---
key: mechanic/education--lab-notebook
type: mechanic
id: education--lab-notebook
lang: en
title: Virtual laboratory and experiment log
summary: >-
  The learner links a hypothesis, experiment settings, measurement and a
  recorded result so an experiment can be repeated and compared.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/education--lab-notebook/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/education--lab-notebook.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/education--lab-notebook.md
aliases:
  - Laboratory and experiment log
tags:
  - Educational games
  - Applied learning and evidence work
sourceIds:
  - source-757ea6a8256a6907
  - source-a6f3fa9389ba6418
  - source-090ee83445744667
sources:
  - id: source-757ea6a8256a6907
    title: 'PhET: inquiry activities with simulations'
    url: 'https://phet.colorado.edu/files/guides/UG-Guide-HW_en.pdf'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-a6f3fa9389ba6418
    title: 'Minecraft Education: Chemistry'
    url: 'https://education.minecraft.net/en-us/resources/science/chemistry'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-090ee83445744667
    title: The Operator
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: education
    id: lab-notebook
    title: Educational games
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/education/#lab-notebook'
    categoryIds:
      - applied-learning
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Laboratory and experiment log
    description: >-
      The learner links a hypothesis, experiment settings, measurement and a
      recorded result so an experiment can be repeated and compared.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/narrative-the-operator-08.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: The Operator
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/1771980/ss_53cdfb9a020be84bd244dba7817656b1c37a176f.1920x1080.jpg?t=1778485297
      credit: Bureau 81 / Bureau 81 / indienova
      rights: © Bureau 81 / Bureau 81 / indienova. All rights reserved.
      caption: An instrument reveals the examined sample’s composition
      alt: An instrument reveals the examined sample’s composition
      markers:
        - x: 56
          'y': 58
          label: The graph adds information unavailable through ordinary inspection
    tips:
      - >-
        Record experimental conditions alongside results, including failed
        tests.
    examples:
      - title: The Operator
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Educational reference expanded from all 64 families and 749 variants of the
  original children-education taxonomy, with original editorial additions dated
  2026-10-20. Sources support specific methods and examples, not the entire
  classification or its effectiveness.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/education
---
# Virtual laboratory and experiment log

id: education--lab-notebook
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/education--lab-notebook
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/education--lab-notebook/

The learner links a hypothesis, experiment settings, measurement and a recorded result so an experiment can be repeated and compared.

## At a glance

![An instrument reveals the examined sample’s composition](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/narrative-the-operator-08.webp)

[The Operator](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/) · © Bureau 81 / Bureau 81 / indienova. All rights reserved.

1. The graph adds information unavailable through ordinary inspection

- Record experimental conditions alongside results, including failed tests.

- [The Operator](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/)

## How it works

Players connect predictions, model settings, measurements and records so an experiment can be repeated.

## Variants

### Variants

<a id="lab-notebook-variants"></a>

- Record a prediction before running an experiment <a id="lab-notebook-1"></a>
- Save the model’s initial parameters <a id="lab-notebook-2"></a>
- Run control and modified trials <a id="lab-notebook-3"></a>
- Record measurement units alongside a value <a id="lab-notebook-4"></a>
- Compare repeated runs of one experiment <a id="lab-notebook-5"></a>
- Reproduce another player’s experiment from its log <a id="lab-notebook-6"></a>
- Separate observation from explanation in a record <a id="lab-notebook-7"></a>
- State a property the model does not reproduce <a id="lab-notebook-8"></a>

## Design example

Hypothetical laboratory: change one model parameter, record results and test a prediction with a new setting.

## Context and limits

A mechanic map for games with explicit learning goals, from first encounters with a topic to professional practice. It covers children, teenagers and adults; choose subject, difficulty, context and controls for the learner. Player actions, subject content, instructional support and assessment are distinct layers. Scores and game completion alone do not establish mastery or skill transfer.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Educational reference expanded from all 64 families and 749 variants of the original children-education taxonomy, with original editorial additions dated 2026-10-20. Sources support specific methods and examples, not the entire classification or its effectiveness.

- [PhET: inquiry activities with simulations](https://phet.colorado.edu/files/guides/UG-Guide-HW_en.pdf) (id: source-757ea6a8256a6907)
- [Minecraft Education: Chemistry](https://education.minecraft.net/en-us/resources/science/chemistry) (id: source-a6f3fa9389ba6418)
- [The Operator](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/) (id: source-090ee83445744667)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors