Development of a Virtual Lab Module for Teaching Organic Chemistry in Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu

Limited resources and abstract concepts often hinder practical chemistry learning, particularly in organic chemistry (Rayan & Rayan, 2017; Muazu & Jimoh, 2024). This paper reports on a quasi-experimental study assessing the impact of a virtual laboratory intervention on the understanding of organic chemistry. Using a quasi-experimental pre-test/posttest design, 30 NCE II and III Chemistry students at Abia State College of Education (Technical) Arochukwu participated in lab sessions based on a developed experimental manual. They were grouped into a Virtual Laboratory Group and a Conventional/Experimental Laboratory Group. Data were analyzed with paired t-tests and effect size calculations. The Virtual Laboratory module incorporated molecular modelling, virtual experimentation and three-dimensional visualization using Avogadro, ChemCollective Virtual Lab and MolView. The intervention covered esterification, simple distillation and qualitative organic analysis. The conventional group performed corresponding laboratory activities using physical apparatus and reagents following the same learning objectives. The instructional materials were developed from standard Organic Chemistry content and reviewed for alignment with intended learning outcomes. A 30-item Organic Chemistry Achievement Test and a 32-item student attitude and engagement questionnaire was used as evaluation instruments. The achievement test recorded a reported reliability coefficient of 0.87, while the attitude and engagement questionnaire recorded 0.79 during pilot testing. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including mean, standard deviation, gain scores and independent/paired comparisons as appropriate. This study provides a framework for integrating virtual laboratory experiences with conventional practical instruction in chemistry teacher education, particularly where access to laboratory resources is limited