Effectiveness and Appeal of a Virtual Laboratories

This study investigates the integration of a smartphone-based virtual laboratory into a fourth-semester undergraduate fluid mechanics class on pump–piping systems. The virtual laboratory is designed according to constructive alignment and the SOLO taxonomy to foster deep learning. Students interact with realistic 3D system models, adjust component parameters, and receive real-time feedback based on physical simulations. To identify the effectiveness, a pre- and post-test with 26 paired responses showed a small overall improvement in general knowledge, with medium-to-large gains in specific methodological knowledge and selfassessed competence in handling real fluid systems. Student feedback was collected to assess the appeal of the teaching method. Students rate it highly positive (mean rating = 4.42/5), highlighting increased motivation, engagement, and active participation compared to conventional teaching. Future work will expand the app with additional levels targeting diverse learning objectives in fluid mechanics.