A supportive pedagogical package for distance learning and remote laboratories

Abstract

Laboratories are an important and integral part of the engineering curriculum and should be well integrated into a coherent learning path. In a distance learning context, the development and integration of remote laboratories represents an important technical challenge. Consequently, it is sometimes observed that the pedagogical and socio-affective aspects are neglected in the development of such laboratories. In this project, the objective has been to develop a flexible and reusable model (a full pedagogical package) designed to support the development of remote laboratory modules as well as providing an "ideal" distance learning environment that effectively supports teamwork between geographically dispersed students. The proposed model is partly inspired from the problem-based learning pedagogy with emphasis on collaboration, mutual training and peer support. Particular efforts were made to minimize the need for supervision. It is designed to make full use of the tools and flexibility provided by an existing learning management system (LMS) such as Moodle. The collaborative approach on which relies the completion of pre- and post-lab team documents is first discussed followed by a presentation of the other elements that are included in the model. The full concept is then summarized graphically, linking each module contents to their cognitive and socio-affective objectives. In addition to its usefulness as a guide to help developers design their remote laboratory interfaces, the model provides a convenient way to evaluate different aspects of a project (including teamwork and problem resolution processes) in addition to the actual learning objectives.