Web-Based Laboratories:
Technical and
Pedagogical Considerations
Jim Henry, Ph.D., P.E.
College of Engineering and Computer Science
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
AIChE, 2001 Reno, NV
Chattanooga, Tennessee
What are
"Web-Based Laboratories"?
Lab experiments
offered via the WEB
WHY ?
Accommodates Scheduling Problems
Can serve equipment-challenged campuses
It's all the go to get on the Web
We enjoy doing this stuff
What are
“Technical Considerations”?
How is it done
Available stations
More reliability
More experiments
More accessibility
Ease of use
What are
"Pedagogical Considerations "?
Student support offered via the WEB
Outcomes and Assessment
Teaching and Learning expansion
Team mailing lists
Discussion Forums
FAQ
Intelligent Agent responder
Good NewsBad News
Hardware
experiments
It works
It's reliable
Managing "distant"
students
The Connections
WWW based
Netscape or Internet Explorer
Familiar & accessible & friendly
Direct via Internet
Custom LabVIEW programs
Other software to use MATLAB, e.g.
WWW Protocol
INTERNET . . . . .
Document
Server
LabSERVER
File Sharing
LabCLIENTs
Classical Control Systems
Set
Point
Output
CONTROL
+
-
SYSTEM
Laboratory Remote Operation
Set
Point
Output
CONTROL
+
SYSTEM
USER
(client)
LAB SYSTEM
(server)
Controls Laboratory
Equipment Details
7 - Stations
Pressure
Voltage
Flow
Position
All S.I.S.O., “Stable”
Level
Speed
Temperature
Temperature
Pressure
Flow
Speed and Voltage
Level, 2-tanks
Ch E Laboratory
Equipment Details
10 - Stations
Distillation
Absorber
Heat Pump
Combustion
Cooling Tower
Filter
Dehumidifier
Drying Oven
Heat Exchanger
Pressure Swing Absorption
Distillation
Pressure Swing Absorption
Laboratory
Experiment Details
System Identification
Steady-State Step
Ramp
Sine
Pulse
"Custom"
Feedback Control
Proportional w/ bias
Proportional Integral
Step Input
Results
Input = 50%, t < 5 sec
Input = 90%, t > 5 sec
to
t
40K
Step Input
Results
• h
40K
to
t
Step Input
Results
Step Input
Results
Input = 50%, t < 5 sec
Input = 90%, t > 5 sec
to
t
40K
Step Input
Results
40K
to
t
Step Input
Results
40K
to
t
Step Input
Results
40K
to
t
Step Input
Results
40K
to
t
to
•Diponegoro University, Indonesia
•University of Koeln, Germany
Direct Connection
Your
Computer
INTERNET . . . . .
TCP/IP
LabCLIENTs
Direct Connection
Custom Software
Set
Point
SERVER
Input Data
CONTROL
+
Output
SYSTEM
Output
Data
•May-June, 2001
Web Sites
chem.engr.utc.edu
link to this paper:
chem.engr.utc.edu/AIChE
Web Sites
.
. .
chem engr utc edu
link to this talk & paper:
.
. .
chem engr utc edu/AIChE
Pedagogy
-Student responses
•We can pick the time to meet to run the labs
instead of being required to be here for a set
class time
•The ability to perform experiments from remote
locations
Pedagogy
-Student responses
From Anonymous Student Survey, UT-Chattanooga, 2001
how much you think you have been helped in these
areas by remote operation of laboratory equipment
or access to data an graphs on the web
+1 S.D.
approach to effective operation and
troubleshooting
new learning
3.5
3.5
Pedagogy
-Student responses
From Anonymous Student Survey, UT-Chattanooga, 2001
how much you think you have been helped ...
+1 S.D. to Mean
organization of experimental testing efforts
3.4
effective data analysis
3.4
obtaining and analyzing experimental data
3.4
the care needed to obtain reasonable data
3.4
General familiarity with engineering equipment, experimental
design and planning
3.3
report writing that is brief and to the point with well
documented calculations included
3.3
engineering analysis
3.3
Pedagogy
-Student responses
•You can run experiments during class time or
at 3AM as well as turn in your reports at any
time over the web I liked the freedom of the lab
•It worked out well being able to work at
different times
Pedagogy
-Student responses
•This was a new experience. Especially running
the experiments on the Web, and sending the
assignments by e-mail
•Web access learning is very important these days,
when a lot of information is available and e-mail is
taking the place of traditional phone calling and
letter writing.
Pedagogy
-Student support
•Educational Materials for Remote Laboratory
Operation
•descriptions of the equipment
•examples of experiments
•procedures for conducting the experiments
•sample topics
Pedagogy
-Student support
•expert system – LISA
•Laboratory Instruction Student Aide
•(a laboratory assistant bot)
Pedagogy
-Student activities
•Problem-oriented activities that are open-ended, and
multi- or interdisciplinary
•Visual formats that allow creation of mental models
•A rich learning environment containing a variety of
interactive resources
Pedagogy
-Student activities
•Cooperative group work, emphasizing shared
intelligence
•Learning through exploration and discovery
•Authentic assessment, emphasizing the qualitative
nature of student work
Vision & Plans
Dissemination opportunities
RealLabs.net
www.
-- New systems
-- Renovated and Updated systems
Acknowledgements
Tennessee Taxpayers
National Science Foundation
UTC's Center for Excellence
in Computer Applications
National Instruments
Microsoft Corporation
Creative Engineering Laboratory Systems
Lupton Renaissance Fund