Drive STEM Engagement | Labster Science Simulations

Administrators often believe that a big percentage of STEM students will wash out before completing their programs.

Faculty see disengaged students in the back row and are often resigned to the belief that most of their students just don’t love their field of study as much as they do. But the truth is more nuanced and more hopeful — STEM students can be motivated to stay enrolled and on track with the right interventions. Read on to discover how virtual labs are helping to solve the challenge of student engagement in STEM education.

Student Engagement Is Make or Break for STEM Education

Disengagement has serious financial repercussions for students and institutions alike (1). Disengaged students are at a greater risk of getting lower grades, failing, withdrawing from courses, and dropping out of college. In contrast, engaged students are motivated to show up to class, pay attention, and actively participate. They learn faster and retain knowledge longer (2).

Getting learners engaged early in their college careers makes a big difference — it catalyzes student retention and academic performance. Students who get engaged in their first and second-year courses are more likely to have better grades and to complete their program (3).

What We Know About Effective Strategies for Enhancing Student Engagement

How do we motivate students? It’s natural for faculty to doubt their students are willing to put in the effort to succeed. But learning as a means to an end, like getting a good job, can be just as motivational as satisfying curiosity. In fact, students who take a challenging course like chemistry as a general education requirement can come to enjoy the learning process as they acquire knowledge and develop competence (4; 5).

A big part of boosting student engagement and motivation in STEM is using active learning strategies. These strategies make the learning experience stimulating and relevant enough to evoke positive emotions and arouse interest while students actively participate in a cycle of inquiry, productive practice, and targeted feedback.

Motivate Students in Science Class

Virtual labs make it easier for instructors to adopt active learning without adding extra work to a teacher’s plate or taking away instructional time. Studies show that STEM students are more engaged and more successful with active learning (6) than with slides, videos, and textbooks. Labster creates a more stimulating, 3D learning experience that increases interest and heightens focus (2).

Boost Student Engagement

Virtual labs provide context, practice, and feedback. They prompt students to make moment-by-moment choices within the framework of relatable stories. The context for each virtual lab explains “why” a scientific theory or technique is important and involves the student in “how” it can be applied.

Practicing tasks and answering quiz questions with Labster prompts students to retrieve information from memory and apply their new skills. They develop competence with multiple opportunities to re-attempt solutions. Their scores are graded automatically, providing students with instant feedback and saving time for instructors.