The role of e-labs in promoting conceptual understanding of science students (reflection in ICT for IST project resource pack)

The presented study is focused on the evaluation of the efficiency of different types of e-labs, using four dimensional models of educational goals. We try to clearly specify the differences, advantages and disadvantages of all 3 kinds of e-labs (1/computer mediated hands on labs, 2/virtual labs and 3/remote labs), according to educational goals to be reached. The specific attention is devoted to their efficiency in promoting conceptual understanding. Activities and hands-on experience presented in the paper, are closely connected to the teacher training materials developed within the ICT for IST Project by scientific team at Charles University in Prague (CZ).