IJIET 2026 Vol.16(2): 382-392
doi: 10.18178/ijiet.2026.16.2.2511
doi: 10.18178/ijiet.2026.16.2.2511
Virtual Laboratory in Engineering Education: Investigating Its Impact on Students’ Engagement and Learning Outcomes
Doni Tri Putra Yanto1,*, Oriza Candra1, Hastuti1, Citra Dewi1,
Agariadne Dwinggo Samala2, Tsoy Dana3, and
Soha Rawas4
1. Electrical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Padang, Padang, Indonesia
2. Electronic Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Padang, Padang, Indonesia
3. Mixed Reality Research Laboratory, International Information Technology University, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan
4. Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Faculty of Science, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon
Email: donitriputra@ft.unp.ac.id (D.T.P.Y.); orizacandra@ft.unp.ac.id (O.C); hastuti@ft.unp.ac.id (H.); citradewi@ft.unp.ac.id (C.D.); agariadne@ft.unp.ac.id (A.D.S.); d.tsoy@iitu.edu.kz (T.D.); Soha.rawas2@bau.edu.lb (S.R.)
*Corresponding author
2. Electronic Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Padang, Padang, Indonesia
3. Mixed Reality Research Laboratory, International Information Technology University, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan
4. Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Faculty of Science, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon
Email: donitriputra@ft.unp.ac.id (D.T.P.Y.); orizacandra@ft.unp.ac.id (O.C); hastuti@ft.unp.ac.id (H.); citradewi@ft.unp.ac.id (C.D.); agariadne@ft.unp.ac.id (A.D.S.); d.tsoy@iitu.edu.kz (T.D.); Soha.rawas2@bau.edu.lb (S.R.)
*Corresponding author
Manuscript received June 12, 2025; revised July 7, 2025; accepted September 15, 2025; published February 9, 2026
Abstract—Integrating Virtual Laboratory (VL) technology into engineering education is increasingly adopted to complement hands-on laboratory learning. However, comprehensive studies and empirical analyses are still required to understand its impact on students’ Learning Engagement (LE) and Learning Outcomes (LO). This study investigates the effects of Virtual Laboratory Use (VLU) on students’ LE and LO in an electrical machine course within the Industrial Electrical Engineering program, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Padang, Indonesia. A quantitative, survey-based approach was employed, involving 117 second-year university students. Data were analyzed using Variance-Based Structural Equation Modeling (VB-SEM). The results indicated that the VLU had a positive and significant effect on students’ LE across behavioral, cognitive, and emotional dimensions. Furthermore, VLU positively and significantly influenced students’ perceived LO directly and indirectly through LE as a mediating variable. LO were simultaneously and significantly influenced by the variables of VLU, Cognitive Engagement (CE), Behavioral Engagement (BE), and Emotional Engagement (EE), with a strong effect size. These findings underscore the pedagogical value of the VL in enhancing the learning experience in engineering education.
Keywords—quality education, virtual laboratory, learning engagement, learning outcomes, engineering education, electrical machine course
Copyright © 2026 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).
Keywords—quality education, virtual laboratory, learning engagement, learning outcomes, engineering education, electrical machine course
Cite: Doni Tri Putra Yanto, Oriza Candra, Hastuti, Citra Dewi, Agariadne Dwinggo Samala, Tsoy Dana, and Soha Rawas, "Virtual Laboratory in Engineering Education: Investigating Its Impact on Students’ Engagement and Learning Outcomes," International Journal of Information and Education Technology, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 382-392, 2026.
Copyright © 2026 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).