title: Evaluation of an adaptive virtual laboratory environment using Western Blotting for diagnosis of disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Providing large numbers of undergraduate students in scientific disciplines with engaging, authentic laboratory experiences is important, but challenging. Virtual laboratories (vLABs) are a potential means to enable interactive learning experiences. A vLAB focusing on Western Blotting was developed and implemented in a 3rd year undergraduate Pathology course for science students to facilitate learning of technical molecular laboratory skills that are linked to development of diagnostic skills. Such skills are important for undergraduates in building a conceptual understanding of translation of laboratory techniques to changes in human biology due to disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Western Blotting vLAB was developed and deployed using the Adaptive eLearning Platform (AeLP) developed by Smart Sparrow (https://www.smartsparrow.com/). The vLAB was evaluated to assess students' perceptions of their laboratory skills relevant to the diagnosis of Muscular Dystrophy. A blended learning rotation model was applied in which wet laboratory and vLAB environments for Western Blotting were both delivered to three consecutive cohorts of 3rd year science undergraduates undertaking a Muscle Diseases practical class. Evaluation questionnaires were administered at the completion of the practical classes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Students indicated in online questionnaires that the Western Blotting vLAB was at least equivalent to the real lab in their perceived development of concepts, laboratory skills and diagnosis of disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  vLABs have great potential for improving students' development of diagnostic skills. Further studies are required to determine the impact of vLABs on student learning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Medicine, UNSW Australia, Kensington, NSW 2052 Sydney, Australia. patsie.polly@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Patsie
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Polly
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.forename: Danni
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maguire
authors.forename: Zack
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Belinson
authors.forename: Gary M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Velan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002983:Clinical Competence; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009136:Muscular Dystrophies / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D057089:Pathology, Molecular / Q000193:education*; D012985:Software Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D055815:Young Adult