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Converting the physical to the virtual: providing a laboratory experience for distance learners in engineering
conference contribution
posted on 2009-09-24, 15:58 authored by Richard BlanchardRichard Blanchard, S.D. Moron-Garcia, Melanie BatesFace-to-face modules on the full-time Masters in Renewable Energy Systems Technology at
Loughborough University involve students collecting data from physical laboratory experiments.
Conversion to distance learning mode, due to demand from industry for the skills and competencies
acquired, raised the problem of providing a comparable laboratory experience. The solution adopted
was to develop a number of virtual laboratories to enable distance students to experience the same
experiments as their face-to-face peers, the focus in both modes being on interpreting the data
generated. The virtual laboratory described in this paper was designed to provide activities requiring
students to review content covered in study notes, enhancing the learning associated with their progress
through the experiment. This paper will provide evidence to show that distance students were not
disadvantaged and that student evaluative feedback has been generally positive.
History
School
- Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering
Citation
BLANCHARD, R.E., MORON-GARCIA, S.D. and BATES, M.R., 2006. Converting the physical to the virtual: providing a laboratory experience for distance learners in engineering. IN: Méndez-Vilas, A. ... et al (eds.). Current Developments in Technology-Assisted Education (2006). Vol. 2, pp. 1208-1213.Publisher
© Formatex and the authorsVersion
- AM (Accepted Manuscript)
Publication date
2006Notes
This paper was presented at the IV International Conference on Multimedia and Information Communication and Communication Technologies in Education (m-ICTE2006), 22-25 November, Seville, Spain: http://www.formatex.org/micte2006/ISBN
9788469024728Language
- en