MiLab
Education, as we know it, has been disrupted with the advent of COVID-19. Whether teaching institutions resort to distance learning, hybrid learning or opt for a complete closure, the ideal situation is to keep learners learning. Teaching and learning constraints imposed by COVID-19 exacerbate the problem of inadequate resources and access to labs. The MiLab project addresses effects of non-face to face learning and shortage of learning resources in science subjects at secondary school level. MiLab is a gamified scientific laboratory simulator mobile application that support interactive yet independent learning. It has a range of offline and customisable MSCE-level chemistry and physics experiments, in 3D and 2D accessed by low-end devices. Since MiLab can be used in communities that cannot afford science laboratory equipment, the idea can be replicated to serve marginalised science students especially in rural areas of Africa and beyond.
According to JICA’s preparatory survey report on the project for reconstruction and expansion of selected CDSSs in the republic of Malawi,
over 59% of Malawian students do not have access to traditional scientific laboratories.
The few existing secondary school laboratories are mostly under-equipped and overcrowded as they are shared amongst hundreds of students (sometimes from neighboring schools as well). Students do not necessarily have access to traditional laboratories at all times. This is a problem because most students do not adequately prepare for their national exam science practical’s. Malawi, for instance, in 2020 MSCE examinations, experienced the worst pass rate of 43 per cent. Among the causes of this is closure of schools during the lock down. According to the report by the Malawi National Examination Board, the performance of students in Physics and Chemistry subjects deteriorated due to inaccessibility of laboratories for experiments. In absence of practical learning, many students have trouble understanding content in the physics and chemistry syllabus. Even schools that have laboratories often run out materials and consumables which take take to acquire as most of the schools underfunded. Ultimately, passing in these subjects in examinations at national is far fetched for most students.
MiLab is an interactive, gamified scientific laboratory simulator application. The app enables secondary school students to virtually conduct a range of offline MSCE chemistry and physics experiments, in 3D and 2D, on their smartphones and other low-end devices.
The goal of MiLab is to engage students in free, safe, comprehensive and unlimited scientific experimentation, in a way that boosts their confidence in science and improves their performance in traditional assessments and national examinations. The lab experiments are directly tied to MSCE syllabus learning objectives, making it easier for the student to study and practice physics and chemistry.
The App gamifies lab experiments in realistic 3D lab environments that the student player can navigate and explore. Each experiment has predefined learning objectives, methodology and (authentic) results that the students observe and analyse. The player manipulates
virtual apparatus and reagents in the simulation, in a process of interactive virtual experimentation. The game assesses the students on each experiment through time trial, ability to properly follow instructions and rules, analysis of experiment results, and review questions.
The app can be installed on smartphones and tablets that can be used communally by all students at secondary schools and in their respective homes.
The solution serves secondary school students taking science subjects. Most Secondary schools in rural areas of Malawi do not have science laboratories and consequently, most students in these areas do not take science subjects and those that do, perform poorly in national examination. Furthermore, most schools are underfunded to replenish chemical reagents once the chemicals run out. Having an affordable tool to for ubiquitous learning and practising will help Malawian Secondary School students from rural areas to become competitive in national exams. Our solution provides an alternative in cases where there are no traditional labs. This means that even students that have access to traditional labs can use MiLab for revision and practice purposes.
Throughout the development of MiLab secondary school teachers and students have played a great role. These are stakeholders that provided requirements for the project and are also involved in testing and prototyping of the solution. For every version of the software, we receive feedback from teachers and students involved in this project. MiLab ensures the engagement of learners in remote, hybrid, and physical environments, including strategies and tools for parental support, peer interaction, and guided independent work.
- Enable access to quality learning experiences in low-connectivity settings—including imaginative play, collaborative projects, and hands-on experiments.
The advantage of MiLab to students is two-fold and intertwined: (i) can be used for independent learning when face-to face learning is not possible, and (ii) provides quality, affordable and safe learning resources that wouldn’t otherwise be available to learners in rural parts of Malawi. The two factors underpin the goal of the challenge to provide learners with access to quality, safe, and equitable learning environment in the following dime.
Increase the engagement of learners in remote, hybrid, and physical environments, including strategies and tools for parental support, peer interaction, and guided independent work.
Enable access to quality learning experiences in low-connectivity settings—including imaginative play, collaborative projects, and hands-on experiments.
- Prototype: A venture or organization building and testing its product, service, or business model.
MSCE Chemistry, physics and biology subjects have over 50 lab experiments. Currently we have simulated 4 experiments.
