Lab Options for Distance Delivery
Options for Virtual Labs and Simulations for Laboratory-Based Courses
How to Quickly (and Safely) Move a Lab Course Online (pdf)
Simulation and Virtual Lab collection – Colorado School of Mines.
There is some duplication between this resource and the information below, but the site contains a wealth of additional links for all disciplines.
Free of Charge (or included in current contracts)
| Technology | Type | Description |
| Panopto | Video based – Non-interactive | Upload a video of the lab demonstration to Blackboard/Canvas course space for students to observe. |
| Zoom | Video based – interactive | Live, synchronous descriptions and demonstrations of the content. |
| LabXchange | Digital lab simulations, interactive experiences online | Simulations for physical sciences and health. Interactives for Biological Sciences and Scientific Process. Additional interactive animations available in numerous scientific disciplines. |
| MIT Open Lab Resources | Videos for demonstration | Numerous general scientific laboratory experiences demonstrated. |
| Chem Collective | Videos for demonstration | Numerous general chemistry-related laboratory experiences demonstrated. |
| Merlot Materials | Tutorials, simulations, animations and assignments | Concepts for numerous disciplines and tools from simulations to animations to tutorials. Searchable. |
| Virtual Microscope | Images and descriptions | Curated collection of microscopic views for Geology/Earth Sciences. |
| myVRscope | Virtual Reality | Immersive microscopy Virtual Reality (VR) lab ecosystem, where students and faculty access microbiology content and conduct lab activities on-demand using VR headsets. myVRscope™ leverages a virtual 3D photorealistic compound light microscope for learner activities and integrates the user experience with an Artificial Intelligence (AI) lab instructor- Dr. Beaker for support & guidance. |
Simulations
| Technology | Type | Description |
| American Assoc. of Chem Teachers periodical/simulations | Interactive simulations for investigation | Chemistry concepts for exploration via interactive simulation. |
| CloudLabs | Virtual labs and simulations | CloudLabs Virtual STEM offers learning, training, practice, games and motivation for future STEM professionals of the 21st century. |
| eScience Labs | Digital curriculum | Kits for mailing to your students that include experiments and exercises. Some digital content/virtual labs also. |
| Hands-On Labs | Digital curriculum | 9 Science disciplines. |
| Labster | Virtual Labs | Realistic lab experience that allows students to perform experiments. Chem, Biology, physiology, microbiology. |
| LabXchange | Digital lab simulations, interactive experiences online | Simulations for physical sciences and health. Interactives for Biological Sciences and Scientific Process. Additional interactive animations available in numerous scientific disciplines. |
| Ladderane | Chemistry Experiments | Design and develop chemistry experiments to meet your specific learning outcomes. |
| Merlot Materials | Tutorials, simulations, animations and assignments | Concepts for numerous disciplines and tools from simulations to animations to tutorials. Searchable. |
| Phet Simulations | Interactive simulations | Interactive simulations for Math and Science. |
| Pivot Interactives | Interactive video including guided instructions, integrated data tables and graphing. | Provides the means for students to conduct authentic science investigation online in Physics, Chemistry and Biology. |
| PraxiLabs | Virtual interactive labs | Biology, Chemistry, Physics. Requires an account, but some free access available. |
3D Models
| Technology | Type | Description |
| BioDigital | 3D anatomy software | Allows you to seamlessly create interactive, engaging digital lecture and lab materials. You can easily identify just the right 3D anatomy and disease asset - then customize, embed, and share into any learning environment - enhancing student engagement and understanding. |
| MorphoSource | 3D models of biological specimens | MorphoSource has approximately 27,000 published 3D models of biological specimens (largely skeletal material). You can view all of these in your web browser with no required software. Around 13,000 of these are open access and can be freely downloaded for further visualization or measurement. |
| Sketchfab | 3D models online | Publish and find 3D models online. Join for free. Create, buy, sell, share and embed 3D models. |
Lab Kits Mailed
| Technology | Type | Description |
| eScience Labs | Hands on Kits, Simulations, digital curriculum | Kits for mailing to your students that include experiments and exercises. Some digital content/virtual labs also. |
| Hands-On Labs | Digital curriculum
Lab kits | 9 Science disciplines. Virtual experiments. |