Frequently Asked Questions:

What is Online Labs?
How does the Online Lab work?
How do I register to the Online Labs?
How much does it cost?
What syllabus do the Online Labs cover?
What subjects are covered?
How often should I use Online Labs?
How to start learning?
Do I need Internet access to use Online Labs?
How does this learning program complement my schooling?
Who are the people behind Online Labs?
How do I contact the Online Labs team?
How do we differ from other educational tools?
What are the System Requirements for running Online Labs simulations?
Can Online Labs simulations be used on my tablet/iPad/Android devices?
How do I restrict students from accessing websites other than Online Labs in the computer lab?
What are the benefits of using Online Labs instead of Traditional Lab?
How do I register all my students to online labs?
What if I forget my password?
Can the Online labs simulations be translated to other languages? 

What is Online Labs?
The Online Labs hosts experiments in Physical and Chemical sciences for the students of classes 9 and 10 with content aligned to the NCERT /CBSE curriculum.  The online labs are hosted at www.olabs.co.in.  Access to Online Labs is free for Schools upon registration. 

How does the Online Lab work?
The development of online labs includes the study and use of mathematical techniques to demonstrate the various complex functions in diverse areas of science.  This makes use of complex user-interactive simulations and detailed mathematical animations.  Online labs combine technology resources, automation, along with tried and true training concepts.  They are richly featured platforms and are meant to provide a compelling and personalized experience for learners, one that goes beyond just looking at content or interacting with simulations.  They enable hands-on training whenever and wherever it’s needed. 

How do I register to the Online Labs?
Refer the 'Registration' page.

How much does it cost?
Access to the Online Labs is free upon registration. 

What syllabus do the Online Labs cover?
The Online Labs learning platform has the labs curriculum-aligned to the NCERT/CBSE curriculum  However, students from ICSE and State boards will benefit as the topics covered across the boards are similar. 

What subjects are covered?
The lab hosts experiments in Physical and Chemical sciences for the students of classes 9 and 10. 

How often should I use Online Labs?
Ideally, we recommend that you use this program 2 times a week. 

How to start learning?
To use Online Labs login to the account you have been given through the site www.olabs.co.in.

1. A student can start with the Theory that gives an introduction to the experiment.  
2. The Procedure gives detailed step by step instructions on how to perform the experiment in a traditional lab and also using the simulator. 
3. The Animations help a student gain understanding of how to perform the experiment with hints, tool tips and so on, that show measurements, working of the equipment and other relevant information. 
4. The Video tab shows the video of the experiment as done in a traditional lab. 
5. The Simulation can be used to perform the experiment interactively. The experiment can be performed by clicking on the Simulation tab and following the step-by-step instructions as given in the ‘Procedure’ tab. 
6. A self-evaluation can be done through the Viva Voce module.  This tracks what a student knows and has learned about a topic.  It can be used before, during, and after performing the experiment. The data obtained from this module is logged for later analysis.
7. The Resources tab provides information of the list of books, videos and links to sites that support the particular experiment content published on the OLabs website.  Provided also is information to additional reading materials. 

Do I need Internet access to use Online Labs?
Yes, a DSL or other broadband connection speed of at least 256Kpbs is required. 

How does this learning program complement my schooling?
The labs help students prepare themselves before attending a lab by becoming acquainted with the equipment, going through pre-lab exercises and taking pre-lab quizzes, both on the content of the work and on the safety considerations of the lab, all through online exercises. 

Who are the people behind Online Labs?
The Online Labs is an educational initiative pioneered by CREATE @ Amrita, the Center for Research in Advanced Technologies for Education at Amrita University in partnership with CDAC, Mumbai; under a research grant from the Department of Information Technology, Government of India.  The lab hosts experiments in Physical and Chemical sciences for the students of classes 9 and 10 with content aligned to the NCERT/CBSE curriculum.  The online labs are hosted at www.olabs.co.in.  Access to Online Labs is free for Schools upon registration. 

How do I contact the Online Labs team?
Please use the 'Contact Us' page and include your User ID in all your communications. 

How do we differ from other educational tools?
Online labs can be made available to students with no access to physical labs or where equipment are not available owing to being scarce or costly.  This helps them compete with students in better schools and bridges the digital divide and geographical distances.  The experiments can be accessed anytime and anywhere, overcoming the constraints on time felt when having access to the physical lab for only a short period of time.

The 'learning-enabled assessment' through the Online Labs, facilitates in the assessment of; the procedural and manipulative skills of the experiment, the concepts and understanding of the experiment and a student’s reporting and interpreting skills. 

What are the System Requirements for running Online Labs simulations?
Refer the 'Requirements' page.

Can Online Labs simulations be used on my tablet/iPad/Android devices?
At this time tablet/iPad/Android device platforms do not fully support Java or Flash, which is required to run Online Labs simulations. 

How do I restrict students from accessing websites other than Online Labs in the computer lab?
We recommend using a proxy server to manage the Internet in school lab. Please contact your network administrator to install free proxy servers like ‘Squid’ and manage the network. If you are having a static IP address from your ISP, consider using OpenDNS to restrict Internet access.

What are the benefits of using Online Labs instead of traditional Lab?
By its very design, an online lab cannot be identical or equal to an authentic traditional lab. However, online labs are equivalent in value to the learner because they address different learning styles and offer a more flexible and open ended environment for inquiry.  The labs constitute safe environments in which students can repeat processes without any risk as when using dangerous chemicals or costly equipment.  The experiments can be accessed anytime and anywhere, overcoming the constraints on time felt when having access to the physical lab for only a short period of time.  As online reactions are quick, they can be repeated multiple times, giving students’ confidence in their results.  Learning is measured using the 'learning-enabled assessment' through the Online Labs that facilitates in the assessment of; the procedural and manipulative skills of the experiment, the concepts and understanding of the experiment and a student’s reporting and interpreting skills. 

How do I register all my students to online labs?
Refer the'Bulk Registration' in the 'Registration' page.

What if I forget my password?
If you have forgotten your password, click on the ‘Forgot Password’ link seen on the login page and enter your email address when asked.  You will be sent an email with your username, and a link to reset your password.

Can the Online labs simulations be translated to other languages?
The Online Labs simulations have been written so that they are easily translated to languages other than English.   We welcome volunteer to help us in this endeavour.  Please use the 'Contact Us' page to contact us.