Developing virtual and remote undergraduate laboratory for Engineering Technology

Abstract

In this paper, the development of virtual and remote laboratory (VR-Lab) for the enhancement of Engineering Technology (ET) program is presented. By utilizing the latest Information Technology, the VR-Lab is established through the setting up of an Internet-based laboratory for interactive learning. Faculties from two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) collaborate on this project, with the aim of revamping some existing laboratories with virtual and remote functionalities. The objectives of this effort are to improve the learning of under-represented student population in the ET program; provide a platform to publish the VR-Lab courseware developed in senior projects; promote inter-institutional collaboration by developing and sharing VR-Lab courseware; develop faculty expertise through research and teaching initiatives; and disseminate results and findings of the project to other universities and colleges. In this paper, the authors intend to demonstrate their research plans as well as their latest progress in the NSF Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) Type 1 project. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2010.