Virtual labs-An Extension of Science Virtual labs-An Extension of Science Centre Centre

K. MadangopalVITM

Abstract

As people are becoming more accustomed to the freedoms and empowerment of digital technologies, museums will be encouraged to invent new ways to popularize science, engage visitors and in the process create and curate content with new technologies. Museums of the future will be filled with digital applications.

Virtual labsVirtual labsAn Extension of Science Centre An Extension of Science Centre

Visitor participation will take a new dimension in the future museums. This is most likely through adaptable digital interfaces driven by big data. Abundance of content that can be adapted to the preferences and real time visitors choices.

Virtual labsVirtual labsAn Extension of Science Centre An Extension of Science Centre

We have grown up interacting with Physical objects around us. The serene nature, accessibility to natural vegetation, organisms, insects etc had provided us natures lab open for 24X7 with the opportunity to explore interact and experiment. But slowly with the growing population, urbanization, Industrial revolution, and paucity of open spaces in rapidly expanding cities theNatures lab spaces/workspaces are dwindling. It is expected that by the next decade more than 50 percent of the population in the country will be city dwellers.

Why Virtual labsWhy Virtual labs

Situation in cities is interesting. High competition for spaces, education, congestion, traffic jams, are on one side whereas revolution in communication, mobile accessibility, Television, high speed Data and voice communication, Internet, social websites, satellite accessibility etc have opened up new opportunities.

Cities & Towns need Cities & Towns need for Virtual Labsfor Virtual Labs

Time Money Equipment availability Instructor time/ resources/ knowledge Safety concerns

Virtual laboratory exercises can remedy nearly all of these concerns!

Limitations of Limitations of traditional labstraditional labs

With the non affordability of lab equipment, ban on using live specimens for experimentation, Virtual lab simulations are the alternative and most effective mode of experimentation for Education.

Need for Need for Virtual LabsVirtual Labs

Familiarize with equipment. Learn the Scientific Method – Problem statement- Hypothesis – experiment –

observation study the results – verify the hypothesis Understand theoretical concepts in a better way. Learn standard practices and procedures

Virtual LaboratoriesVirtual Laboratories

Broadens virtual access to expensive or delicate high-end equipment

Provides students with access to remotely-hosted science lab facilities rather than just local ones

More time on task / less setup & cleanup More experimental runs

Advantages of Advantages of Virtual LabsVirtual Labs

Advantages ofVirtual labs

Safer Can do labs before and after class, at home – not limited to 50 min class period Share & compare data locally or globally – just like scientists do Enables new economic models and public/private partnerships.

Traditional labs use expensive apparatus. There are restrictions to conduct work on live biological specimen. Labs restricted to research institutions or places

of higher learning or other educational institutions, unreachable to laymen. Remote and simulated laboratories reduce overall costs and enrich educational experience

From Lab to From Lab to ‘‘Virtual lab’Virtual lab’

Virtual laboratories use technology to enhance learning experience. They can supplement real laboratories for education. Use pictures, animations and interactive simulations. Free choice learning No restriction on the education level/age etc of the

user.

Virtual laboratoriesVirtual laboratories

As we continue to push the boundaries of the digital frontier, we are also redefining the scope and range of our mission as public learning facilities. By implementing the latest advances in digital technologies with wisdom and vision, the students as well as common people canteam up in a unique way for understanding new scientific advancements.

Digital Age –Digital Age –Inspiration for Virtual labsInspiration for Virtual labs

A virtual lab could be computer based or web based simulated environment intended for its users to interact, both remotely as well as in-situ.

Virtual LabVirtual Lab

Virtual labs are the extensions to science Museums due to the following common interests namely:

Both are free choice learning environments. No restriction of education level/ age etc. Self-learning without any evaluation during the process Repeatability

Museums & Virtual labsMuseums & Virtual labs

Virtual Labs – Virtual Labs – Scope of activities Scope of activities for Museumfor Museum

Virtual lab in 3DVirtual lab in 3D

Virtual lab onVirtual lab onMobileMobile

Virtual Science Virtual Science ExperimentsExperiments

Live Lab activities Live Lab activities on demand on demand

Guided Lab Guided Lab Activities on demand Activities on demand

Take away Lab Take away Lab

/

In the age of broadband connectivity,

science communication through internet is

going to be a major area of operation of science

museums/science centres. Such communication

will not be time bound and it will not require

physical presence of the visitor.

Virtual tour of Virtual tour of Museum GalleriesMuseum Galleries

A virtual tour of museum galleries through online payment mode will be the modern mode to discover museum exhibits. It will be powered by high speed internet and the digital world of virtual reality.

Virtual tour of Virtual tour of Museum GalleriesMuseum Galleries

The digital technology coupled with automation will provide a way for museums to deliver highly compelling, individually- curated experiences, where exhibits, with light, sound and space interacting with digital media will create a seamless environment.

Virtual tour of Virtual tour of Museum GalleriesMuseum Galleries

Mobile users in India who are science enthusiasts can opt to take a short tour of a specific exhibit/exhibition in a museum during their free time during shopping / marketing / while waiting to catch a delayed flight/ train /bus or while they are on move.

Virtual Museum Virtual Museum Tour on MobileTour on Mobile

The innovation lab with student innovators also has the scope to begin with startup Science experimentation for students, before they embark on working with their ideas.

Virtual Science Virtual Science ExperimentsExperiments

The activities at the innovation lab can be virtually accessed live through satellites on Television. In addition multimedia resources, virtual experiments on different topics, in soft format can be made available through dedicated servers/ cloud. This can be similar to the pay channels now available on Television.

Virtual Science Virtual Science ExperimentsExperiments

Multimedia demonstration of ideas / activities in the innovation lab including curriculum based experiments can be uploaded on internet which can be made available on demand on payment mode.

Guided Lab Guided Lab Activities on demandActivities on demand

Virtual lab experiments with on screen instructions for remote access and Interaction to give a real life experience can be developed and made available on shared servers/cloud with access facilities through different media like tablets/ mobiles and other communication devices.

Lab ExperimentsLab Experiments

Virtual labs can also have fixed time Mentors interaction with remote students to help them perform a experiment or discuss an idea/ discuss on a scientific topic. This can be a two way communication.

Live Virtual LabLive Virtual Lab

Live chat programs / blogs can also be a part of virtual access with fixed time availability of mentors drawn from different scientific institutions.

Live Virtual LabLive Virtual Lab

Course: Advanced chemistry labTraditional: Students follow a specific procedure for mixing cations, to see how theyreact. The experiments can take week safety is an issue because some cations are toxic.Virtual: Students use a computer simulation that allowsthem to experiment with virtual cations. They can safely use virtual representations of toxic cations, such as mercury, and experiments that normally take weeks are finished in minutes.

Virtual Lab : Example 1Virtual Lab : Example 1

Course: Advanced microbiology labTraditional: Students combine bacteril cultures with various chemicals to amine reactions. The experiments can take weeks, and the students usually must avoid certain procedures that could ruin expensive cultures. Virtual: Students run experiments With virtual bacterial cultures by telling a computer what chemicals to add. Reaction times are cut tominutes, letting students spend more Time experimenting.

Virtual Lab : Example 2Virtual Lab : Example 2

Course: Advanced physics labTraditional: Students work in the lab to measure the speeds of remote-controlled cars and plot theResults on graphs.Virtual: Students use computer simulations of remote-controlled cars While students conduct the experiments,the software acts as a virtual lab partner and offers goodand bad advice to the students to test their problem Solving skills.

Virtual Lab : Example 3Virtual Lab : Example 3

Thank you!Thank you!