Examination of allostasis and online laboratory simulations in a middle school science classroom

The purpose of this study is to examine online learning simulations within a middle school science class and develop an understanding of the most and least successful profile combination of traits. The sample consisted of 350 middle school student taking 7th and 8th grade science in a classroom setting. Researchers examined outcomes on multiple administrations of a science content tests and affective measures. The authors examined test outcomes, affective outcomes, and profile combinations of traits using multilevel modeling, latent class analysis, and mean comparisons. Results indicated that the most successful combination of traits for using an online laboratory simulation in class is a student profile corresponding to a high allostatic load. Implications for this study also provide suggestions for understanding the mechanism of action for student success while using online laboratory simulations.