In-person versus virtual activities: Assessing the usefulness and impact of simulated experiments, a case study

Abstract In recent years, interactive computer simulations and virtual laboratories have proven to be the best alternative to conventional physics laboratories. Online physics simulations have significant educational advantages and are powerful tools that enable students to easily handle and interpret experimental data. The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted, more than ever, the advantages of having some forms of virtual alternatives to certain everyday activities like work and commerce. However, not everything is well suited to being adapted into digital form, so devising methods that can adequately substitute the original can often become a challenge. In Romania education was one key activity that was not interrupted. However, the entire academic process was relocated online, and this created a sudden need for solutions, most notably in areas that relied heavily on hands-on experience. For students of technical universities, traditional laboratory work had to be replaced with something else. In the case of physics classes, the way to go was to move all activities into a virtual laboratory. The simulated experiments have been a great solution for this specific period. The computer simulations can be accessed in the Virtual Physics Laboratory on the webpage http://server.ce.tuiasi.ro/~radinschi/simulation/default.html . At the end of the semester, the feedback received from the students was used to assess the success of the initiative and to establish if it should be used in the future as part of the regular educational process.