International Conference on Educational Research and Innovation (ICERI 2017)

USING VIRTUAL LABS TO ENHANCE STUDENTS' THINKING

ABILITIES, SKILLS, AND SCIENTIFIC ATTITUDES
M. Firman Ramadhan1, Irwanto2
1
Muhammadiyah University of Mataram, 2Yogyakarta State University
1
[email protected], [email protected]

Abstract
Educational problems are very complex problems, so it takes a solution to overcome those problems,
especially in the 21st century. Educators are expected to disseminate learning by utilizing the development
of 21st century technology, educators must also be able to develop technology-based learning media with
reference to the school curriculum. The transformation of technology in the digital era provides a wide
range of beneficial effects on the science learning process. One important impact of the development in
digital era that can be utilized in science education is virtual laboratory. Virtual laboratory is a media that
can provide direct experimental visualizations, interactive virtual environment, practical experimentation,
to de experiments more efficiently, and be able to save on purchasing experimental tools. Learning by using
a virtual laboratory can also be done anywhere and anytime without taking the class lessons. This study is
aimed to determine the effect of virtual laboratory based learning model on students’ thinking abilities,
skills, and scientific attitudes. This research used qualitative descriptive research method. The data analysis
techniques used refers to the data analysis model by Miles & Huberman (1994), including components:
reduce data, display data, draw conclusions, and verify. This paper reviews the 23 articles on students'
thinking abilities, skills, and scientific attitudes toward virtual laboratory. This paper has been published in
Indonesia and several journals have a scopus index reputation from 2010 to 2016. The results showed that
the virtual laboratory is able to enhance students’ problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, conceptual
understanding, science process skills, lab skills, motivation, interest, perception, and learning outcomes.
Therefore, educators need to use virtual laboratories to improve teaching quality and student learning
outcomes.
Keywords: virtual lab, thinking abilities, skills, scientific attitudes

development of the digital age that can be

utilized in the field of education is a virtual
Science is a subject related to laboratory laboratory. The virtual laboratory offers exciting
activities. It is a knowledge of natural lab processing and simulation facilities, the ease
phenomena involving inquiry and discovery of use of tools, and more accurate results [4]. The
through the hands-on and experiments under the virtual lab is a learning medium that can provide
guidance of the teachers [1]. In the science direct experimental visualization, interactive
learning, the laboratory activity is much more virtual environment, practical experimentation,
important as providing opportunities for the and do the experiments more efficiently.
students to perform various kinds of hands-on Through the virtual lab activity, the students have
[2]. The laboratory activities are expected to help the opportunity to repeat the wrong experiment
the students acquiring the technical skills. and deepen the experience independently [5-6].
Through the experimental activities, the students In practice, virtual labs provide various
will have direct experience, conceptual benefits in achieving the expected learning
understanding, and long-term memory. outcomes. The use of virtual laboratories
Furthermore, current experiments can be carried addresses some of the problems encountered in
out using developments in the field of traditional laboratories and contributes positively
information technology [3]. in achieving learning goals [3]. The virtual labs
The development of digital era technology provide opportunities for learning by doing at a
provides various positive impacts in supporting cheaper, more secure, and widely used cost [7].
the success of science learning process. Although the virtual labs cannot replace
Information technology can be used as an traditional laboratories, the use of the virtual labs
alternative to facilitate the needs of interactive greatly facilitates the learning process of science.
laboratories in schools. One impact of the However, the development of computer

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 International Conference on Educational Research and Innovation (ICERI 2017)

