Challenge: While hands-on laboratory experiences are an important component of biomedical engineering curricula, many of the topics which would often benefit most from these experiences are often too time-, space-, and resource-intensive to incorporate into laboratory classes. One such topic is electrophysiology, where phenomena are hard to…

Understanding the physicochemical properties of organic compounds with potential biological uses is central in current research topics. Thus, students must pursue the integration of different fields of chemistry to obtain and understand the physicochemical parameters that characterize the mechanism of action of key organics compounds. This…

Interest in virtual laboratory simulations as a pedagogical tool continues to grow, given the advantages of flexibility, scalability, technology integration, and interactive visualizations. We developed a laboratory model that integrates virtual lab simulations (VLS) and traditional in-person (IP) lab experiences for targeted skill development. In…

The use of Virtual Reality (VR) in education is getting more and more common, especially when hands-on learning experiences have to be delivered. With VR it becomes possible, e.g., to simulate dangerous or costly procedures that could hardly be implemented in real settings. However, engaging large classes in immersive laboratory activities may be…

The use of two-dimensional images to teach students about three-dimensional molecules continues to be a prevalent issue in many classrooms. As affordable visualization technologies continue to advance, there has been an increasing interest to utilize novel technology, such as augmented reality (AR), in the development of molecular visualization…

Incorporation of previously reported AR technology (ARiEL) for a general chemistry laboratory was attempted for the second time, a replication effort designed to provide students with an option to read about the nature of instruments used in an experiment. Students' app usage was tracked to understand the type and amount of information accessed,…

Computational chemistry instructional activities are often based around students running chemical simulations via a graphical user interface (GUI). GUI-based activities offer many advantages, as they enable students to run chemical simulations with a few mouse clicks. Although these activities are excellent for introducing students to the…

This study investigates the efficacy of incorporating neuropedagogical elements into virtual simulators for advanced chemistry education in universities. Utilizing a mixed-method approach, it uses questionnaires completed by 50 organic chemistry students. These questionnaires included both general and Likert scale questions, focusing on students'…

Recognized as one of the most beautiful experiments of all time, the oil drop experiment performed by Robert Millikan and his graduate students (primarily Harvey Fletcher) is a standard in the repertoire of experiments performed by undergraduate physics students. However, "as a teaching lab it does not enjoy a good reputation for three…

An augmented reality (AR) application that complements a DNA precipitation experiment has been developed for use on mobile devices. The AR experience provides atomistic detail on the reasoning behind the experimental observations. The development of the application is described, as are the download data. In a pilot survey, the students were asked…

Traditional engineering textbooks are substantially limited by approaches relying on analytical solutions where most of the applications are described by differential equations without simple analytical solutions. An alternative is to design a textbook around computer-program-based simulations, where the simulations progressively evolve through…

Technological innovation in science provides complementary tools for exploring new teaching strategies within a pedagogical framework that promotes interaction between the teacher and the learner. This work is based on the implementation of a computer application modeling crystallographic material structures, in order to identify and study the…

The QuVis Quantum Mechanics Visualization Project provides freely available research-based interactive simulations with accompanying activities for the teaching and learning of quantum mechanics across a wide range of topics and levels. This article gives an overview of some of the simulations and describes their use in an introductory physical…

Students in undergraduate premedical anatomy courses may experience suboptimal and superficial learning experiences due to large class sizes, passive lecture styles, and difficult-to-master concepts. This study introduces an innovative, hands-on activity for human musculoskeletal system education with the aim of improving students' level of…

According to the most recent data from the federal Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, between 2001 and 2011, more than 120 university laboratory accidents have caused injuries (including one death) and millions of dollars in damages. Laboratory-safety lessons normally comprise lecture slides alongside occasional movies and tours of…