New possibilities using a traditional laboratory featuring a remote control option

Ingvar Gustavsson, ingvar.gustavsson@bth.seDept. of Signal Processing, School of EngineeringBlekinge Institute of Technology, BTH

Sparbanksstiftelsen Kronan

4th CeTUSS workshop December 4 – 5, 2006, Uppsala

The BTH Open Laboratory concept

Add a remote control option to a traditional instructional laboratory – starting with an electronics lab

Create a virtual interface enabling students to recognize on their own computer screen the desktop instruments and the breadboard

The open electronics laboratory at BTH

Internet

Web Server

Equipment Server at BTH

Client PC

Client PC The address of the laboratory web site is:

http://distanslabserver.its.bth.se

Resistance

OpampDemonstrations

Possibilities

Complement and supplement to local lab sessions

Compensate for the reduction in the number of lab sessions

Existing course material can be used New cost-effective methods for assessment

of laboratory work

What is a physical experiment?

Is a physical experiment a sort of dialogue with nature?– where the student uses his or her body (mainly

the hands and senses) to act and to observe– In most cases instruments and other devices are

required to reinforce human abilities

Why physical experiments?

Laboratory science courses can be described as necessary for the student to see how science is made

While there seems to be general agreement that laboratories are necessary, little has been said about what they are expected to accomplish

Why learn to be an experimenter?

To study limitations in current mathematical models

To verify that ideas and prototypes will work in the real world

Examples of learning objectives

You will be able to– Devise an experimental approach, specify appropriate

equipment and procedures– Apply appropriate sensors, instrumentation to measure

physical quantities etc.– Demonstrate the ability to collect, analyze, and interpret

data, and to perform and support conclusions– Identify the strengths and limitations of theoretical models

as predictors of real-world behaviors

Evaluation is next

A flexible tool is ready for evaluation Learning objectives are being defined

The VISIR project (Virtual Instrument Systems in Reality)

A VISIR consortium led by BTH is being formed

Universities, other teaching organizations, and equipment vendors are invited to join

The first goal is an international standard for electronics laboratories based on open source technologies

Vision

The ultimate goal for the research is ubiquitous physical experimental resources accessible 24/7 for everyone to inspire and encourage children, young people and others to study engineering and to be used as means for long life learning of teachers and other professionals