Providing equivalent learning activities with software-based remote access laboratories
Article
Article Title | Providing equivalent learning activities with software-based remote access laboratories |
---|---|
ERA Journal ID | 123538 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Kist, Alexander A. (Author) and Basnet, Badri (Author) |
Journal Title | International Journal of Online Engineering |
Journal Citation | 9 (S3), pp. 14-19 |
Number of Pages | 6 |
Year | 2013 |
Place of Publication | Kassel, Germany |
ISSN | 1861-2121 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v9iS3.2541 |
Abstract | Laboratory-based learning activities are important components of engineering and surveying education and it is difficult to offering practical activities to distance education students. Remote Access Laboratory (RAL) systems are widely discussed as learning tools to offer students remote access to rigs or hardware. In some disciplines laboratory activities are purely software based and RAL systems can be used to provide access to software. As part of a larger study into the transferability of the remote laboratory concept to non-engineering disciplines this project evaluates the effectiveness of RAL based software activities in supporting student learning is investigated. In the discipline of Surveying and Spatial Science, RAL technology is used to provide Geographic Information System software access to distance students. The key research question discussed in this paper is whether RALbased software activities can address the same learning outcomes as face-to-face practical classes for software activities. Data was collected from students' discussion forums, teaching staff diaries and teaching staff interviews. The project demonstrates that students undertaking learning activities remotely achieve similar learning outcomes than student in practice classes using the same software. Ease of system access and usability are critical and the learning activity needs to be supported by comprehensive learning materials. This research provides a clear case in which the use of RAL technology has provided inclusive educational opportunities more efficiently and these general results are also applicable to experiments that involve physical hardware. |
Keywords | conceptual experimentation; geographic information systems; remote access laboratories; software experiments |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 390405. Educational technology and computing |
390113. Science, technology and engineering curriculum and pedagogy | |
390409. Learning sciences | |
Public Notes | Article is an extended and modified version of a paper presented at the International Conference on Remote Engineering & Virtual Instrumentation (REV2012), held at Bilbao, Spain, July 4-6, 2012. Published as resubmitted by the authors 20 March 2013. |
Byline Affiliations | Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering |
Faculty of Engineering and Surveying | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q1zy8/providing-equivalent-learning-activities-with-software-based-remote-access-laboratories
Download files
1886
total views266
total downloads0
views this month4
downloads this month