Web-Based Laboratories: Technical and

Pedagogical Considerations

Jim Henry, Ph.D., P.E.College of Engineering and Computer ScienceUniversity of Tennessee at Chattanooga AIChE, 2001 Reno, NV

Chattanooga, Tennessee

What are "Web-Based Laboratories"?

Lab experimentsoffered via the WEB

WHY ?Accommodates Scheduling ProblemsCan serve equipment-challenged campusesIt's all the go to get on the WebWe enjoy doing this stuff

What are “Technical Considerations”?

How is it doneAvailable stationsMore reliabilityMore experimentsMore accessibilityEase of use

What are "Pedagogical Considerations "?

Student support offered via the WEB

Outcomes and AssessmentTeaching and Learning expansionTeam mailing listsDiscussion ForumsFAQIntelligent Agent responder

Good News- Bad News

Hardwareexperiments

It works

It's reliable

Managing "distant" students

The Connections

WWW basedNetscape or Internet ExplorerFamiliar & accessible & friendly

Direct via Internet Custom LabVIEW programsOther software to use MATLAB, e.g.

WWW Protocol

INTERNET . . . . .

DocumentServer

LabSERVER

LabCLIENTs

File Sharing

SYSTEMCONTROL

Set Point

Output

-+

Classical Control Systems

USER

(client)

SYSTEMCONTROL

Set Point

Output

-+

Laboratory Remote Operation

LAB SYSTEM

(server)

Controls Laboratory Equipment Details

7 - Stations All S.I.S.O., “Stable”

Pressure LevelVoltage SpeedFlow TemperaturePosition

Pressure

Temperature

Flow

Level, 2-tanks

Speed and Voltage

Ch E Laboratory Equipment Details

10 - Stations Distillation FilterAbsorber DehumidifierHeat Pump Drying OvenCombustion Heat ExchangerCooling Tower Pressure Swing Absorption

Distillation

Pressure Swing Absorption

Laboratory Experiment Details

System IdentificationSteady-State StepRamp SinePulse "Custom"

Feedback Control Proportional w/ biasProportional Integral

Step InputResults

Input = 50%, t < 5 sec Input = 90%, t > 5 sec

40K

to

Step InputResults

40K

to

• h

Step InputResults

Step InputResults

Input = 50%, t < 5 sec Input = 90%, t > 5 sec

40K

to

Step InputResults

40K

to

Step InputResults

40K

to

Step InputResults

40K

to

Step InputResults

40K

to

to

•Diponegoro University, Indonesia

•University of Koeln, Germany

Direct Connection

INTERNET . . . . .

YourComputer

LabCLIENTs

TCP/IP

SYSTEMCONTROL

Set Point

Output

-+

Direct Connection

Custom Software SERVER

Input Data

Output

Data

•May-June, 2001

Web Sites

chem.engr.utc.edu

link to this paper:

chem.engr.utc.edu/AIChE

Web Sites

chem.engr.utc.edu

link to this talk & paper:

chem.engr.utc.edu/AIChE

Pedagogy-Student responses

•We can pick the time to meet to run the labs instead of being required to be here for a set class time

•The ability to perform experiments from remote locations

Pedagogy-Student responses

•You can run experiments during class time or at 3AM as well as turn in your reports at any time over the web I liked the freedom of the lab

•It worked out well being able to work at different times

Pedagogy-Student responses

•This was a new experience. Especially running the experiments on the Web, and sending the assignments by e-mail

•Web access learning is very important these days, when a lot of information is available and e-mail is taking the place of traditional phone calling and letter writing.

Pedagogy-Student support

•Educational Materials for Remote Laboratory Operation

•descriptions of the equipment

•examples of experiments

•procedures for conducting the experiments

•sample topics

Pedagogy-Student support

•expert system – LISA

•Laboratory Instruction Student Aide

•(a laboratory assistant bot)

Pedagogy-Student activities

•Problem-oriented activities that are open-ended, and multi- or interdisciplinary

•Visual formats that allow creation of mental models

•A rich learning environment containing a variety of interactive resources

Pedagogy-Student activities

•Cooperative group work, emphasizing shared intelligence

•Learning through exploration and discovery

•Authentic assessment, emphasizing the qualitative nature of student work

Vision & Plans

Dissemination opportunities

www.RealLabs.net

-- New systems -- Renovated and Updated systems

Acknowledgements

Tennessee TaxpayersNational Science FoundationUTC's Center for Excellence in Computer ApplicationsNational InstrumentsMicrosoft CorporationCreative Engineering Laboratory SystemsLupton Renaissance Fund