Although active engagement and meaningful learning are viewed as primary characteristics of inquiry learning with virtual labs , meaningful learning may not
result simply from behavioral activity per se. Mayer suggested that only specific cognitive activities (e.g., selecting, organizing, and integrating knowledge) may promote meaningful learning. In order to ensure that students deploy the required and
appropriate cognitive activities and to prevent them from floundering, guidance is necessary . Integrating supportive cognitive tools within the learning environment can guide students through their inquiry processes . For
example, regular inquiry process components, such as orientation (identification of variables and relations), hypothesis generation, experimentation (changing variable values, making predictions, and interpreting the outcomes), reaching conclusions (hypothesis testing),
and evaluation (reflection on the learning process and the acquired knowledge), can be
embedded in assignments. Computers can give feedback to students if their responses to
assignments are incorrect .