How to Run a Virtual Science Lab in the Classroom

Virtual science labs fill the gap when physical equipment is unavailable, when a topic is too dangerous or expensive to explore practically, or when remote students need to participate in an experiment alongside in-class peers. Here is how to run them effectively.

Why virtual labs work

The best simulations allow students to do things a physical lab cannot:

• Change variables instantly and see results — adjusting the mass of a pendulum, the concentration of a solution or the distance from a light source in seconds rather than minutes.
• Run dangerous reactions safely — sodium in water, radioactive decay, acid-base reactions at extreme concentrations.
• Zoom in to the molecular level — see individual particles collide, electrons transfer, enzymes bind.
• Repeat the same experiment dozens of times — removing measurement error and allowing large-sample statistical analysis.

PhET Interactive Simulations (University of Colorado)

PhET is the gold standard of free science (and maths) simulations. Over 150 simulations covering physics, chemistry, biology, earth science and maths — all free, research-based and available in 90+ languages. No account required. Simulations run in any browser; most work offline too.

Highlights: Wave on a String, Forces and Motion, Acid-Base Solutions, Natural Selection, Reactants Products and Leftovers, Build an Atom, Circuit Construction Kit.

Teacher resources: PhET provides student activity sheets and teacher guides for every simulation — genuinely curriculum-aligned and tested in real classrooms.

Google Science Journal

Google's Science Journal turns any smartphone into a sensor suite — using the phone's built-in accelerometer, light sensor, microphone and compass to collect real data. Students record and graph sensor readings in the app (free, iOS and Android) and export data to Google Sheets for analysis. Bridges the gap between virtual simulation and real-world measurement.

Labster

Labster offers full virtual lab environments — complete with 3D lab spaces, equipment handling and lab-coat simulations for biology, chemistry and physics. The free tier gives access to a limited number of simulations; many universities and some secondary schools have full access through institutional licences. Worth checking whether your institution has a Labster agreement before assuming it costs money.

Virtual dissection: Froguts

Froguts provides virtual frog, squid, owl pellet and pig dissection simulations with realistic visuals and step-by-step guidance. The free version covers some content; a subscription unlocks the full library. An ethical alternative to physical dissection that covers the same curriculum objectives.

Setting up a PhET virtual lab: step by step

1. Go to phet.colorado.edu and search for the topic ("wave", "forces", "circuits" etc.).
2. Preview the simulation and identify the variables students will manipulate and measure.
3. Write a brief student activity sheet: a clear question, variables to change, a results table and analysis questions.
4. Project the simulation on the board and model a quick run-through before students start.
5. Students run the simulation on their own devices (or in pairs on shared devices), record results and write conclusions.
6. Class discussion: compare findings, look for patterns, address misconceptions that emerged.

Making virtual labs genuinely practical

• Insist on a results table — students who just click around without recording data learn very little.
• Use the same practical write-up structure as a physical experiment: aim, method, results, conclusion, evaluation. This builds transferable skills.
• Follow up with a physical experiment where possible. Virtual labs prime understanding; real equipment builds tacit skills.
• Assign simulations as pre-practical preparation — students explore the variables in advance, reducing cognitive load during the real lab.