hardware and software enables educators to titration is categorized high with an average score
incorporate virtual technology into future of 73.28% [16]. Virtual Laboratory can influence
teaching strategies recently [8]. psychomotor students on Reaction Rate
The virtual laboratory uses computerized practicum in Class XI Science SMAN 7
models, simulations, and various other Sarolangun. The results showed that there was a
instructional technologies to replace traditional significant effect on student psychomotor on
lab activities [5]. It provides many advantages. It reaction rate material in class XI Science 1
is done in the cyberspace so experimentation (experimental class) SMAN 7 Sarolangun [17].
does not harm yourself or others. The affordable While [18] conducted the application of Virtual
simulation costs, once developed, the tool can be Laboratory-based PHET Simulation with direct
used repeatedly at no additional cost. The virtual instruction. Student activity using the Virtual
lab allows students to work independently or Laboratory (PHET Simulation) on the reaction
collaboratively regardless of the school rate material is categorized high. There is a
laboratories, chemicals, and equipment available difference in mean scores before and after
[9]. Thus, this study aims at determining the learning, but there is no difference in the progress
effect of the application of virtual lab aided of experimental class learning with the control
learning to students' thinking, skills, and class. 87.72% of students said the virtual
scientific attitudes. laboratory as the latest learning, ease to
understand the lessons of 94.76%, help complete
the task and make it easier to solve the problem
of 56.14%, Increase student motivation 89.47%,
This study uses qualitative research and virtual lab suitable for use in other subject
methods. The qualitative research is an activity equal to 82.46%. [19] Virtual laboratory on
of collecting, analyzing, interpreting data, and chemistry subjects as an alternative learning to
reporting of interpretation result [10-11]. Content
improve student learning outcomes at chemical
analysis is one of the qualitative research tadris program at IAIN Walisongo Semarang.
methods used to analyze and interpret textual The use of Virtual Laboratories can effectively
data content [12]. In the research method, there
improve student learning outcomes. [6] The use
are various data collection procedures, including of laboratory applications in learning chemistry
tests, questionnaires, interviews, observations, is very important, so as to increase the influence
diaries, and journals [13]. The data analysis
of student achievement 90 students from 3
techniques used refers to the data analysis model different classes in class IX. Data collection was
by Miles & Huberman [14], including collection, used before and after learning using virtual lab
reduction, presentation of data, and conclusions.
and analyzed using SPSS version 16. The
In this study, the researchers conducted a content development of virtual laboratory applications
analysis of 23 papers about the benefits of virtual developed has the same effect with the lab as well
labs in science learning. The papers have been
as in the introduction aspects of laboratory
published in Indonesia from 2011 to 2016. This equipment and the improvement of student
study has been being conducted from February to learning outcomes. The same is also explained by
April 2017.
[3] in his research entitled The Effect of the
Virtual Laboratory on Students’ Achievement
and Attitude in Chemistry. Learning chemistry
Research on the influence of learning model using a virtual laboratory can help students
(assisted by Virtual Laboratory) and interest in understand learning and improve student
learning on the ability of creative thinking learning interest, since learning using virtual
chemistry. This research shows that there is laboratories is rarely used in Turkey. Prepared 16
influence of learning model with Virtual experiments using virtual laboratory applications
Laboratory assisted on creative thinking ability, to help Turkish public schools and the results
interest in learning, interaction between learning have a positive influence on improving student
model and interest in learning on creative achievement and attitudes compared to
thinking ability in chemistry subject. The results conventional learning. [20] reveals that learning
showed that there were two groups with different is more interesting, more effective, can
mean values of creative thinking ability on summarize learning time, can improve the
chemistry subjects and two groups did not have quality of learning and teaching and learning
an average difference [15]. The Virtual process can be done anywhere and anytime by
Laboratory is able to increase students' learning utilizing virtual labs and E-Reference in the
motivation on chemistry subjects, the students' learning process and research on Chemistry. Cost
learning motivation on acidic and bases titration savings of research and research that cannot be

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 International Conference on Educational Research and Innovation (ICERI 2017)

