The Effect of Virtual Laboratories on Improving Students’ SRL: An Umbrella Systematic Review

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

I think that the review has a number of strengths including its thoroughness, usefulness, and clarity.  This is a timely topic that should appeal to readers.

I would encourage the author to add some specific suggestions for future research and to add additional detail in terms of some general educational implications that stem from the review findings.

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 1 Comments

 

Point 1: I would encourage the author to add some specific suggestions for future research and to add additional detail in terms of some general educational implications that stem from the review findings.

 

Response 1:

 

Conclusion: Page 10 Paragraph 2

 

They take appropriate activities, ideas, feelings, and behaviors in pursuit of worthwhile academic goals, self-monitor, and self-reflect on their progress toward learning goal completion.  The research findings support applications in the novel context with various affordances and are concerned with broader implications. Many assessment instruments have been developed in the hands-on lab for students conducting scientific experiments. However, this instrument is to measure students' skills at cognitive, affective, and also psychomotor levels. This reason is the reference for further research, namely the need to develop instruments for scientific experiments that use virtual laboratories. This aims to assess the knowledge and skills acquired by students and further influence their learning outcomes.

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The paper is dedicated to a systematic review that determines students' self-regulated learning on the use of virtual labs. Authors closely analysed 15 papers that fully corresponds the requirements of the study.

The study is seemed to be highly contributing in this field of study, however I would like to notice some parts that can be improved:

1) The research questions in the Introduction section could better show the direction of the study making it more interesting for readers;

2) The main results of the analysis could be better described in the Results section;

3) In Discussion session the comparison with previous reviews on similar topic should be implemented;

4) Practical implementations should be added to the Discussion section as well. 

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 1 Comments

 

Point 1: The research questions in the Introduction section could better show the direction of the study making it more interesting for readers;

 

Response 1:

 

Page 2, Paragraph 2

Therefore, this systematic review study aims to determine the self-regulated learning (SRL) of students on the use of the virtual lab by implementing the approach of PICOS (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Study Design) (see Table 1). Through this literature investigation, the researcher needs to analyze whether the use of Vlab can stimulate the independence and maturity of students in higher education in conducting experiments in every branch of science.

 

Point 2: The main results of the analysis could be better described in the Results section;

 

Response 2:

 

Seven key observations are shared in the following paragraphs, and they are (1) this virtual learning experience yields positive outcomes at various stages of the teaching and learning process; (2) the VLab encouraged students to think creatively; (3) the use of the VLab enhances students' autonomy in learning; (4) VLab aided in teaching conceptual knowledge through visual effects and made it simple to apply the knowledge in various simulation models; (5) VLab can improve learning outcomes; (6) the VLab allows students to develop their leadership abilities; (7) VLab can improve students' research and analytical skills. These observations marked current trends in the creation and deployment of virtual learning environments. At the same time, they predicted changes that will happen shortly concerning these virtual teaching and learning initiatives.

 

Point 3: In Discussion session, the comparison with previous reviews on similar topic should be implemented;

 

Response 3:

 

Page 7 Paragraph 2

Thus, it can be argued that using VLab contributed to developing students' knowledge, skills, attitudes, and habits of mind, all of which they carry with them after completing a learning experience. This is in line with research conducted by [4] at one of the middle schools in Saudi Arabia; it is known that after carrying out the actual experiments in the VSL, it was discovered that 80% of students had a decent comprehension of them. In this context, individualized learning is achieved through group activities, demonstrating the close relationship between cognitive theory and social constructivist theory. Indeed, this teaching and learning initiative also considers the heterogeneity of users and the fact that individual learning experiences are significant in SRL.

 

 

 

 

Page 8 Paragraph 2

 

Fifth, in presenting an active learning experience, VLab can improve learning outcomes through an interactive experience that immerses the users in a digital environment through a sense of presence [18,49,66]. It has been shown in past research that [42] students may study abstract and inaccessible entities with Vlab. Exposure and immersion are critical experiences observed in the successful deployment of virtual learning environments in different educational stages, from preschool levels up to college or university.

 

Page 8 Paragraph 4

 

Finally, using VLab can improve students' research and analytical skills due to the meaningful learning process that takes place within the virtual learning environment [68]. This statement is in line with the study conducted by [13] on pre-service teachers in a virtual biology laboratory. The evaluation conducted by the researchers found that 80% got scores above the average related to cognitive, affective, practical skills, and technology levels. Additionally, the Vlab may serve as a visual aid to teach complex concepts that involve the students thinking critically and analytically.

 

Point 4: Practical implementations should be added to the Discussion section as well. 

 

Response 4:

 

Page 7 Paragraph 3

 

Second, the VLab encouraged students to think creatively because it gives them the resources to create their educational environments rather than having their learning environment entirely controlled by their tutor or isolated [24,33,35]. This is an indirect contrast to the learning-by-rote tradition that puts the teacher at the center of the stage. The 3D collaborative Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) supports realistic and immersive experiences which stimulate self-regulated learning and requires the students to explore the learning by themselves and collaborate with their peers.

 

Page 8 Paragraph 3

 

Students learn to manage their project and their members, which will improve their leadership and organization skills. The leaders of an SRCL ensure that the organization's success in achieving both individual and communal benefits is enhanced while also enhancing the organization's egalitarian nature. In addition, representing a significant pedagogical shift from the ground-up of instructional approach, it strongly emphasizes student-led learning. In addition, students demonstrate a positive attitude and a willingness to experiment with new technologies in the VLab, which is reassuring, at the very least.

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf