In an internet assisted laboratory (online lab) the lab devices are controlled and programmed through a web browser at a remote computer. A user-controlled webcam allows monitoring the devices' behavior. As an online lab can be used from many locations, it can be utilized better than a conventional lab.
The project I-Labs is a cooperation of the Stanford Center for Innovations in Learning (SCIL / Hesselink research group) and the Learning Lab Lower Saxony (L3S / I-Labs research group) within the Wallenberg Global Learning Network (WGLN). In Stanford optical experiments for physics education and in Hannover mechatronic devices for engineering education are developed. By working with an online lab students shall learn to program, maintain and supervise remote devices.
An online lab consists of:
Online labs will support distributed group work over the internet. Software to control and program the lab devices runs on a central server. Also student lab access times and access rights will be administered there. Work assignment text and hypermedia course material for the experiment are available over the internet.
The project will develop didactic concepts for online laboratory usage and reusable software and hardware components. Together with newly gained design knowledge it will make it easier to develop new online labs.