Search our resources
What are virtual labs?
Virtual lab simulations allow students to complete laboratory experiments online and explore abstract concepts and complex theories without stepping into a physical science lab. Labster simulations visualize science at a molecular level, offering open access to students. They can then apply their scientific knowledge and use advanced lab equipment to solve real-world challenges, such as DNA and gene sequencing, chemical reactions and cancer treatment responses. The gamified 3D learning virtual environment may be a laboratory, a forest or the desert plains of our imaginary exoplanet — Astakos IV, and is combined with engaging storytelling and a scoring system.
Labster provides STEM curriculum-aligned virtual laboratory simulations within biology, biochemistry, genetics, biotechnology, chemistry, physics and more.
How it works?
Students work through real-life case stories, interact with lab equipment, perform virtual laboratory experiments and learn with theory and quiz questions.
Accessible on laptop and desktop computers, Labster simulation can be played without installing any browser plugins.
Discover how virtual lab simulations work.
Why use Labster virtual labs?
Labster helps your students succeed
Labster can help increase learning outcomes. Instructors who teach with Labster often observe that average student grades increase by one letter grade or more.
Increase Student Engagement
Your students choose to spend over 7 hours of their free time looking at a screen every day. You can meet them in their native environment with their science education - and make it fun - with our immersive, 3D science simulations. Labster uses gamification and storytelling approaches to engage students in course materials.
Get Students Comfortable with the Lab
The science lab can be an overwhelming and dangerous place if your students don’t know how to interact with it. Labster provides learners with a realistic virtual lab simulation before they run any physical experiments. That means students can make mistakes and repeat their experiments as many times as they need without any real-life consequences.
Tailor Instruction to Students with Different Needs
Some of your students are going to whip through the lab modules, while others will lag behind. Labster helps you differentiate learning so each can advance at their own pace. Our research shows that students with lower knowledge and skill levels tend to catch up with their peers when using our platform.
Save Time Grading and Easily Track Student Progress
Labster lets you see everything your student does on the platform, including the number of quiz attempts, quiz question responses, duration of play, and final grades earned. That way, you can keep continuous tabs on your students’ progress and use behavioral data as feedback to make adjustments.
Train Students to Think Scientifically
Labster is more than a laboratory simulator. We’re your trusted teaching assistant, giving your students the context they need to fully grasp the theories you’re teaching and make connections with their previous learning. Labster storylines pose problems that pique students’ curiosity and involve them in using data and observation to arrive at solutions.
Continuously Enhance Your Science Curriculum
We update our platform every three months. That means your students will have access to new simulations four times a year. Plus, we take your feedback seriously and make regular enhancements to improve the online teaching and learning experience.
Get pre-packaged learning modules
Labster makes teaching easier with off-the-shelf learning experiences that introduce and reinforce key scientific concepts, procedures, and techniques.
Labster helps your students succeed
Labster can help increase learning outcomes. Instructors who teach with Labster often observe that average student grades increase by one letter grade or more.
Increase Student Engagement
Your students choose to spend over 7 hours of their free time looking at a screen every day. You can meet them in their native environment with their science education - and make it fun - with our immersive, 3D science simulations. Labster uses gamification and storytelling approaches to engage students in course materials.
Get Students Comfortable with the Lab
The science lab can be an overwhelming and dangerous place if your students don’t know how to interact with it. Labster provides learners with a realistic virtual lab simulation before they run any physical experiments. That means students can make mistakes and repeat their experiments as many times as they need without any real-life consequences.
Tailor Instruction to Students with Different Needs
Some of your students are going to whip through the lab modules, while others will lag behind. Labster helps you differentiate learning so each can advance at their own pace. Our research shows that students with lower knowledge and skill levels tend to catch up with their peers when using our platform.
Save Time Grading and Easily Track Student Progress
Labster lets you see everything your student does on the platform, including the number of quiz attempts, quiz question responses, duration of play, and final grades earned. That way, you can keep continuous tabs on your students’ progress and use behavioral data as feedback to make adjustments.
Train Students to Think Scientifically
Labster is more than a laboratory simulator. We’re your trusted teaching assistant, giving your students the context they need to fully grasp the theories you’re teaching and make connections with their previous learning. Labster storylines pose problems that pique students’ curiosity and involve them in using data and observation to arrive at solutions.
Continuously Enhance Your Science Curriculum
We update our platform every three months. That means your students will have access to new simulations four times a year. Plus, we take your feedback seriously and make regular enhancements to improve the online teaching and learning experience.
Get pre-packaged learning modules
Labster makes teaching easier with off-the-shelf learning experiences that introduce and reinforce key scientific concepts, procedures, and techniques.
Integrate with your LMS
Labster integrates with all major LMS (Learning Management Systems) so that educators can use their gradebooks to track students’ performance data and students can keep a record of their work. Labster is compatible with Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, Google Classroom, Schoology, Sakai, and Brightspace / D2L. It’s also possible to use Labster without an LMS.
View our latest webinar
Looking for some inspiration or missed our latest webinar? You can view the recordings of all our past webinars here.
Register nowTrusted by over 2,000 institutions
“Labster helped open the doors to a more inquiry-based style of presenting.” - Dr. Kambiz Hamadani, California State University
“I don’t think there’s anyone who has the same expertise in-house that Labster has. I haven’t seen anyone else working in the field have this level.” - Dr. Philippos Savvides, Arizona State University
“Labster allows a dynamic visualization of chemical reactions so that students can practice and better understand these concepts.” - Dr. Sabine Matallana-Surget, Stirling University
“The virtual labs really help the students become familiar with the material before they engage in the class.” - Dr. Paul Kasili, Bunker Hill Community College
“It’s a great way to understand the concept of biological processes and different laboratory methods as well as to prepare for entering the lab.” - Dr. Pirjo Spuul, Tallinn University of Technology
“Labster can teach my students some of what I can, but it can do so at any time, at any place in a way that supports the diversity that I see in such a very large class.” - Prof. Tom Haffie, Western University
“The virtual labs have proven to stimulate students’ natural curiosity, knowledge retention and outcomes.” - Dr. Brian Harfe, University of Florida
“All collaborators provided positive feedback about the enriched experience that Labster created for their learners.” - Dr. Laurie Harrison, University of Toronto
“Albert Einstein once said: ‘The definition of genius is taking the complex and making it simple.' In my opinion, Labster has managed this task!” - Dr. Carmen Nußbaumer, Management Center Innsbruck
“What I think is the greatest advantage of a virtual lab is that you can do basically anything.” - Dr. Mike Angilletta, Arizona State University
“Personally I look forward to the sessions with Labster, because I see more liveliness and activity than I do in most of my other lessons.” - Dr. Harmony Clayton, Taylors College
“Right from the beginning, I have found the customer service with Labster to be nothing short of outstanding.” - Dr. Joel Yager Humphrey, Cayuga Community College
“I think simulations are going to be a really big part of the future. There’s really no other way to go about it.” - Dr. Suzanna Katz, Staten Island Academy
“Labster is the only virtual set of labs that I know that do a marvelous job with the molecular components of genetics.” - Dr. Marta Frisardi, University of New England
“Within 20-30 minutes, students could evaluate a technique that normally takes hours and is quite boring and dry.” - Dr. Caroline Smith, Westminster University