Hosted by , contributed by Kyriaki_Vakkou on 13 December 2022
Headmasters, heads of school departments, and teachers are facing the challenge of switching to e-teaching. This includes finding suitable learning platforms and tools, finding and/or creating digital learning content, introducing electronic communication tools and procedures, and many other tasks. Schools are urgently looking for free digital learning resources, which could support teaching and learning.
The Go-Lab platform offers one of the world’s largest collection of free online laboratories for teaching STEM subjects, including virtual labs, simulations and data bases, as well as access to real laboratory equipment remotely via a web interface. Furthermore, it offers the option of creating virtual learning scenarios for each classroom session (the so‐called Inquiry Learning Spaces), containing online labs, educational applications, and any other multimedia learning content is available. The tools, labs and online lessons available on the platform offer the opportunity to students and teachers to conduct experiments safely with equipment that might not have been available to them, access real-time data and use tools that facilitate peer collaboration, reflection, data analysis etc.
The Go-Lab platform provides also support material and video tutorials to guide teachers on how to use the available resources and on how to create their own digital learning content (i.e. Inquiry Learning Spaces). Moreover, it provides information on the pedagogical principles and teaching and learning approaches to be followed for successful STEM implementations with online laboratories. The main pedagogical scenario for the design of Inquiry Learning Spaces is the pedagogical framework of inquiry cycle, which has been specifically defined for the purpose of the Go-Lab initiative. The inquiry cycle describes the phases and steps that students follow to conduct scientific investigations, which may not have a linear progression, instead many cycles of inquiry processes may be executed according to student needs and level of proficiency.
The expected impact of the inclusion of online labs and lessons in everyday science classroom for students is the development of 21st century skills, transversal and social skills, as well as the increase in engagement and motivation for STEM subjects. The utilization of online digital tools and materials also provide the opportunity for self- and peer-assessment, reflection and peer learning without the necessity of face-to-face interaction.