“…In addition to the face-to-face laboratory sessions, the use of virtual (online) practicals is particularly appropriate for first-year microbiology students who are required to develop generic skills based on foundation microbiology curricula as opposed to subsequent years where more specialised laboratory techniques based on advanced theory are better handled in wet (face-to-face) laboratories. Online practicals have been trialled in a wide variety of specific science/biological disciplines including histology, microbiology, pharmacology and dentistry (Evans, Gibbons, Sha, & Griffin, 2004;Gilman, 2006;Sancho et al, 2006;Wahlgren, Edelbring, Fors, Hindbeck, & Stahle, 2006). These practicals have covered specific areas such as slide staining and interpretation (histology, microbiology) and occupational health and safety (dentistry).…”