VirtualUnknown™ Microbiology (VUMicro™) is essentially a “flight simulator” for the micro lab. The emphasis is on "doing" rather than "observing". Students start lab tests by turning on their burners and end them by throwing the tubes or plates they’ve inoculated, incubated, and interpreted into the biohazard container. Our Virtual Laboratory Report is our "flight data recorder", monitoring student performance and alerting instructors to errors in technique and judgment made along the way.
Unknown bacteria are randomly assigned or can be selected from more limited pools by choosing from subgroups of predefined unknowns. The student must interpret its Gram stain and then complete biochemical tests to progress toward ID of the unknown bacterium. Free lab manuals provide exercises to use the basic elements of the software for teaching a variety of basic topics in microbiology - prokaryotic structure, cell physiology, innate and adaptive immunity, pathogenicity, clinical and medical microbiology, and more.
Products and Feature Comparison
Intuitive Systems, Inc., sells two products. Our standard product is VirtualUnknown™ Microbiology 3.11. In 2012 we are releasing its successor, VirtualUnknown™ Microbiology Internet Edition 2012. Both of these provide a lab simulation experience for microbiology students.
Here is a comparison of the features of VUMicro™ 3.11 and VUMIE™ 2012.
| Feature |
VUMicro™
3.11
|
VUMIE™
2012
|
| Over 120 microbes and 50+ biochemical tests | √ | √ |
| True simulation of aseptic technique, beginning with selection of medium and inoculation tool, requiring aseptic transfer and appropriate incubation and interpretation of test results, ending with appropriate disposal of cultures | √ | √ |
| Allows mistakes, records errors in technique and judgment on a final lab report for each unknown | √ | √ |
| Automatic elimination of microbes from the matrix based on recorded test results (if a result is changed, the matrix is recalculated based on the most recent result recorded) | √ | √ |
| Extensive Help files with tutorials and full coverage of media, tests, reagents, antibiotics and microbes included in the software | √ | √ |
| Free lab manuals written to support integration of the software into teaching standard microbiology courses | √ | √ |
| Scalable virtual lab scene, improved videos, modernized tests | √ | |
| Additional features, like "Save the Patient", "Lab Safety", "Rapid ID Systems", and "Creating Scientific Posters" | √ | |
| One click submission of lab reports to your instructor | √ | |
| Free instructor management software to allow configuration and management of unknowns | √ | |
| Support for Windows® users | √ | √ |
| Support for Mac® users | √ | |
| Support for Linux® users | √ | |
| Automatic software updates | √ | |
| Software AND lab manual for less than $30? | √ | √ |
Benefits and Uses
There are numerous benefits to working in the VUMicro™ virtual lab:
- Safety...Work with bacteria and chemicals too dangerous for use in teaching labs.
- Access... Practice skills before and after lab hours an unlimited number of times.
- Feedback... Instructors receive feedback on every action performed by every student, something impossible when working in a wetlab.
Here are some ways the software is useful for Microbiology lab instructors:
- Reference... Info on media, tests, reagents, and bacteria can be found with a click of the mouse.
- Preparation and Review... Practice skills before coming to the laboratory and after the lab closes. Unlimited access to microbes and media.
- Make-up and Testing... Missed labs made up in a simulation, and the same skills required for practical exams can be assessed with the software. An unknown can be identified in 5-10 minutes during a laboratory practical.
- Reporting... Lab reports generated in the name of the student from their software account, reducing the potential for academic dishonesty. Great detail about student technique and judgment.
- Distance Learning... Combined with the free lab manuals, this creates a serviceable lab simulation for distance learning microbiology classes.
Optional Management Software for Instructors
Both VUMicro™ 3.11 and VUMIE™ 2012 can be customized for students using software created for instructors.
- The instructor's management software for VUMicro™ 3.11 is an optional package called the University Lab Server (ULS) that may be purchased separately and is hosted on a server at the instructor's institution or by Intuitive Systems, Inc. The ULS allows connections from the VLS software and Admin Console over the internet using TCP/IP sockets.
- The instructor's management software for VUMIE™ 2012 is a web-based optional package called the Admin Console that is free to instructors where the software has been adopted for student use.
These may be found on Instructor Resources pages.
Benefits to instructors using management software:
- Creation of specially-configured unknowns...control of which bacteria are assigned to a class or individual students.
- Control of availability of some product features.
- Ongoing review of student work while in progress rather than only upon lab report submission.
Pricing for Instructor Management Software
- ULS for VUMicro™ 3.11: To obtain a quote or to purchase the ULS, contact our Sales Department by email or fax.
- Admin Console for VUMIE™ 2012: Free to instructors at institutions using the VUMIE™ 2012 student software.