The difference between the practicals that a science teacher wants to provide their students, vs what they can provide them in practicality is often a large margin. Consider funding, school size, access to equipment or simply the expertise between teachers and lab technicians, the difference in experience between students in varying situations can be vast. One of the many ways in which these gaps can be closed, is via virtual or remote lab access. This can involve everything from virtual field trips or excursions to digital microscopes, to advanced and expensive machinery that students may not be able to access in any other way.

Remote lab access allows teachers to provide a wider range of practical learning settings, that are so critical to science education and do so in both a responsible and safe manner. It allows for more holistic inclusion of all students, giving those of distance and differing ability closer to equal access and opportunity. These experiences provide means to enrich the learning environment and provide deeper connection to material.

Beyond the benefits in accessibility, remote labs offer the opportunity for the advancement of other digital skills utilised in modern science settings. As they become more popular in research and university settings, becoming familiar and proficient with these services is of increased importance for those pursuing science in alter years.

Below, you will find resources that detail some of the available options in this space, that can serve as background to how and why they are used so that you can make informed decisions about when they can be involved in your classrooms.