INNOVATION IN EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: INTERFACE DESIGN AND USER EXPERIENCE AS THE KEY TO THE SUCCESS OF VIRTUAL LABORATORIES IN MODERN EDUCATION

Dewi Rulia Sitepu (¹²Postdoctoral Education at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara / STKIP Budidaya ³⁴Postdoctoral Education at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara ⁵⁶Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara)
Khairina Afni (¹²Postdoctoral Education at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara / STKIP Budidaya ³⁴Postdoctoral Education at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara ⁵⁶Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara)
Inggrid Puji Astri Purba (¹²Postdoctoral Education at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara / STKIP Budidaya ³⁴Postdoctoral Education at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara ⁵⁶Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara)
Ika Febriana (¹²Postdoctoral Education at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara / STKIP Budidaya ³⁴Postdoctoral Education at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara ⁵⁶Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara)
A Akrim (¹²Postdoctoral Education at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara / STKIP Budidaya ³⁴Postdoctoral Education at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara ⁵⁶Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara)
Amiruddin Amiruddin (¹²Postdoctoral Education at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara / STKIP Budidaya ³⁴Postdoctoral Education at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara ⁵⁶Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara)

Best Journal (Biology Education, Sains and Technology)
Vol 9, No 1 (2026): Juni 2026

Virtual laboratories (VL) have emerged as innovative solutions to overcome the limitations of traditional practical work in modern education. This research examines the critical role of user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design in determining the success of virtual laboratory implementation. Through a systematic literature review of publications from 2020-2025, we analyze how user-centered design principles contribute to increased student engagement, learning outcomes, and technology acceptance. Findings demonstrate that virtual laboratories with intuitive UI/UX improve learning effectiveness by up to 68%, enhance student motivation, and increase confidence in conducting practical experiments. We also identify critical design components including clear navigation, real-time feedback, accessibility, and gamification. Our recommendations emphasize the importance of user-centered design approaches in virtual laboratory development to ensure sustainable technology adoption and optimal learning outcomes