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 News- Bad 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 LabCLIENTs File Sharing

SYSTEMCONTROL Set Point Output - + Classical Control Systems

USER (client) SYSTEMCONTROL Set Point Output - + Laboratory Remote Operation LAB SYSTEM (server)

Controls Laboratory Equipment Details 7 - Stations All S.I.S.O., “Stable” Pressure Level Voltage Speed Flow Temperature Position

Pressure Temperature Flow

Level, 2-tanks Speed and Voltage

Ch E Laboratory Equipment Details 10 - Stations Distillation Filter Absorber Dehumidifier Heat Pump Drying Oven Combustion Heat Exchanger Cooling TowerPressure 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 40K t o 

Step Input Results 40K t o  h

Step Input Results

Input = 50%, t < 5 sec Input = 90%, t > 5 sec 40K t o 

Step Input Results 40K t o 

Step Input Results 40K t o 

Step Input Results 40K t o 

Step Input Results 40K t o 

t o

Diponegoro University, Indonesia University of Koeln, Germany

Direct Connection INTERNET..... Your Computer LabCLIENTs TCP/IP

SYSTEMCONTROL Set Point Output - + Direct Connection Custom Software SERVER Input Data 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 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 Web access learning is very important these days, when a lot of information is available and 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 www. RealLabs.net -- 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