VirtualUnknown™Microbiology 3.11 for Windows® is our legacy product. VUMicro™ 3.11 is sold as two separate software components:
- the Virtual Lab for Students (VLS)
- the University Lab Server (ULS)
The Virtual Lab for Students is the basic package. It is a Windows®-based microbiology lab simulation allowing students to practice and perform simulations of common laboratory tests and bacterial identifications. It installs on student computers and works as a stand-alone product. Each student must purchase a serial number to activate the software and create their software account. NOTE: This product features the basic functionality of our virtual lab simulation but lacks support for MAC OS® and recent upgrades to graphics and tests found in VUMIE 2012™.
The University Lab Server is an optional software package purchased separately by institutions that connects students to a centralized server at the university (or hosted by Intuitive Systems). It allows instructors to configure lab assignments for students and to review student lab reports of completed assignments electronically. NOTE: An updated version of this feature is provided free of charge to instructors who adopt VUMIE 2012™.
The two components are discussed in more detail below.
Virtual Lab for Students (VLS)
Overview
VLS is the student software component of VirtualUnknown™ Microbiology 3.11. It is a powerful software simulation of the work done in a microbiology lab to perform biochemical tests and identify bacteria. While wet labs will always be the basis for microbiology instruction, our simulation provides another valuable teaching resource.
Unlike other products on the market focusing entirely on interpretation of tests, VUMicro™ 3.11 requires that the student...
- select the proper medium to perform a specific test,
- perform the aseptic transfer (with the mouse) to inoculate the medium correctly,
- incubate the medium under the proper conditions,
- add correct reagents, when appropriate,
- interpret and record results,
- make decisions on which additional tests are needed
View some VUMicro™ 3.11 screen shots taken from the virtual lab (requires free Adobe® Acrobat® Reader)
Pricing
The Virtual Lab for Students is sold through our online store.
Click here for the installation and getting started guide.
University Lab Server (ULS)
Overview
The University Lab Server (ULS) is an optional component of VirtualUnknown™ Microbiology 3.11 that allows individual student computers to be linked to a centralized database that is controlled by an instructor. The ULS includes an administrative interface, the Admin Console, that instructors use to set the parameters for how the Virtual Lab for Students (VLS) performs. For example, instructors may control the following aspects of the VLS software:
- how many pre-assigned identification labs will be provided for each student
- whether the unknown bacterium for a lab is selected by the instructor or determined by the software
- and many other features
The ULS database can be hosted by Intuitive Systems or by a university's ITdepartment. The ULS allows connections from the VLS software and Admin Console over the internet using TCP/IP sockets.
Using the ULS, an instructor is able to configure accounts and laboratory sessions for VLS computers. When students complete their work, lab reports detailing the students' work are collected by the server. The instructor can view and print these reports from the ULS as well. And the ULS may be installed on several computers, allowing instructors to access the ULS database remotely. The ULS allows instructors to configure VLS labs for any combination of on-campus and off-campus student computers.
Features
The ULS includes the following features:
- Account setup wizard to help setup and configure instructor accounts and courses.
- A setup wizard to configure student login accounts for VLS connections.
- Lab setup wizard to create labs for students using parameters specified by the instructor.
- Instructor-specification of various parameters for unknowns assigned to students.
- Online viewing/printing of lab reports for labs completed by students or in progress
- Multi-user configuration allows for multiple students and/or instructors to attach to the ULS locally or from remote locations over the internet.
Pricing
To obtain a quote on the ULS, or to purchase the ULS, contact our Sales Department by email or fax.
NOTE: The Admin Console feature created for VUMIE 2012™ is free to instructors at institutions using the VUMIE 2012™student software.