MOOLs: Massive Open Online Laboratories: An analysis of scale and feasibility

Massive Open Online Courses have been receiving enormous attention within the educational community. Open questions remain however with respect to how laboratory experiences - particularly those that benefit from access to physical equipment - can be accommodated within MOOCs. In this paper the potential for addressing this challenge through the use of remotely accessed laboratories is considered - particularly in terms of the feasibility of achieving massively-scalable laboratory access. Consideration is given to the different parameters that affect remote laboratory capacity, and a number of scenarios are used to illustrate the varying levels of laboratory apparatus that might be required, and hence the feasibility of providing support.

[1]  A. Nafalski,et al.  Remote laboratory netlab for effective interaction with real equipment over the internet , 2008, 2008 Conference on Human System Interactions.

[2]  Jackie Walkington,et al.  Practical work in engineering: A challenge for distance education , 1994 .

[3]  Noah S. Podolefsky,et al.  When learning about the real world is better done virtually: A study of substituting computer simulations for laboratory equipment , 2005 .

[4]  Ingvar Gustavsson,et al.  Using VISIR in a Large Undergraduate Course: Preliminary Assessment Results , 2011 .

[5]  Euan Lindsay,et al.  Effects of laboratory access modes upon learning outcomes , 2005, IEEE Transactions on Education.

[6]  Ingvar Gustavsson,et al.  Collaborative Learning in Engineering Remote Laboratories , 2009 .

[7]  Ananda Maiti.  A hybrid algorithm for time scheduling in remotely triggered online laboratories , 2011, 2011 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON).

[8]  Michael E. Auer,et al.  Architectures and Design Methodologies for Scalable and Sustainable Remote Laboratory Infrastructures , 2012 .

[9]  David Lowe.  Impacts of Scheduling Algorithms on Resource Availability , 2012 .

[10]  Dikai Liu,et al.  Evolving Remote Laboratory Architectures to Leverage Emerging Internet Technologies , 2009, IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies.

[11]  David H. Uttal,et al.  Getting real: the authenticity of remote labs and simulations for science learning , 2013 .

[12]  Tee Tang,et al.  Labshare: Towards Cross- Institutional Laboratory Sharing , 2012 .

[13]  Jeffrey V. Nickerson,et al.  Process and learning outcomes from remotely-operated, simulated, and hands-on student laboratories , 2011, Comput. Educ..

[14]  Jeffrey V. Nickerson,et al.  A model for evaluating the effectiveness of remote engineering laboratories and simulations in education , 2007, Comput. Educ..

[15]  Li Yuan,et al.  MOOCs and open education: Implications for higher education , 2013 .

[16]  Kirky K. DeLong,et al.  The iLab Shared Architecture: A Web Services Infrastructure to Build Communities of Internet Accessible Laboratories , 2008, Proceedings of the IEEE.

[17]  Wenshan Hu,et al.  NCSLab: A Web-Based Global-Scale Control Laboratory With Rich Interactive Features , 2010, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.