CSI Library: Open Educational Resources (OER): Virtual labs &amp; simulations

About this page

Virtual labs and simulations are tools that offer a space for students to engage with their subject matter interactively. This page is a collection of labs and simulations that faculty can use in the remote learning context. While most are science related, there are resources for non-science disciplines.

Please note that not all resources listed are strictly OER—some may be free but not open.

Other notes:

Hub indicates that the resource is a collection of materials from different sources.
Much of this content was pulled from this excellent resource: Simulations and virtual labs guide.

Check out our other resources here:

Multidisciplinary resources

Name	Description	Disciplines offered
Concord Consortium	Interactive STEM activities	Physics, chemistry, life science, earth & space, mathematics
EduMedia	Interactive resources for learning science	Life science, earth science, environmental science and ecology, physics, astronomy, chemistry, technology (engineering), mathematical tools for physics
LabXchange	A free online platform for science education from Harvard University	Physics, chemistry, biology
Merlot (hub)	Curated database of OER from multiple sources that includes virtual simulations	Physics, chemistry, biology, agriculture, computer science, engineering, astronomy, math and statistics
Molecular Workbench	Standalone program for visual, interactive simulations for teaching and learning science	Physics, chemistry, biology, biotechnology
PBS NOVA	To access the interactive labs, navigate to a topic page and in the "filter by" box, select "explore." If visiting multiple topics, page needs to be refreshed for filter to work correctly.	Physics, physiology, space, physics, biology, engineering, earth science.
PhET	Math and science simulations from the University of Colorado, Boulder	Physics, chemistry, math, earth science, biology

Jump to discipline

Engineering & environmental science

Mathematics & statistics

Philosophy

Physics

Political Science

Psychology

Astronomy

astro-simulations
Astronomy simulations and animations by the Columbia Center For New Media Teaching And Learning
GEAS project astronomy laboratory exercises
The General Education Astronomy Source (GEAS) project is an astronomy education program based at New Mexico State University
SkyServer Projects
Run by the Astrophysical Research Consortium, SkyServer Projects has activities using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Categories include basic, advanced, and research challenges.

Chemistry

Chemistry Modules
Interactive learning modules by CK-12
ChemReaX
Chemical reaction modeling and simulation webapp from ScienceBySimulation.
Virtual Chemistry Experiments
Collection of interactive web-based chemistry tutorials.
Mixed Reception
Solve a mysterious death by gathering clues, interviewing suspects, and analyzing evidence.
The Virtual Lab
Online simulation of a chemistry lab designed to help students link chemical computations with authentic laboratory chemistry. By the ChemCollective.
Titration screen experiment
This resource allows students to run their own titration experiment. Includes teacher notes.
Chemistry Tutorial
Materials include simulated experiments and self-tests.
ChemSims
Builds on PhET simulations with instructional materials
Nanome
VP platform to interact, experiment and design in 3-dimensional virtual space (free subscription tier)
Chemix
Draw lab diagrams
CheMagic
Virtual model kit.

Engineering and environmental science

General

Climate

Geology

Data Nuggets
Data Nuggets are free classroom activities, co-designed by scientists and teachers, designed to bring contemporary research and authentic data into the classroom.
Open Simulation Interface (program)
The Open Simulation Interface (OSI) is a generic interface for the environmental perception of automated driving functions in virtual scenarios.
SimSE
A software engineering simulation environment that is fully graphical and interactive.
Verilator
Converts all synthesizable and many behavioral Verilog and SystemVerilog designs into a C++ or SystemC model that after compiling can be executed. Verilator is not a traditional simulator, but a compiler.
Flowsquare
Two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software for unsteady, non-reactive/reactive flows.
GNU Radio
Software development toolkit that provides signal processing blocks to implement software radios.
SciLab
Free and open source software for numerical computation providing a powerful computing environment for engineering and scientific applications.
LogicSim
Design and simulate digital logic circuits with logic gates like AND, OR, FlipFlop, etc.
Virtual Labs
Models physical phenomena and carries out simulations.
Reactor Lab
Interactive chemical reactor simulations for chemical reaction engineering students.

Climate

Energy3D
Simulation-based engineering tool for designing green buildings and power stations that harness renewable energy to achieve sustainable development.
ClimateSim
Climate-change simulation app from ScienceBySimulation. Allows users to model scenarios of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the current century and simulates the first-order response of the earth system.
The Habitable Planet
Video course for high school teachers and college-level instruction that includes interactive labs.
HTML5 Simulations
Experiment with climate change.
American Museum of Natural History teaching modules
Open access teaching modules include practical exercises in biodiversity conservation that apply fundamental concepts and develop critical skills (some modules are available in multiple languages)

Geology

Geology Labs On-Line
Exercises with virtual earthquake. dating, and river.
Jules Verne Voyager
Interactive map to explore geological features.
Physical Geology 101
Lab materials that include interactive exercises.
Virtual Microscope
Has full range of rock types native to Earth and beyond.
Teaching Resources in Structural Geology
Resources from School of Earth Sciences of the University of Leeds that includes virtual field trips and virtual mapping.
Virtual Field Trip Guides
University of Texas collection of virtual field trips, organized by region.

