Enrich hands-on lab experiences with
virtual simulations

Explore how you can improve student engagement and success with Science Interactive’s virtual simulations.

Digital Curriculum
450+Virtual and hands-on labs
14Comprehensive curriculum across 14 scientific disciplines
100%Peer-reviewed and certified by Quality Matters

Virtual simulations aren’t a replacement
for the rich learning of hands-on labs.

But virtual simulations can help students maximize their learning in combination with hands-on labs, and
grasp scientific concepts and phenomena that they can’t observe in the real world.

image of student conducting virtual simulation

Help students observe what they can’t in hands-on labs.

From phenomena such as climate change, evolution, and the long-term impact of chemicals on the environment, to grasping abstract concepts such as light rays and radio waves.

Virtual simulations give your students multiple opportunities to engage with concepts that are critical for their learning – but impossible to replicate in hands-on labs.

Online student on computer

Help students get the most out of every hands-on lab.

Virtual pre-labs can help students grasp basic lab techniques and safety procedures in a safe, low-stakes environment.

Giving them plenty of time to prepare at their own pace for hands-on labs. So that they gain the confidence they need for their hands-on labs – and can get the most out of every lab course.

Enrich real-world learning with
virtual pre-labs and virtual simulations

virtual simulations

Make learning science engaging and accessible for everyone.

With virtual simulations you can:

  • Help students grasp what they can’t observe in the lab: from abstract concepts such as light rays and radio waves, to phenomena such as evolution and climate change.

  • Let students practice what they’ve learned, in their own time, in a low-stakes environment.

  • Make science courses easily accessible to those with different learning styles – and for those who can’t come to campus.

  • Reduce the need to purchase or rent expensive scientific equipment and materials for a single lab.
virtual pre-labs

Let students prepare ahead of time,
in their own time.

With virtual pre-labs, students can:

  • Conduct trial experiments freely in a low-stakes environment, with no risk to themselves, others, or expensive lab equipment.

  • Learn theory, lab procedures, and safety protocols – and gain confidence in applying them.

  • Run virtual experiments as many times as they need, increasing their engagement and deepening their understanding of their learning.

  • Maximize the productivity and impact of every hands-on or on-campus lab as they’ll be well-prepared ahead of time.
Learn more
resource

Virtual labs vs. hands-on labs:
What’s right for your online science course?

Explore the differences between virtual and hands-on labs, the benefits of each approach, and how to figure out the best combination of the two for your course.

Read Now

What Students & Instructors Say

According to 1600+ surveyed for our 2023 Lab Report: The State of Online Science labs

"I highly recommend that my chemistry course add virtual simulations because, as an online student, it would prepare me and my other students for the on-campus lab and make us more familiar with lab safety in reality, how to use equipment and instruments, and avoid chemical hazards."

Student response

"Science Interactive gives me the opportunity to give my online students the same type of hands-on experience that a typical student that's coming to the campus would have. This gives them the hands-on experience they need to ensure their credits are transferable while providing them with the flexibility to do the labs from their own home."

Lauren Kerrigan, Chemistry Instructor,
Bucks County CC

"I really enjoyed taking the course online rather than in person. Science is hard! I do better to learn at my own pace, and re-read things that I didn't understand before going to the next topic."

Student response

"The virtual lab for chemistry was a huge help in getting my work accomplished.  I didn't have to worry about cleaning up a mess or being afraid of working with different chemicals and doing something wrong. The virtual lab made it safe to conduct my experiments, and when I did make a mistake, it was easy to start over."

Student response

Deliver authentic lab experiences to all students – anytime, anywhere.

