Virtual Labs and Educational Software as a Tool for more Effective Teaching STEM Subjects

?Significant development of information and communication technologies and especially the Internet boom brings new possibilities in STEM education at all levels of the educational process. We present in the first part of the paper some results of international ICILS study 2013 related to the digital competences of pupils related to the computer aided education, which use virtual reality and computer simulations. The virtual reality is distinguished by unique sorts of interaction, that responds to users' behaviours and actions. It is considered to be a new model of computer-based learning that provides the individual learner with a wider range of scientific vision. In mathematics education it is important to represent and visualize various mathematical concepts, relationships and practices, respectively algorithms. Visualization is usually implemented through different models. These models is possible to present through virtual and remote laboratories. These models may take the form of real mathematical device, but may also be implemented in a suitable virtual software environment. Virtual modelling has particular importance in the stages of cognitive processes in STEM education.