done because of the limitations of tools in the real There is a better understanding of concepts than
laboratory. The weakness of the Virtual before using a virtual lab. [27] conducted a study
Laboratory for troubleshooting can be synergized entitled The use of virtual and simulated teaching
with E-References. and learning environments: Inviting gifted
students into science, technology, engineering,
Research conducted by [21] that the use of
and mathematics careers (STEM) through
virtual lab media on physics subjects can
summer partnerships. Based on the research
influence student problem solving. The guided
result, it is found that students have motivation in
Inquiry learning model based on the real
learning by using technology. [28] research on
laboratory and virtual laboratory is better than the
Effects of 3D virtual simulators in the
direct learning model as an effort to improve
introductory wind energy course: a tool for
students' physics learning outcomes. The guided
teaching engineering concepts, This research
inquiry learning model in the real laboratory and
provides innovative solutions in effective
virtual laboratory has significant interaction with
learning and is able to improve the postsecondary
the direct learning model so as to increase the
education by developing virtual simulators that
activity and the students' learning outcomes on
can be integrated with the school curriculum.
the subject of physics [22]. While [23] developed
Critical acquisition of educating and training a
a virtual laboratory on kinematics material with
professional generation in industry, the
vector analysis on physics lessons in Class XI.
development and implementation of virtual
The virtual laboratory on Kinematic materials
simulators in the accompanying curriculum will
and Vector Analysis in the XI class of SMA
foster national reform in the United States, Thus
deserves to be used in physics, practical and
meeting the needs of the wind energy industry
effective learning used in Physics learning can be
movement and addressing the broader
seen from the increasing student learning
educational issues in a number of disciplines.
outcomes. The activities and perceptions of
[29] Research on virtual laboratory and learning
students in applying virtual laboratory as a media
management system in optimal control theory
of learning on modern physics in high school are
education, learning using virtual lab and Remote
in 80% of each criterion with regard to
in technical education designed using Java
demostration, concept, calculation, problem
programming language. Development of a
practice, categorizing, explaining, presenting and
virtual laboratory that uses Java Simulations and
creating process in learning. Whereas learners'
is integrated with Moodle in control theory
perceptions about virtual lab implementation are
education. While [30] the use of virtual
in the strongly agreed category shown by 91.03%
laboratory can improve students' skill in biology
[24]. So also with the Student Perceptions of the
education program in using microbiology tools
Virtual Laboratory Utilization in Physics
for 45 students taking microbiology courses. [31]
Learning Straight Motion Topics (Survey of
Researching on Virtual Laboratory
Students of Class X SMAN 87 South Jakarta)
Implementation to Support High School
received a positive response. Student
Learning, some subjects require activity in
understanding and learning experience can be
laboratories such as Biology, Mathematics,
improved by using a virtual laboratory, this is
Chemistry and Physics. It takes a laboratory tool
reinforced by student statements that most
that can be used anytime and anywhere so as not
expressly agree to use virtual labs and students
to interfere with the lesson, virtual lab is a
better understand the concept of straight motion
computer application that can be used to
[25]. The development of learning media in the
experiment with low cost.
form of virtual laboratories conducted by [26] to
overcome misconceptions on core physics Effectiveness of the development of Virtual
materials at SMAN 1 Binamu revealed the result Laboratory can improve the ability to increase
that the instructional media in the form of virtual critical thinking but has no significant difference
laboratory as a presentation model and tutorial on to the scientific attitude of high school students
radioactive activity and the penetration of on the concept of metagenesis of moss and nail
radioactive rays obtained valid results and plants. This is indicated by the difference in mean
Reliable. The virtual lab view comes with value of critical thinking ability of class X
navigation, hints, hyperlinks to make it easier for students of MIA 4 (Control class) with class X
users; Learning tools in the form of RPP, reading MIA 3 (experiment class) whereas students'
books, LKS made in softcopy and hardcopy so scientific attitude there is no difference of
easy on autorun via CD; Learner activity above average value in Control class and Experiment
85% and learners' perceptions about virual class [32] . Meanwhile, according to [33] who
laboratory of 93.05% indicating strongly agree; did research on A Virtual Lab in Research

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 International Conference on Educational Research and Innovation (ICERI 2017)

Methods. Virtual labs are superior to the real

laboratory for the overall value earned. Because
The results showed that the virtual
students prefer the convenience and ease in doing
laboratory is able to enhance students’ problem
research. When compared to traditional learning,
solving, critical thinking, creativity, conceptual
more time is needed in completing tasks and
understanding, science process skills, lab skills,
communicating with students. The results
motivation, interest, perception, and learning
provide an overall assessment of the aspects of
outcomes. Therefore, educators need to use
leadership, exercise questions, and values. There
virtual laboratories to improve teaching quality
is a significant difference in the leadership aspect
and student learning outcomes.
shown by F (5.185) = 5.8, p <0.0001. Possible
aspects of leadership have an effect on the
exercise value rating and its parts. The leadership ACKNOWLEDGMENT
aspect correlates with exercise rank, r (191) = The authors would like to express profound
0.37, p <0.0001, and the assessment aspect, r thanks and appreciation to Directorate of Higher
(191) = 0.46, p <0.0001. Virtual labs can be Education, Ministry of Research, Technology
easily applied to modifications that can be and Higher Education Republic of Indonesia
adapted to the curriculum. It is also suggested by through “BUDI-DN” for the financial support.
[34] who studied the Out of the classroom and
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