Developing Remote Labs for Challenged Educational Environments

Abstract

Most publications on online laboratories assume that all institutions have similar scenarios. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth. Many developing countries and disadvantaged colleges have challenges that hinder successful deployment of remote laboratories, whereas these challenges may not be applicable in more developed environments. In this chapter, we highlight these challenges and propose solutions. In doing this, we will draw from our experiences, garnered while developing labs in selected challenged environments.

Surveying the assessment components suitability for engineering learning in a challenging educational environment

“…Blended learning is the combination of online and traditional classroom methods. Engineering education in an environment lacking adequate learning and assessment facilities has been described as challenged educational settings and blended activities in such context is under jeopardy (Kehinde, Chen, Ayodele, and Akinwale, 2011). Engineering education started locally in the sub-Saharan Africa around 1960 (NAE, 2015).…”

Development of a Suite of Virtual Experiments for Physics and Chemistry Undergraduate Laboratories

“…Experiments are performed to verify the theories taught in class, analyse systems and ultimately translate laboratory experience into real life application. The use of traditional laboratory has been adversely affected over time as a result of rising cost of laboratory equipment and increasing number of students' enrolment into schools 1 . As the number of student participation rises, there is a need for a complementary provision of platforms for experiments to be performed or at least perform them with a close replica of the actual laboratory experience.…”

Development of a Remote Operational Amplifier iLab Using Android-based Mobile Platform

“…By making labs sharable online, the number of users of online labs scale up dramatically, particularly with the fact that online labs can be performed round the clock with no need for a physical lab attendant present at the lab for each lab session. Hence with the rising cost of undergraduate laboratory equipment and increasing undergraduate enrolment, online labs are a solution, a solution of particular import in the developing world 1 . iLabs are online laboratories which make use of the iLab Shared Architecture 2,3 .…”