A Web based Instrumentation Platform for Use in Distance Learning

Enabling distance learning is becoming increasingly important to the mission of today’s institutions of higher education. Much work is being performed to offer online courses that make education accessible to those who do not fit the model of the traditional fulltime student. Tools such as WebCT make the task of offering a typical lecture course via the Internet straightforward. Unfortunately, while this works well for lecture courses, educational programs that rely on a hands-on learning approach must develop meaningful laboratory experiences that can be delivered via the World Wide Web. Many universities have ongoing efforts in this area.