Internet Accessible Remote Experimentation: Setting the Right Course of Action

Abstract

This paper will have two parts. In the first part the author will focus on the current status of remote experimentation designs and how this has impacted our education and research activities with a notion that whether we are moving too fast while its acceptance has not yet realized. While for the second part, the author will describe some of the developments of remote experiment designs through his own work. Researchers have been working on remote experimentations for a considerable period of time and are making remarkable breakthroughs utilizing cutting edge technologies and current understanding of educational and learning strategies. After all of these developments, the popularity of remote experimentations is still very limited and does not have the attention of the academic community to incorporate them as a part of their regular curriculum. There are a number of factors that hinder acceptance of remote laboratories as a part of a curriculum. These are integration of a number of areas, modular designs, commercial products, maintenance, and administrative support. The paper will address these issues and will highlight how we can move forward in a coordinated manner so there will be a viable remote experimentation infrastructure with a high degree of acceptance. The author has a number of federal research grants (USA) where he has developed Internet accessible remote experimentation facilities. These facilities have features like use of single computer for accessing multiple experiments, manipulating experimental setup from remote locations, integrated assessment, and real-time learning management features. The developed facilities have used for delivering a number of experiment courses, while gathering data in terms of achieving learning outcomes and assessing the effectiveness of the system in terms of system designs.