The effectiveness of using virtual laboratory workshops in online education of students studying the discipline "inorganic chemistry"

Distance learning has already become a part of the educational process. In this regard, questions appear concerning its organization and the solution of specific problems. They include laboratory workshops, which is an integral part of the educational process in higher education since laboratory works allow students to gain knowledge and acquire skills, which is a prerequisite for the formation of their specialist competence. The problems of obtaining educational information during distance learning can be quite successfully solved. However, the acquisition of experimental skills remains an educational, scientific, and methodological problem that requires a solution. The article defines the peculiarities of using virtual laboratory workshops in the online education of students studying the discipline "Inorganic Chemistry". The theoretic analysis of the main statements of the research problem was presented in the article. The results of the experimental study have proved that the use of computer modeling and the tools of a virtual laboratory when studying chemistry disciplines increases the educational achievements of the students, regardless of the initial level of knowledge. A prerequisite for the effective acquisition of skills by students is the systematic use of virtual laboratory tools. With the occasional use of virtual laboratory instruments, the skills obtained during the experiment were not learned or were not learned for a long time. The use of virtual laboratories provides independent training for students, increases motivation to master new material. Students focus on the experimental process, not on equipment and tools, as it happens in a real laboratory, which can become both a positive and a negative aspect of acquiring practical skills of future engineers, doctors, and pharmacists. © 2020 Tche Quimica Group. All rights reserved.