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An approach to Virtual Laboratory Design and Testing

Published: 20 February 2013
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Abstract

Laboratory experiments and research are important parts in natural science education. They supplement the theoretical learning material and contribute to deeper learn of a subject. The realization of such activities requires an ap-propriate laboratory equipment and reagents that are often either inaccessible or incomplete. Virtual labs solve this prob-lem and provide the performing of the same experiment repeatedly without any restriction. An interactive laboratory envi-ronment engages pupils in active learning to enhance their understanding of processes and practical skills and promotes a successful e-learning strategy. Virtual Lab includes a lot of embedded experiments that the student must perform via cer-tain scenarios. In the paper an approach to design of laboratory experiments for virtual lab environment and their scenarios implementation testing is suggested. Experiments design patterns are based on finite-state automaton model. The object-oriented approach for virtual experiment implementation is provided. For testing pattern a methodology of class testing is used. The suggested approaches are realized in the presented virtual laboratory environments for Chemistry and Biology that have been developed to support laboratory study in Armenian schools, colleges, and universities. These methods will be used in long-term research activity in the field of creation of virtual laboratories on different disciplines: organic and inorganic chemistry, physics, and biology as well as during developing others virtual laboratories.

Published in American Journal of Software Engineering and Applications (Volume 2, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajsea.20130201.14
Page(s) 19-23
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2013. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Virtual Experiment, Virtual Laboratory, Experiment Modeling, Implementation and Testing, Class Algebraic Definition, Class Testing, Test Case

References
[1] D.Carnevale, The Virtual Lab Experiment.Chronicle of Higher Ed, January 31, 2003, p.A30.
[2] J. Robinson, Virtual Laboratories as a teaching environment: A tangible solution or a passing novelty?,// Proceedings of the 3rd Annual CM316 Conference on Multimedia Systems, based at Southampton University, http:/mns.ecs. soton.ac. uk/ papers/5.pdf.
[3] Y.J.Dori, M. Barak, Virtual and Physical Molecular Modeling: Fostering Model Perception and Spatial Understanding. Educational Technology and Society, 4(1), 2001, pp. 61-74.
[4] M.Morozov, A.Tanakov, A.Gerasimov. Virtual Chemistry Laboratory for School Education. // Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference ICALT2004, 30 August-1, Sep-tember, 2004, Joensuu, Finland.
[5] B.A. Trachtetbrot, J.M.Barzdin. Finite automata. Behavior and synthesis. (in Russian). - М.: Nauka, 1970, p.400.
[6] H. Y. Chen, T.H. Tse, H. Y. Chen. TACCLE: a methodology for object-oriented software Testing At the Class and Cluster LEvels. // ACM Transactions on Software Engineering and Methodology, 10, 2001, pp.56-107.
[7] S.G. Sargsyan, A.S. Hovakimyan, S.V. Barkhudaryan, Using Template Processing Technique in the Pervasive e-Learning Supporting Systems.//Proceedings of the International Con-ference: Information Technologies in Education in the 21st Century, May 21-23, 2007, Yerevan, Armenia, pp.24-34.
[8] S.G. Sargsyan, A.S. Hovakimyan, K.S. Darbinyan, N. Ispi-ryan, Modeling and Implementation of Virtual Chemistry Laboratory. // Proceedings of the International Conference: Computer Sciene and Information Technologies (CSIT2005), Yerevan, Armenia, 2005.
[9] S.G. Sargsyan, A.S. Hovakimyan, K.S. Darbinyan, N. Ispi-ryan, Basic Concepts of Creation of Virtual Chemical La-boratory. Learning Technology Newsletter, Vol. 7, Issue 4, October 2005,Publication of IEEE Computer Society ISSN 1438-0625, pp. 43-45.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    A. Hovakimyan, S. Sargsyan, N. Ispiryan, L. Khachoyan, K. Darbinyan. (2013). An approach to Virtual Laboratory Design and Testing. American Journal of Software Engineering and Applications, 2(1), 19-23. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajsea.20130201.14

