Abstract
Practical experimentation is essential for electronics learning. As the acquisition of practical and professional competences in full online scenario is concerned, it is very relevant the use of technology that allows students to carry out hands-on experiments. This paper presents Lab@Home, the Open University of Catalonia (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, UOC, Barcelona, Spain) hands-on electronics laboratory, which allows online students to carry out practical experiments anywhere and anytime at a reduced cost and with good portability characteristics. Lab@Home features and students satisfaction are analyzed during six consecutive semesters in two different subjects by means of a self-administered questionnaire, showing the benefits of using Lab@Home in the acquisition of the subjects contents and gathering how could be improved students learning experience by using this kind of electronics laboratory.
Highlights
Laboratories become essential in technological degrees, where the practical experimentation is required to acquire the expected competencies and professional skills [1].In this regard, the study of electronics technology has been traditionally linked to the use of face-to-face hands-on laboratories
Lab@Home is mainly a hardware platform (Figure 1) connected to a computer that provides the main features of a traditional electronics laboratory at a reduced cost: circuits assembling, testing, measurement procedures and signal acquisition
Lab@Home has been used by 517 students over six consecutive semesters, in two different subjects belonging to the Bachelor of Telecommunications Engineering (BTE) degree at UOC: Circuits Theory (CT) and Electronics Technology (ET)
Summary
Laboratories become essential in technological degrees, where the practical experimentation is required to acquire the expected competencies and professional skills [1]. This experiment can be performed by using kit components, the working are for experimentation and all devices implemented in Lab@Home As it has been presented, Lab@Home is mainly a hardware platform connected to a computer that provides the main features of a traditional electronics laboratory at a reduced cost, and under good conditions for portability—all elements are available in a working area. Taking into account all features, Lab@Home is the more complete reduced cost option with the best variability of DC power supplies, with signal generator/measurement, an integrated working area and good conditions for portability. All these benefit make this solution an ideal option for online learning where students have to use their own resources from anywhere during the learning process. In UOC, as an fully online University, no physical access is possible to traditional laboratories and the use of a hands-on laboratory like Lab@Home let combining experimental and theoretical knowledge during the study
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