Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google


University System of Maryland Rolls Out Virtual Science Labs Across All Campuses

The University System of Maryland has partnered with Labster to provide its virtual laboratory simulations across all USM institutions. The university is working to integrate virtual science labs into its course offerings as the COVID-19 pandemic has limited students' and instructors' access to classrooms.

"While it is difficult to replace the 'hands-on' experience of a real lab environment, we were very pleased to find a solution for our campuses that can help us de-densify the classroom by helping students prepare for labs in advance using simulations," said MJ Bishop, director of USM's Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation, in a statement. "Labster is both providing the tools as well as the support faculty need to learn how best to integrate the simulations into their course."

Students and faculty will have access to more than 150 virtual lab simulations, including biology, chemistry, physics and general sciences. Through the interactive simulations, students can perform realistic experiments, learn key science concepts, and practice their skills in a risk-free learning environment," according to a news announcement.

The rollout is part of USM's OnTrack initiative, a collaborative effort between the fully online University of Maryland Global Campus and the Kirwan Center to help USM institutions prepare for remote instruction. In addition to funding the Labster deal, USM OnTrack will provide professional development for faculty to help them incorporate the technology in their teaching.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Abstract energetic glowing lines with particles

    Meta Steps Up Enterprise AI Ambitions with Muse Spark Launch

    Meta has announced the launch of Muse Spark 1.1, a multimodal reasoning model designed for agentic AI, alongside a new Meta Model API that gives developers access to the model for the first time.

  • lock symbol with quantum bits in dynamic motion

    Microsoft Accelerates Focus on Quantum-Safe Security

    Microsoft is speeding up its quantum-safe security timeline, saying advances in quantum computing and new federal requirements have pushed post-quantum cryptography from a future planning issue into an immediate engineering priority.

  • Digital Screen with young woman using a virtual reality headset

    Montclair State U Partners with Dreamscape Learn on New VR Facility

    New Jersey's Montclair State University has announced the completion of a new virtual reality learning facility developed in partnership with Dreamscape Learn. The 2,450-square-foot lab space is inside the College of Communication and Media building and will serve students pursuing careers in digital media, virtual reality, and content creation.

  • interconnected nodes with currency symbols

    Gartner: Half of Gen AI Projects Could Exceed Budget by 2028

    Organizations may be underestimating the actual cost of generative AI as they move from experimentation to production, according to Gartner's "10 Best Practices for Optimizing Generative and Agentic AI Costs" report.