Evaluating the effectiveness of a virtual laboratory for inorganic chemistry education

ABSTRACTBackground The use of technology and computer science has significantly impacted education, including the field of inorganic chemistry. Virtual laboratories have emerged as a potent tool for fostering student interaction and learning. However, creating an effective virtual learning environment poses unique challenges and requires an interdisciplinary approach. This study examines a virtual laboratory created for inorganic chemistry education at the Kazakh National Women’s Teacher Training University.Purpose The study aims to assess the effectiveness of the developed virtual laboratory for inorganic chemistry, using JavaScript technology to provide interactive and engaging educational content.Sample The study involved two groups of 25 students each: a control group that undertook traditional offline laboratory classes and an experimental group that used the newly created virtual laboratory.Design and Methods Using a quasi-experimental setting, the study evaluated the impact of virtual experiments on students’ knowledge and skills. Students’ laboratory reports, evaluated according to established criteria, served as the main tool for assessment. Data were processed in Excel and analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 23 package.Results The analysis showed significant improvements in the experimental group in terms of conceptual understanding, scientific process skills, working with laboratory tools, logical thinking, creativity, motivation, interests, perception and learning outcomes. Furthermore, a majority of students found the virtual laboratory helped them understand complex concepts and gain practical skills, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.Conclusions The study concludes that the developed virtual interactive laboratory for inorganic chemistry significantly enhances students’ understanding and skills. Despite some limitations, such as small sample size, the results suggest the potential of virtual labs as valuable educational tools, not only in chemistry but also in other technological fields. Further research is recommended to explore the impact of virtual labs more extensively.KEYWORDS: Interactive technologyreaction mechanismvirtual laboratorypractical skillsanalysis Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).