Abstract
The engineering students understand the engineering concepts effectively when they conduct the experiments in the laboratory. Hence, laboratory is as important as theory; however, the ill-equipped laboratory facilities affect the students’ learnability. The virtual laboratories may help the students overcome the problems faced by them in the conventional laboratory. In India, educational activities during the middle of the semester were affected due to lockdown related to COVID-19. However, the theory classes were conducted online, and educational institutions are finding it difficult to complete the laboratory experiments due to closure of colleges for the students due to COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, we have conducted a faculty development programme for the engineering college faculty members on mechanical engineering virtual laboratories. Similarly, we have trained the mechanical engineering students on fluid mechanics virtual laboratory. We have taken feedback from the participants of these virtual laboratory training programme and analysed it. From the analysis we have observed that more than 90 per cent of the participants were happy about the virtual laboratory and they expressed that their learning process improved with virtual laboratory experiments. Also, they felt that the virtual laboratories can be used till the COVID-19 pandemic issues are solved. Since the vaccine for COVID-19 is not available yet, the virtual laboratories will help the mechanical engineering students to conduct the laboratory experiments for the academic year 2020–2021.
Highlights
The laboratory experiments help students understand science subjects effectively; these are an integral part of science education (Çepni et al, 1995)
From the analysis we have observed that more than 90 per cent of the participants were happy about the virtual laboratory and they expressed that their learning process improved with virtual laboratory experiments
The background and introduction of each virtual laboratory (VL) was given every day in the morning session and the participants of the faculty development program (FDP) performed the simulation and remote triggered VL experiments in the afternoon session
Summary
The laboratory experiments help students understand science subjects effectively; these are an integral part of science education (Çepni et al, 1995). Students conduct experiments as per the laboratory protocol, prepare the report, analyse the data and interpret the results This practice helps the students improve their observation capability and result analysing skills. The laboratory plays a key role in engineering education to understand theoretical concept, teamwork, observation capability, communication, analysing skill and so on (Feisel & Rosa, 2005). It helps the students understand storage and handling of hazard materials, safety guidelines and safety labels (Artdej, 2012). The students conduct the experiments effectively if they have prior knowledge on experimental set-up and experimental procedure (Brüggemann & Bizer, 2016)
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