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    ACS Style

    A. Hovakimyan; S. Sargsyan; N. Ispiryan; L. Khachoyan; K. Darbinyan. An approach to Virtual Laboratory Design and Testing. Am. J. Softw. Eng. Appl. 2013, 2(1), 19-23. doi: 10.11648/j.ajsea.20130201.14

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    AMA Style

    A. Hovakimyan, S. Sargsyan, N. Ispiryan, L. Khachoyan, K. Darbinyan. An approach to Virtual Laboratory Design and Testing. Am J Softw Eng Appl. 2013;2(1):19-23. doi: 10.11648/j.ajsea.20130201.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajsea.20130201.14,
      author = {A. Hovakimyan and S. Sargsyan and N. Ispiryan and L. Khachoyan and K. Darbinyan},
      title = {An approach to Virtual Laboratory Design and Testing},
      journal = {American Journal of Software Engineering and Applications},
      volume = {2},
      number = {1},
      pages = {19-23},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajsea.20130201.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajsea.20130201.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajsea.20130201.14},
      abstract = {Laboratory experiments and research are important parts in natural science education. They supplement the theoretical learning material and contribute to deeper learn of a subject. The realization of such activities requires an ap-propriate laboratory equipment and reagents that are often either inaccessible or incomplete. Virtual labs solve this prob-lem and provide the performing of the same experiment repeatedly without any restriction. An interactive laboratory envi-ronment engages pupils in active learning to enhance their understanding of processes and practical skills and promotes a successful e-learning strategy. Virtual Lab includes a lot of embedded experiments that the student must perform via cer-tain scenarios. In the paper an approach to design of laboratory experiments for virtual lab environment and their scenarios implementation testing is suggested. Experiments design patterns are based on finite-state automaton model. The object-oriented approach for virtual experiment implementation is provided. For testing pattern a methodology of class testing is used. The suggested approaches are realized in the presented virtual laboratory environments for Chemistry and Biology that have been developed to support laboratory study in Armenian schools, colleges, and universities. These methods will be used in long-term research activity in the field of creation of virtual laboratories on different disciplines: organic and inorganic chemistry, physics, and biology as well as during developing others virtual laboratories.},
     year = {2013}
    }
    

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    T1  - An approach to Virtual Laboratory Design and Testing
    AU  - A. Hovakimyan
    AU  - S. Sargsyan
    AU  - N. Ispiryan
    AU  - L. Khachoyan
    AU  - K. Darbinyan
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajsea.20130201.14
    T2  - American Journal of Software Engineering and Applications
    JF  - American Journal of Software Engineering and Applications
    JO  - American Journal of Software Engineering and Applications
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    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajsea.20130201.14
    AB  - Laboratory experiments and research are important parts in natural science education. They supplement the theoretical learning material and contribute to deeper learn of a subject. The realization of such activities requires an ap-propriate laboratory equipment and reagents that are often either inaccessible or incomplete. Virtual labs solve this prob-lem and provide the performing of the same experiment repeatedly without any restriction. An interactive laboratory envi-ronment engages pupils in active learning to enhance their understanding of processes and practical skills and promotes a successful e-learning strategy. Virtual Lab includes a lot of embedded experiments that the student must perform via cer-tain scenarios. In the paper an approach to design of laboratory experiments for virtual lab environment and their scenarios implementation testing is suggested. Experiments design patterns are based on finite-state automaton model. The object-oriented approach for virtual experiment implementation is provided. For testing pattern a methodology of class testing is used. The suggested approaches are realized in the presented virtual laboratory environments for Chemistry and Biology that have been developed to support laboratory study in Armenian schools, colleges, and universities. These methods will be used in long-term research activity in the field of creation of virtual laboratories on different disciplines: organic and inorganic chemistry, physics, and biology as well as during developing others virtual laboratories.
    VL  - 2
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    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Programming and Information Technologies,Yerevan State University (YSU), Yerevan, Armenia

  • Department of Programming and Information Technologies,Yerevan State University (YSU), Yerevan, Armenia

  • Department of Programming and Information Technologies,Yerevan State University (YSU), Yerevan, Armenia

  • Department of Programming and Information Technologies,Yerevan State University (YSU), Yerevan, Armenia

  • Department of Programming and Information Technologies,Yerevan State University (YSU), Yerevan, Armenia

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