Testimonials

For over six years, Science Interactive has collaborated with our subject matter experts to provide lab kits for online science courses at the University of New England. These kits have allowed students a hands-on lab experience regardless of their location around the globe. This comprehensive lab solution has provided quality products that enrich our courses and contribute considerably to our student experience and success.
Barbara FortieUniversity of New England, Program Director
I have enjoyed using Science Interactive (formerly Hands-On Labs) for my Micro lab. The online modules make my teaching and grading seamless and it looks great from the student view. The personnel are very responsive to me or students when we needed help with an issue.
Cheraton LoveWinston-Salem State University, Dean, Experiential Education
When I was first approached to teach distance learning, I was very skeptical about how students could gain practical skills in an online environment... When I first came across the Science Interactive lab solution, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and rigor of the experiments. They not only covered the topics that I normally cover, but in some cases go in much more depth than I expected. I have looked at other companies and I believe that Science Interactive is the best. They provide a college-level experience that is expected for a student taking a chemistry lab course.
Michael FeltyChemistry Professor, Trinity Valley Community College
Science Interactive combines the best of Hands-On Labs, eScience and virtual science programs to deliver the most sophisticated lab experience in today’s world.
Dr. BrownTop 40 Innovators in Education by Center for Digital Education
At what is considered a pioneer institution of higher learning, Science Interactive labs have been the difference between rural students earning a degree or not, while remaining at their homes and working full time. For many years, we were the only institution in our state (and that includes the Universities) who offered a virtual lab, so our enrollment was enhanced because of Science Interactive. Once students settle into the routine of trusting that they can complete a lab, have the support they need, and that they learn from it, they have really enjoyed learning the content at their own pace.
MarlysMiles Community College, Professor
I have been using Science Interactive for many years, even before the name change. What hasn’t changed is the great customer service. My rep is only a phone call or email away and always responds promptly. My students have reported being able to contact customer support easily. Their labs kits have allowed our institution to offer online courses without sacrificing the hands-on learning that occurs in the lab. There are a wide variety of kits available, including custom kits. The use of custom kits has allowed us to create kits that align with our competencies. I wouldn’t use any other company!
NadineDes Moines Area Community College, Professor
As Covid-19 began, our Dean challenged us to deliver, a master course that matched what we were doing in the classroom face-to-face. Our goal was to have a hands-on activity for each of the 16 weeks of the term. This was impossible if students did not have the kits in their hands by day one. Thanks to Science Interactive, we were able to provide at-home kits to meet our goals, well in advance of the first day of the term, which helped minimize student issues. We also had the flexibility to supplement the need for tactile kits every week with digital lessons to help reduced the cost to the student substantially. Thank you again for all that you do. I look forward to working with Science Interactive in the future.
KenCoastline Community College, Professor
Science Interactive has given our online students the hands-on experience that is needed in a chemistry laboratory. Students comment on how much they really enjoy the lab component of these courses and how much the lab experiments enhance what they are learning in our chemistry courses.
AnnMariePima Community College, Professor
I have been working with Science Interactive since 2006 - they have always been professional and responsive to the needs of my institution as well as my students. The quality of the lab kits that we employ is par none, and Science Interactive is very flexible when it comes to customizing these kits to align with the pedagogy of our classes.
MarcOcean Community College, Professor
I have taught online classes uninterruptedly since 2016. Initially, I was skeptical about my students having a good lab experience in an online lab that was supposed to be hands-on. After intense research, I found that Science Interactive had a great solution available in a superb and relatively affordable lab kit that would enable my students to have something close to an on-campus lab experience. After years of teaching the lab, I can give first-hand testimony of the professional quality of the experiments and the lab kit contents. These facts alone would have had me using Science Interactive kits for all my online labs. But what makes it truly impossible for me to even think of switching lab kit providers is the top-notch support that I get from my account executive. Science Interactive is an outstanding provider of true college-level lab kits with an excellent support team that will always have your back.
CarlosUniversity of Colorado, Professor
Science Interactive provides the opportunity to offer our students the hands-on experience of science labs from the convenience of their homes. Their labs kits do a great job of providing students with a realistic environment that teaches critical skills required to learn various laboratory concepts and replicating the same learning experience they would have at a campus lab. The entire platform is user friends and students enjoy their experience using the kits and the educational online content. Both higher education online programs and online science students can benefit greatly from the integration of at-home lab kits into the curriculum.
DamonColorado Christian University, Professor
I loved everything about it. I had everything I needed and the labs were easy to follow.
Prairie State CollegeStudent