Seamless Fusion of Moodle LMS and Digital Lab Notebooks: Innovating Chemistry Education Through Integrated Platforms

Abstract

Laboratory exercises play a central role in technical chemistry education by providing students with valuable opportunities to apply their theoretical knowledge in a practical setting. Although laboratory journals support this learning process, the traditional paper-based or standalone digital formats of these journals limit their integration with the university's digital infrastructure. This paper presents LabAdWork: an electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) integrated with the Moodle learning management system (LMS) at TU Wien. The aim was to improve the digital learning environment by combining the strengths of the two platforms. The development prioritized functional separation, user-centric design, and sustainability. Two custom Moodle plugins were created: one to manage lab activities and another to facilitate assessments. The ELN component was adapted to interface seamlessly with Moodle. Iterative testing involving students, academic staff, and technical personnel confirmed the system’s reliability, usability, and pedagogical value. This integration improves communication, learning preparation, feedback, and teaching applicability. Educators gain powerful assessment and monitoring tools, while students benefit from a cohesive digital learning experience. This paper details the design, development, and implementation of LabAdWork, highlighting its positive impact on teaching quality and course manageability. Plans for an open-source release and further feature enhancements are also discussed.