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Résumé :
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This study investigates the transition towards advanced virtual laboratories as a complementary solution to the challenges facing traditional practical education in biochemistry at Ferhat Abbas University – Setif 1, Algeria. While conventional laboratories remain essential for acquiring precise practical skills such as laboratory handling, titration, and extraction, they face significant constraints, including high equipment costs, material shortages, safety risks associated with chemicals or biological specimens, and logistical challenges, which often disrupt experimental work and hinder learning outcomes.The study employed a descriptive-analytical approach through a structured survey administered to 100 students from the Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, aiming to assess laboratory experiences, identify major challenges, and explore students’ acceptance of digital alternatives. Results revealed that equipment scarcity (47%) and the high cost of reagents and technologies were the main obstacles. About 38% of students expressed conditional acceptance of virtual laboratories, depending on the realism and interactivity of the simulations. Key desired features for the virtual platform included audiovisual explanations (26%), bilingual support in Arabic and English (21%), and interactive experiments (20%). Additionally, 69% of students preferred a hybrid platform accessible via both a website and mobile applications, with a monthly subscription fee of 1500–2000 DZ considered appropriate.In response to these needs, an advanced digital educational platform was developed, integrating theoretical learning with practical applications through AI-enhanced 3D virtual laboratories. The platform allows instructors to deliver live lessons, share videos and educational documents, manage practical activities, and monitor students’ progress continuously while analyzing individual and group performance through AI tools, thereby enhancing teaching effectiveness and academic follow-up.The study concludes that a blended learning model, strategically combining traditional laboratories with virtual laboratories, represents a feasible and cost-effective strategy to overcome existing barriers. This approach enhances flexibility, accessibility, and overall effectiveness in practical biochemistry education in Algeria, aligning with the university’s broader digital transformation objectives.
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