The key idea of this script is to enable the students to explore the chemical laboratory methodology in a virtual environment thereby enabling them to simulate the lab work, practice in a real way and finally, to reflect about the process.

Active Document

Tomcat, Java

iPAQ and Zaurus, PDA’s (insite in the lab)

Three phases are considered necessary for this process, as can be seen in figure 1. For each phase, a computer-supported environment offers a structured scenario with functionality for carrying out individual and collaborative activities.

Figure 1

• PreLab: PRELAB students working at home carry out problem solving tasks to develop an understanding of the subject matter.

• Lab: In the LAB, students work in a real laboratory and focus on the manipulation of chemical tools and chemical processes; the system supports data collecting as well as some collaborative modelling in this phase. Students carry out experiments in the lab in pairs. They annotate the results In PDA’s

• PostLab: POSTLAB, students use the system from home in a collaborative fashion to reflect upon and discuss in depth the theoretical background and the  experimental work carried about in the lab.