FAQ: Getting started
What is LabsLand?
Section titled “What is LabsLand?”LabsLand provides browser-based access to real remote laboratories for STEM education and training. The laboratories are real equipment, not simulations. Students operate physical equipment through the web, so teachers can provide practical laboratory work even when students are not physically in a lab room.
What laboratories are available?
Section titled “What laboratories are available?”LabsLand includes laboratories in areas such as:
- physics
- electronics
- robotics
- technology
- FPGA devices
- programming and computer engineering
- chemistry, biology, instrumentation, and other specific STEM areas
Availability depends on the institution plan, group configuration, and the laboratories assigned by an administrator or teacher. You can review the current public catalog on the main LabsLand site: LabsLand lab catalog.
How do I sign up?
Section titled “How do I sign up?”The best sign-up path depends on your role.
- Students usually receive access from a teacher, school, university, or company. If you are a student, ask your teacher for the correct access link, LMS activity, or Google Classroom assignment.
- Teachers and institution administrators can request or create a LabsLand space for their institution. A space lets you create groups, assign laboratories, invite colleagues, and prepare student access.
- Individual users may be able to try some laboratories from the main LabsLand browser, but individual access is not the best way to evaluate a full class workflow.
How do I try the laboratories?
Section titled “How do I try the laboratories?”If your institution already has a LabsLand space, ask the space administrator or teacher for the correct access path. If your institution does not yet have a space, contact LabsLand with your institution name, role, and intended course or use case.
For schools, universities, and similar organizations, a trial space is usually better than an individual trial because it lets you test the real teaching workflow: groups, assigned labs, student links, LMS access, and activity review.
Is LabsLand free?
Section titled “Is LabsLand free?”LabsLand is a paid service for sustained institutional use. The laboratories are developed, hosted, and maintained by LabsLand, and real equipment requires ongoing maintenance.
Trials or limited access may be available depending on the situation. The goal is to keep access affordable for institutions in different regions while maintaining reliable real laboratories.
How much does LabsLand cost?
Section titled “How much does LabsLand cost?”Pricing depends on the laboratories, number of students, term, and institution needs. Standard pricing information is available on the main LabsLand site: LabsLand pricing.
For larger programs or specific institutional needs, LabsLand can discuss volume, commitment, or project-based options.
Why should we use LabsLand?
Section titled “Why should we use LabsLand?”Real laboratory practice is important in high-quality STEM education, especially in engineering, technical fields, and experimental sciences. Providing enough hands-on practice can be difficult because equipment, lab rooms, schedules, maintenance, and supervision all take time and budget.
LabsLand is not meant to replace all hands-on practice. It is meant to help institutions provide more real-lab practice in a convenient, scalable, and affordable way.
With LabsLand:
- the equipment is already set up and working
- students can access laboratories online, from class or as homework
- equipment can be shared across institutions and regions
- teachers can use prepared activities and support materials where available
- institutions can access more types of laboratories without buying all equipment locally
- students only need a browser and an internet connection
How do students access the laboratories?
Section titled “How do students access the laboratories?”Students are usually associated with a LabsLand space for their institution. A teacher or administrator decides how they enter the laboratories.
The best access method depends on the teaching context:
- LMS access is often best when the course already runs in Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard, Sakai, ILIAS, or another LTI-compatible platform.
- Google Classroom access is useful when the class already uses Google Classroom.
- Direct access links are useful when the teacher wants a simple link that can be shared by email, chat, document, classroom page, or LMS announcement.
When LabsLand is integrated with an LMS, students normally click an activity in the LMS and enter the intended laboratory directly. When a direct link is used, students may need to enter basic information such as a nickname and password before accessing the group laboratories.
Does LabsLand support Moodle, Blackboard, Canvas, Sakai, ILIAS, or Google Classroom?
Section titled “Does LabsLand support Moodle, Blackboard, Canvas, Sakai, ILIAS, or Google Classroom?”Yes. LabsLand supports common learning management systems and LTI-compatible platforms, including:
- Moodle
- Google Classroom
- Sakai
- ILIAS
- Canvas
- Blackboard
- other systems that support LTI
In some institutions, IT settings may block third-party tools or specific LMS features. If that happens, students can still use other access methods such as direct links, and LabsLand support can help review the best setup.
What laboratories do you have, exactly?
Section titled “What laboratories do you have, exactly?”The current public list is available in the LabsLand lab catalog. The list changes over time as LabsLand adds new laboratories and collaborates with institutions.
If you need a specific laboratory that is not currently available, contact LabsLand with the subject area, equipment, and teaching goal.
Will you help instructors implement laboratories in class?
Section titled “Will you help instructors implement laboratories in class?”Yes. LabsLand can recommend laboratories and activities for the class when the need fits one of the supported areas. Support can include choosing the right laboratories, setting up groups, preparing access, and helping with LMS or Google Classroom setup.
Can LabsLand create a laboratory for my institution?
Section titled “Can LabsLand create a laboratory for my institution?”Possibly. LabsLand provides laboratory development services in collaboration with institutions. These projects usually combine LabsLand technology and software expertise with the institution’s equipment, domain knowledge, or teaching goal.
When a new laboratory becomes part of the LabsLand network, the promoting institution may receive benefits depending on the agreement, such as priority use, visibility, or project-specific terms.
Do you provide learning activities and didactical units with the labs?
Section titled “Do you provide learning activities and didactical units with the labs?”Some laboratories include learning activities, support materials, or didactical units. The available materials depend on the specific laboratory and language.
LabsLand laboratories are designed to be pedagogically flexible, so instructors can also integrate them into their own courses, worksheets, projects, and assessment workflows.
Do you provide online courses?
Section titled “Do you provide online courses?”No. LabsLand provides remote laboratories and supporting materials, not full online courses. The laboratories are tools that teachers and institutions can integrate into their own courses.
Where do I get more information?
Section titled “Where do I get more information?”Contact LabsLand from the main site or write to contact@labsland.com. Include your school, university, or organization, your role, subject area, and the laboratories or teaching setup you want to support.
I have a LabsLand space. I need help with it.
Section titled “I have a LabsLand space. I need help with it.”Start with LabsLand Spaces and Preparing access for students. For school-specific space questions, see My LabsLand space.