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Assessing Student Socio-Cognitive Outcomes from Virtual Experiment Simulators in Polymer Science Education

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Title: Assessing Student Socio-Cognitive Outcomes from Virtual Experiment Simulators in Polymer Science Education
Language: English
Authors: Yu Wang (ORCID 0000-0002-6066-2634), Christine Fry Wise, Tom McKlin, Manyu Li (ORCID 0000-0002-8324-5868)
Source: Journal of Chemical Education. 2026 103(2):920-929.
Availability: Division of Chemical Education, Inc. and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 10
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Contract Number: 2142043
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Computer Simulation, Science Experiments, Plastics, Undergraduate Students, College Science, Science Instruction, Self Efficacy, Sense of Belonging, Self Management, Vocational Interests, Instructional Effectiveness
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.5c01385
ISSN: 0021-9584
1938-1328
Abstract: This study tested students' socio-cognitive outcomes in using the Open Virtual Experiment Simulator Education Tool (OVESET), a series of virtual experiment simulators designed for undergraduate polymer science education. The educational tool, covering core polymer science concepts (e.g., molecular weight distribution and polymerization kinetics), was implemented across two consecutive years in an upper-level undergraduate macromolecules course. Guided by Self-Determination Theory (SDT), this pretest--post-test study measured changes in students' self-regulation, self-efficacy, sense of belonging, and intention to pursue a career in polymer science after using the virtual modules. In the first year, two modules were used across 3 weeks with 16 participating students; in the second year, seven modules were used over 12 weeks with 20 students. Results showed that OVESET modules significantly enhanced students' self-efficacy in polymer science, with medium effect sizes, while changes in self-regulation, belonging, and intention to pursue a career in polymer science were not significant. This study highlights the implementation and evaluation of virtual laboratory tools in polymer science education and underscores the importance of considering student perceptions and engagement.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1499573
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Assessing Student Socio-Cognitive Outcomes from Virtual Experiment Simulators in Polymer Science Education
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yu+Wang%22">Yu Wang</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6066-2634">0000-0002-6066-2634</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Christine+Fry+Wise%22">Christine Fry Wise</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tom+McKlin%22">Tom McKlin</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Manyu+Li%22">Manyu Li</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8324-5868">0000-0002-8324-5868</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Chemical+Education%22"><i>Journal of Chemical Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 103(2):920-929.
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  Data: Division of Chemical Education, Inc. and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 10
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: National Science Foundation (NSF)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Simulation%22">Computer Simulation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Science+Experiments%22">Science Experiments</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Plastics%22">Plastics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undergraduate+Students%22">Undergraduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Science%22">College Science</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Science+Instruction%22">Science Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Efficacy%22">Self Efficacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sense+of+Belonging%22">Sense of Belonging</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Management%22">Self Management</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Vocational+Interests%22">Vocational Interests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Instructional+Effectiveness%22">Instructional Effectiveness</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.5c01385
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  Data: 0021-9584<br />1938-1328
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: This study tested students' socio-cognitive outcomes in using the Open Virtual Experiment Simulator Education Tool (OVESET), a series of virtual experiment simulators designed for undergraduate polymer science education. The educational tool, covering core polymer science concepts (e.g., molecular weight distribution and polymerization kinetics), was implemented across two consecutive years in an upper-level undergraduate macromolecules course. Guided by Self-Determination Theory (SDT), this pretest--post-test study measured changes in students' self-regulation, self-efficacy, sense of belonging, and intention to pursue a career in polymer science after using the virtual modules. In the first year, two modules were used across 3 weeks with 16 participating students; in the second year, seven modules were used over 12 weeks with 20 students. Results showed that OVESET modules significantly enhanced students' self-efficacy in polymer science, with medium effect sizes, while changes in self-regulation, belonging, and intention to pursue a career in polymer science were not significant. This study highlights the implementation and evaluation of virtual laboratory tools in polymer science education and underscores the importance of considering student perceptions and engagement.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1499573
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        Value: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.5c01385
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 10
        StartPage: 920
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      – SubjectFull: Computer Simulation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Science Experiments
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Plastics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Undergraduate Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Science
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      – SubjectFull: Science Instruction
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      – SubjectFull: Self Efficacy
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      – SubjectFull: Sense of Belonging
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      – SubjectFull: Self Management
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      – SubjectFull: Vocational Interests
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      – SubjectFull: Instructional Effectiveness
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      – TitleFull: Assessing Student Socio-Cognitive Outcomes from Virtual Experiment Simulators in Polymer Science Education
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            NameFull: Christine Fry Wise
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            NameFull: Tom McKlin
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            NameFull: Manyu Li
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