I could never give that to my students.

Results

Diane was not only able to maximize time in wet labs due to practice simulations, but she also noticed a powerful impact on learning outcomes. She remarked that many students remembered what they had learned even a year later, often referencing scenarios they encountered in simulations. For Diane, the highlight was an email from a student who had gone on to get a job in their university lab as a freshman due to the skills they had learned in Labster.

Interview with Diane Sigales: Biotech Teacher

Diane Sigales teaches Biotech, an advanced course designed to set kids on an accelerated path towards a Biotech career, at Livingston High School.

What is your favorite thing about Labster?

What I love most about Labster is the skills and the types of Labs that are available–I don’t have the funds for it, I don’t have the space for it– I could never give that to my students.

How do you use virtual labs?

Most of the time I’m assigning Labster outside of class as either a homework they do before a lab or after a lab. Giving students time in Labster to explore prior to the wet lab is invaluable. I can spend time with everyone because those skills were already practiced the night before with Labster.

How does Labster help you target learning gaps?

After the students run a lab, Labster has a dashboard that has everything– you’re getting feedback on exactly what the students did right, and exactly what the students did wrong. It’s a great tool to know exactly which students need help with exactly which skills.

How does Labster help students understand the material better?

Students can take a virtual lab as many times as they need to, which allows them the comfort of knowing that the first time they work through a problem is not when it's graded. That really allows students to learn from their mistakes.

How important is it for students to have fun while they learn?

Students having fun while learning is essential  to them truly mastering what they are trying to do. If you have a student that hates your class, they’re not going to come in excited. When students experience the gamification of Labster, they are engaged, they are excited, they are motivated to learn, which makes your job as a teacher that much easier.

What have you seen in terms of lasting impact on learning outcomes?

My student I have for my second year– they still remember those simulations. One of my students sent me an email after he graduated. He got a job as a freshman in a research lab at his college, because he did not have to be taught how to do the research.