Case Study: Western University improves lab preparation and student engagement with Labster virtual labs

Western University - Customer Case Study

Western University, led by Prof. Tom Haffie, needed a scalable way to help more than 2,000 Intro Bio students connect lectures, dry labs, and wet labs. The university wanted a better alternative to a traditional lab manual that would prepare students more effectively for practical sessions while fitting into its blended learning format.

Labster provided virtual lab simulations that served as a “digital bridge” between dry and wet labs, giving students just-in-time instruction, real-world context, and a safe place to fail before entering the lab. The result was stronger preparation and engagement: roughly three quarters of the 2,000 students surveyed found Labster useful, and the approach helped make the course more collaborative and scalable while ensuring students arrived at wet labs ready to work.

Western University

Tom Haffie

Professor