Analysis and Characterization of Student Interactions in a Remote Laboratory: Measurement of the Enthalpy and Entropy of Vaporization of n-Octane

Abstract

A remote laboratory that measures the enthalpy of vaporization (ΔHvap°) and the entropy of vaporization (ΔSvap°) of n-octane was designed, constructed, and offered to second-year physical chemistry undergraduates at the University of New England (UNE) and Curtin University. The experiment was delivered in real-time, using equipment controlled remotely via the internet. A survey instrument was developed to investigate the learning process from the students’ viewpoint and was followed by focus group interviews. Guidance from the laboratory manual and from the visual hints available through the webcam was important for their learning and was used most frequently among all the interactions. The students were satisfied with the laboratory and would like to perform other remote experiments. Types of learning interactions, such as experiment construction and technical skill learning, could be partly achieved with support from technicians and the meticulous design of online guidance.