The effects of combining virtual laboratory and advanced technology research laboratory on university students’ conceptual understanding of electron microscopy

ABSTRACT

Development and evaluation of a teaching-learning activity in 4th year Forensic Physics course of Degree in Criminology was based on different combinations of a virtual laboratory and a research laboratory as teaching spaces. Students explored in detail the components and functioning of an electron microscope using both an online suite of education tools and an advanced scanning electron microscope (SEM). The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of all combinations of both activities on students’ learning process, and to examine the effect on their interest towards the subject. A blend of research and virtual laboratories have a higher significant impact on students’ achievements rather than each one separately, but the same is not true for student interest in scientific careers. These results confirm that the use of a research laboratory combined with a virtual one can have substantial benefits in improvement students’ knowledge about abstract and complex concepts.

KEYWORDS:

• Electron microscopy
• virtual laboratory
• criminology
• scientific career
• students’ interest
• forensic physics

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Availability of data and materials

All data of this research project is available with the authors and can be made available on requests if required.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Santiago Hurtado-Bermúdez

Santiago Hurtado is Associate Professor in Universidad de Sevilla Research, Technology, and Innovation Centre (CITIUS). His current research interests include science education simulation, game-based learning, mobile learning, flipped classroomand as well as examining how these learning environments affect academic performance, student motivation, and learning outcomes in higher education. He received his PhD from the Universidad de Sevilla, in 2004.

Ana Romero-Abrio

Ana Romero Abrio is Assistant Professor at the Department of Education and Social Psychology, Universidad Pablo de Olavide (Spain). She is a part of the research group in Developmental Psychology and Social Psychology. Her research interests are related to the use of ICT in education, especially the potential and limitations of e-learning and blended environments, and their effects on student learning and motivation, and additionally cyberbullying. She received her PhD from the Universidad Pablo de Olavide in 2019.