Evaluating a remotely accessed energy laboratory

Abstract

Web-based monitoring and control of instructional laboratory equipment has become common. It is less clear how well remotely accessed laboratories satisfy the learning objectives for engineering technology courses. This paper describes a web-enabled energy laboratory featuring both solar energy and HVAC systems. Although the facility is physically located on the West Lafayette campus of Purdue University, the equipment is used by students in Mechanical Engineering Technology programs located across the state of Indiana. The discussion also evaluates the performance of students who access the laboratory over the Internet, without actually seeing the equipment in person. The viability of remotely accessible laboratories has become an important issue as engineering and engineering technology programs struggle to deliver lab-based distance education courses.