I didn’t do the tutorial, just jumped right in.  Consequently I couldn’t do much of anything.  Before sending students to complete a lab in this simulator, they will definitely need to complete a tutorial.  Note that the java-based program wouldn’t work properly in my Firefox browser, but ran just fine in Chrome.  I am disappointed that the tool that allows teachers to construct a lab is currently being “revamped,” but I will keep checking back.  This could be a great supplemental tool to check in on a student’s theoretical lab understanding, maybe even as homework.  But I imagine even the authors would agree that no simulation can replace actual lab time.  One awesome feature that the site has is the tutorial feature that allows students to complete problems with guided help.  The learning curve to work in the tutorial mode appears to be far less steep than that of performing a virtual lab.

This is an excellent resource for upcoming teachers. I am really impressed with the amount of free information and presentations found on the site. 

El laboratorio virtual que se presenta es una excelente herramienta para iniciar a los alumnos de quìmica en el laboratorio.  Se pueden elegir diferentes reactivos en diversas concentraciones y combinarlos para conocer las nuevas sustancias formadas.

Es de fácil acceso, su uso es sencillo y amigable. Permite trabajar a los docentes realizando demostraciones y también los alumnos pueden realizar sus propias simulaciones.

Es un material de gran calidad. Está limitado en el número de sustancias, pero las que se incluyen son suficientes para cumplir el objetivo de mostrar los materiales y reactivos necesarios para realizar una reacciòn química sencilla.

Es un simulador  de buena calidad para asignaturas de suelos y riego, pero debe ser dominado de mejot forma en sus aplicaciones y herramientas. Se puede utilizar además en  asignaturas como quimica y fisiologia

Es un buen simulador de soluciones para asignaturas asociadas a química, en suelo o riego y me permitira poder realizar simulacros virtuales de reacciónes químicas tanto en el suelo como en el agua. Pero debo conocer mejor las herramientas y operatibidad del sistema.

Es un buen simulador, quizás limitado en cuanto a las posibilidades de compuestos.

Technical Remarks:

Excelente¡¡¡permite interactuar con materiales de vidrios y preparación de soluciones (unidades de concentración), sin necesitar un laboratorio físico y real. Ideal para trabajar en un taller, antes de realizar una clase practica de tecnicas basicas de laboratorio químico

 

Although it took me a while to figure it out, this one will definitely be recommended for the course I'm helping to develop.

Remarkable simulation of a chemistry laboratory. You can use virtual solutions and get the same results that a real laboratory. Presents information of molarity, ph meter and component of the solutions.

I will definitely use this in the future with my teacher candidates. Excellent tool for schools that don't have a lot of equipment and chemicals.

This comment is an example of how the same person can write a different comment on the same materials when the material is being used for a different purpose or student population

I think this could be a good lab for instructors and their students to use before the actual lab day. There does seem to be a bit of a learning curve with doing this, so I'd make sure to tell students to view the tutorial AND to take notes.

Technical Remarks:

very good material

SAMPLE: As a student, I always found labs boring because it was just following the same directions. WIth Virtual Chem Lab, I was able to test ideas on my own without running out of time or worrying about making mistakes.

This is an awesome site. I am in the Education Program right now and I would love this and I'm going to send my sister here.

Technical Remarks:

1. How did you review the materials? (Did you spend 5 minutes browsing or 2 hours trying it?) Spent about 30 minutes browsing site and performed simple titration lab using HCL and NaOH with Phenolphthalein as indicator (using Buret). 2. The quality of content. (Do the materials accurately present concepts and models that are educationally significant?) The handling of the lab equipment is straight forward and the array of reagents (mostly acids and bases and indicators) provide for the development of a variety of labs on acids, bases, neutralization, indicators, conjugate bases & acids, as well as possible experiments on dilution of acids & bases, and formation of precipitates. Also, the presence of the thermometer and Log of the different ions provides a good tool to teach exothermic reactions between acids and bases as well as the time course of the changes of various ions during the chemical reaction process. I think a brief tutorial is necessary to have students get accustomed to the workshop, using the mouse to gather and handle equipment and reagents, as well as become familiar with the lab bench and pH meter and other log based read outs. 3. The potential effectiveness for enhancing teaching and learning. (If used appropriately, will students learning and faculty's teaching be enhanced?) If used properly, this lab would be very useful in understanding the various lab techniques as well as principles of pH scale and neutralization. I would highly recommend it for online courses or as a practice run prior to having students actually use acids and bases in a real laboratory setting. If properly used as a lab simulator, it could reduce the risks of lab accidents with acids and bases in real laboratory situations. 4. Technical Remarks: Specifically address the following issue: 5. The ease of using the materials. (Will first time users fine it easy to use?) Students will need to have Java applet plug-in present. Before students go to this site, it is suggested that they be referred to www.java.com; test if the have Java, and download the plug-in if they do not. Also, it helps if this is an online course to notify the Tech Help Desk that they may need to assist newer students in downloading the Java plug-in. But, it is STRONGLY urged that any course using this site have a technology requirement (listed in the syllabus) that the student computer already have Java plug-in present. I think a brief tutorial is necessary to have students get accustomed to the workshop, using the mouse to gather and handle equipment and reagents, as well as become familiar with the lab bench and pH meter, temperature, and other log based read outs of ions and presence of gases and solids (e.g. precipitate). One suggestion is a demonstration and then a test lab where student just manipulate the stock bottles to make dilutions of acids and bases (both weak and strong) and read the resultant changes in pH. Also, one other training exercise is to have students fill a beaker from a stock container to get used to the “select as source” and “select as recipient” settings.

Technical Remarks:

This Virtual Chemistry Laboratory idea is AMAZING! I love it! In our school district we do not have the funding to allow for labs in our grade schools! What a great way to give our young students a head start!!! Thanks!