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Virtual Science Labs - Simulations not as good as the real thing?

The New York Times reports that the College Board has some doubts about the merits of online science labs as part of high school Advanced Placement courses.
“Members of the College Board insist that college-level laboratory science courses not be labeled ‘A.P.’ without a physical lab,” the board said in a letter sent to online schools in April. “Online science courses can only be labeled ‘A.P.’ if the online provider” can ensure “that students have a guided, hands-on (not virtual) laboratory experience.”

But after an outcry by online schools, the board issued an apology in June, acknowledging that “there may be new developments” in online learning that could merit its endorsement.
Although many of the students who participate in the virtual labs score well on the exam, that may not be enough for the schools to continue to designate science courses which use virtual labs as Advanced Placement courses. If that's what they do, students will lose out on the college credit awarded when they complete the AP exams with high scores.
On the 2005 administration of the A.P. biology exam, for instance, 61 percent of students nationwide earned a qualifying score of three or above on the A.P.’s five-point system. Yet 71 percent of students who took A.P. biology online through the Florida Virtual School, and 80 percent of students who took it from the Virtual High School, earned a three or higher on that test.

“The proof is in the pudding,” said Pam Birtolo, chief learning officer at the Florida Virtual School.

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