Student Engagement and Access in STEM Learning: Integrating Virtual Labs in Community Colleges

Community College Students and Faculty Need Flexibility

Community college students demand flexible, innovative teaching strategies that serve their diverse academic needs. During the pandemic, virtual labs proved to be a useful way to engage students with science learning while also building their confidence. 

How can community college science instructors integrate the benefits of online learning resources into their physical lab courses? With a focus on teaching science with virtual labs, the panel shares ideas and best practices for engaging students within hybrid, online, and face-to-face environments.

Watch the discussion about how to make STEM learning more flexible, accessible and engaging with our panelists:

• Terri Quenzer, PhD, California Community Colleges

• Melody Esfandiari, PhD, San Jose State University

• Dennis Gravert, PhD, Los Medanos College

• Peter Gemmellaro, MEd, Labster (moderator)

Highlight: See Dr. Esfandiari’s recent research on teaching with virtual labs in a chemistry course.