Abstract:

Traditionally, the content of practical engineering classes has been heavily influenced by the equipment available in the laboratories. Nowadays, however, this problem can be overcome with the use of new technologies used in virtual laboratories (internet, virtual reality, etc.). Many studies have shown that interactive laboratory activities increase student achievement and interest in the subjects studied. From another point of view, they further support their learning, especially in disciplines such as engineering, computer technology and others.

Advances in technology and communication networks have created the opportunity to develop interactive and remote labs, providing new opportunities for both on-campus and remote students, bypassing certain limitations of physical labs.

In this article, the authors analyze the advantages of modern interactive laboratories implemented in various disciplines. Our review and analysis reveal a number of interesting observations, findings, and insights in virtual and remote lab implementations. Virtual and remote labs provide a number of benefits such as remote persistent access, flexibility and freedom to learn at your own pace and reset/re-experiment without wasting resources in a safe environment and provide new learning opportunities.

In this context, we describe the different virtual laboratory functions used in educational tasks at the university level and a study conducted on the advantages and disadvantages they offer for teaching.

Many virtual labs have been developed in recent years, but not all of them have been successfully adopted. Designing, planning and setting up a virtual lab can be a very difficult process, which can become even more complicated if the lab needs to provide access to real equipment. One of the most problematic steps in developing such virtual labs is choosing the right access method. Currently, there are many technologies that allow users to access devices remotely.

We observe that these labs, when incorporated with a robust pedagogical framework, learner support, content, and faculty interaction, lead to higher learning outcomes and a richer learning experience. Future work will develop to implement innovative laboratories in different educational contexts, taking advantage of technological advances.

The aim of the interactive and remote laboratories is to provide all students with access to the equipment available in the engineering laboratories, generally limited due to its high cost. These interactive labs allow simulation of student practices and assess their skills for proper use.

Collaboration, catering to diverse learner personalities, impact of learning outcomes, pedagogical frameworks for interactive and remote labs are areas for further research.

Keywords:

Interactive laboratory, remote access, engineering education, training, simulation lab, technology.