Web-based experimentation integration in engineering curricula: experience in deploying resources distributed among universities

Web-based experimentation is a paradigm currently deployed by various clusters of traditional and open universities for the main purpose of enhancing the offering of didactic resources designed to strengthen hands-on practice in engineering education by sharing laboratory experiments distributed worldwide. Web-based experimentation also offers an tremendous opportunity to add flexibility in traditional curricula by providing students with versatile access to the learning material from both a time and a location perspective. In this paper, experience gained in deploying common web-based experimentation resources at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) and at the University of Florida in Gainesville is detailed, respectively in the framework of a traditional undergraduate curricula and of a distance masters-degree program. In addition to providing a description of web-based on-line laboratory resources, this papers seeks to introduce clear definitions of the components necessary to realistically sustain hands-on learning activities, such as synchronous collaboration facilities and on-line tutoring resources.