Muscat: The Ministry of Education has launched the central training programme for the 'Virtual Labs Project', implemented by the Directorate General of Curriculum Development in cooperation with the project’s executing company. The initiative marks the official rollout of the project in the educational field and reinforces the Ministry’s digital transformation efforts in education.
The Virtual Labs Project simulates practical experiments for students from Grade 2 to Grade 12 across all science subjects through an interactive digital environment. It enables students to conduct experiments flexibly and conveniently inside or outside school using smartphone and tablet applications or computers, in addition to access through the Epic Games Store via Microsoft Launcher.
The training programme targets specialists in science laboratories and information and communication technology from educational directorates and the Ministry. It aims to prepare decentralised teams in the educational directorates to transfer the impact of training to end users in schools — teachers and students.
Dr Afaf bint Ali al Lawati, Director of the Department of Applied Science Curriculum Development, affirmed that the project contributes to improving the quality of education and learning outcomes. She noted that the clarity of experimental results helps students reach conclusions faster and more accurately while also developing their technical skills.
She said, “Virtual labs allow students to conduct experiments anytime and anywhere, giving them the opportunity to engage with experiments that are difficult to implement in school laboratories, while emphasising that they support and complement — not replace — real laboratories.”
Badr bin Hamoud al Hasani, Assistant Director of the Department of Applied Science Curriculum Development and Director of the Virtual Science Labs Project, explained that the project is one of the Ministry’s key digital transformation initiatives. It provides virtual simulations of practical experiments aligned with the Omani science curriculum through 17 interactive applications covering Grades 2 to 12 in general science, physics, chemistry and biology.
He said, "The implementation of this training programme represents the official launch of the project in schools. It targets 70 specialists from educational directorates and the Ministry in science laboratories and ICT, with the aim of forming teams that will transfer knowledge and training to the educational field.”
Hanan bint Salim al Maawali, a member of the Virtual Labs technical team and Science Lab Technician at Baraka bint Tha’labah School, stated that the team has been working since the early stages of the project in cooperation with the implementing company to prepare and upload experiments and related files in line with the Omani science curriculum, covering Grades 1 to 8.
She said, “We developed the virtual experiments to match the Omani curriculum so students can view any prescribed experiment virtually. Virtual labs do not replace real laboratories but enhance them, especially in experiments that are difficult to conduct, potentially hazardous, or limited by shortages in laboratory tools or chemicals.”She explained that virtual labs have enabled students to perform experiments and participate in analysing results and drawing conclusions more easily, while saving time and effort for both teachers and students.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
