Assessing the Impact of a Virtual Lab In Health Care Education
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an online virtual lab as a learning tool to prepare allied health students for face-to-face laboratory sessions. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from 64 university students (55 females, 9 males) and analyzed to assess attitudes towards the virtual lab. Students reported that the virtual lab made skill acquisition easier and faster, helped them prepare for hands-on laboratory sessions, and was a tool they would use again. The key benefits of the virtual lab was that it enabled students to visualize procedures and reactions outside of the traditional laboratory setting. Student visualization enhanced preparedness and performance in the laboratory environment.