Virtual Lab Help

Welcome to the Virtual Bacterial Identification Lab. This page will help you get started.

Recommended Web Browsers

The following Web browsers are recommended for using this virtual lab. Click the links below to download the latest versions.

Please make sure that JavaScript is enabled and your pop-up blocker is disabled in your browser.

Installing the Shockwave Plug-in

  • This lab requires Shockwave components found in the "Full" installer which can be downloaded from this page of the Adobe Web site. If you have previously installed Shockwave using the default "Slim" installer, the lab may attempt to download the additional components needed. Make sure you have administrator permissions in order to install the Shockwave software or additional components on your machine.
  • Once you have installed the plug-in, click the image of the lab to start. If you see the Shockwave progress bar followed by a view of the lab bench and a prompt to put on the rubber gloves, you have successfully installed the Shockwave plug-in.

Using Shockwave on an Intel-based Mac

If you are using an Intel Mac and a version of Shockwave before 11.0, you'll need to follow these instructions to use the Virtual Labs in Rosetta emulation mode. If you're not sure what type of Mac you have, select "About This Mac" under the Apple menu
  1. Quit your browser.
  2. Open your Applications folder and click once on your browser's icon. Press command-i to open the Get Info dialog box. Check the box "Open using Rosetta." Close the Info dialog box.
  3. Restart the Virtual Lab.
Using the Virtual Lab

The lab interface is divided into two main areas, the interactive window on the left and the lab notebook on the right, where this help page is displayed. Within the interactive window, you will be prompted by text in the tip window and light purple arrows next to the object that needs input. As you progress, the lab notebook window will automatically update with detailed information about the current step.

The numbered items below the tip window indicate the current step (highlighted in light purple). You can jump to any step by clicking on the links. To restart a step, click on the highlighted link.

At any time you can click the "Reference" button, which will update the lab notebook with links to a glossary, tools used in this lab, and an encyclopedia of selected bacteria and other pathogens. Clicking on the "Notebook" button will take you back to the current step information.

Windows Permissions Issue

As you go through the lab, a small text file is saved in the background in order to track what step you are on and the selections you have made. In order for this file to be saved and for the lab to work properly, you must have read and write access to certain areas of your hard drive. For example, using Shockwave version 11 with Windows XP, you must have read write access to this location - C:\Documents and Settigs\username\Application Data\Macromedia\Shockwave Player\Prefs\



Technical Support

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