Business and Finance

AnyLogic
General-purpose multimethod simulation modeling software. (Standalone software)

Political science

People Power
Game about politics, strategy, and social change.
Gerrymander- A Voting District Game
Game to educate, engage, and empower citizens around the issue of political redistricting and gerrymandering.
Model Diplomacy
Free National Security Council (NSC) and UN Security Council (UNSC) simulations that present both historical and hypothetical scenarios based on real issues.

Biology

General biology

Anatomy and physiology

Molecular biology and genetics

BioMan Biology
Learning games, review games, virtual labs and quizzes to learn about cells, ecology, genetics, physiology, and more!
Quant Bio Online (hub)
Modules created by CUBES partners designed to teach quantitative skills in a variety of biological contexts and will work well in an online setting with minimal adaptation.
HHMI BioInteractive
Data-rich activities, case studies, high-quality videos, and interactive media designed to connect students to big ideas in biology, promote engagement with science practices, and instill awe and wonder about the living world.
Biology Simulations
Simulations to help students to learn about biology and practice data analysis skills through experimentation.

Anatomy and physiology

eSkeletons
Interactive environment in which to examine and learn about skeletal anatomy through osteology database at University of Texas at Austin.

Biotechnology

Foundational concepts and techniques in Biotechnology
LabXchange cluster includes simulations, assignments, video, and more!
Bacterial Identification Virtual Lab
This interactive, modular lab explores the techniques used to identify different types of bacteria based on their DNA sequences.

Epidemiology

ActivEpi Web
Electronic textbook for teaching epidemiology that includes interactive quizzes, exercises, and video.
Solve the Outbreak
CDC simulation of a virus outbreak (also available for mobile on iOS and Android)

Virtual dissection

Virtual Fetal Pig Dissection
Whitman College virtual dissection to explore introductory mammalian anatomy and physiology.
The Whole Frog Project
Explore the anatomy of a frog by using data from high resolution MRI imaging and from mechanical sectioning, together with 3D surface and volume rendering software to visualize the anatomical structures of the intact animal.
The Science Bank: Alternatives to Animal Use in Education (hub)
This is a portal to online dissection resources. Contains links to non-free resources.

Virtual microscopes

Molecular Expressions Virtual Microscopy
interactive Java-powered virtual microscopes explore specimen focus, illumination intensity, magnification, and translation, operating essentially in a manner that is identical to real-life microscopes.

Molecular biology and genetics

Evolved: Cases for Education Evolution
Case studies that track the evolution of traits from their origination in DNA mutation, to the production of different proteins, to the fixation of alternate macroscopic phenotypes in reproductively isolated populations.
StarGenetics
Mendelian genetics cross simulator developed at MIT. Simulates mating experiments between organisms that are genetically different across a range of traits to analyze the nature of the traits in question. Its goal is to teach students about genetic experimental design and genetic concepts.
Gelbox
Simulation tool to help the user understand how changing experimental input parameters can affect the data output from gel electrophoresis.
Case It! Molecular Biology Simulations for Case-Based Learning in Biology
Performs common laboratory procedures on any DNA or protein sequence, and can be downloaded free of charge for educational use. (Requires Windows or MacOS)
Learn.Genetics
Interactive techniques labs, online lessons in genetics, cell biology, evolution, human health, plants, neuroscience, ecology by Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah

Mathematics & statistics

Patterns in Nature
Java Applets that illustrate basic concepts in statistical mechanics and fractals.
The Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR)
Exercises and modules for data analysis.
Interactive Statistics
Statistical calculators, games, and activities.
GeoGebra
Dynamic mathematics software for all levels of education that brings together geometry, algebra, spreadsheets, graphing, statistics and calculus in one easy-to-use package.
Help Your Math
Free online math courses and practice exams.

Psychology

APA Online Psychology Laboratory
Interactive resources for the teaching of psychological science.

Physics

Interactive Physics Modules
Interactive learning modules by CK-12
Physics Simulations
Interactive simulations.
HTML5 Simulations
Experiment with physics principles such as motion and force.

the Physics Classroom
Simulations, concept builders, skill-building exercises, and game-like challenges. Tablet-friendly.
Open Source Physics
Simulations, modeling, and curriculum tools.
The Physics Aviary
Cross-platform, run-anywhere programs to help physics students around the world master the big ideas in physics. Tons of labs.
oPhysics
The oPhysics website is a collection of interactive physics simulations.
Algodoo
Draw and interact with physical systems on your computer. Standalone program.

Philosophy

Castle, Forest, Island, Sea
Choose-your-own-adventure story that explores key questions in philosophy from OpenLearn
Philosophy Games
Thought experiments with analysis.
The Deviant Philosopher
Exercises and activities for applying philosophical concepts.