Web-based computer assisted laboratory instruction

The feasibility of computer-assisted instruction in a practical laboratory has been explored in this work. Computer assisted instruction (CAI), in which educational instruction is delivered through a computer, has been a popular area of research and development. Computer assisted laboratory instruction (CALI), on the other hand, has not been systematically studied in the past as literature reveals. In the work conducted in this research, the concept of CALI has been examined by developing a web-based multi-media CALI package for Control Systems laboratory that is used by around 100 students annually in the School of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering, University of Wollongong. Some elements of Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) have been also incorporated to increase the flexibility of the instruction provided. A systematic approach has been employed to develop the specifications of the package and design its structure to ensure its effectiveness. The latest tools in Web development have been employed to achieve all the defined specifications efficiently and systematically. The outcome is a system that has proved very effective in its operation and instruction for the students in the laboratory. In addition to the specific results and benefits produced directly as the result of employing the package in Control Laboratory, the study has also generated outcomes that are generic and can be considered in the application of the approach in any practical laboratory

animation : An R Package for Creating Animations and Demonstrating Statistical Methods

Animated graphs that demonstrate statistical ideas and methods can both attract interest and assist understanding. In this paper we first discuss how animations can be related to some statistical topics such as iterative algorithms, random simulations, (re)sampling methods and dynamic trends, then we describe the approaches that may be used to create animations, and give an overview to the R package animation, including its design, usage and the statistical topics in the package. With the animation package, we can export the animations produced by R into a variety of formats, such as a web page, a GIF animation, a Flash movie, a PDF document, or an MP4/AVI video, so that users can publish the animations fairly easily. The design of this package is flexible enough to be readily incorporated into web applications, e.g., we can generate animations online with Rweb, which means we do not even need R to be installed locally to create animations. We will show examples of the use of animations in teaching statistics and in the presentation of statistical reports using Sweave or knitr. In fact, this paper itself was written with the knitr and animation package, and the animations are embedded in the PDF document, so that readers can watch the animations in real time when they read the paper (the Adobe Reader is required).Animations can add insight and interest to traditional static approaches to teaching statistics and reporting, making statistics a more interesting and appealing subject

Implementationof Monte Carlo and Numerical Integration Techniques within an Online Physics Laboratory Environment

A robust and sophisticated online physics laboratory environment has been developed. This environment can handle large data sets and generate realistic experimental results by applying Monte Carlo and numerical integration techniques. The advantages and limitations of both the Flash 5 and Java development environments were explored. Java was chosen for it’s ability to handle large data sets and consequently used to create the Java Laboratory (JLab) environment. Within the online environment two JLabs were created, the ”Online Virtual Nuclear Decay Laboratory” and the ”Online Virtual Stern-Gerlach Laboratory”. These laboratories teach students how to manipulate experimental parameters, take data, and use various analysis tools. These JLabs generate realistic data sets for students to analyze and prove that online laboratories can play a significant role in enhancing physics education

Virtual classroom for multimedia teaching on WWW

The specific issue addressed in this paper is tailoring specific functionality to allow a group of teachers and students to carry out the learning process in Digital Signal and Image Processing in an electronic virtual environment that is meant to replace the physical class environment. In order such an environment to be performed, not only the course content itself but also different Web-based tools for interaction between the students and teachers are needed. A Graphical User Interface (GUI), designed and presented here, brings together the students and teachers through virtual class and lab-sessions help and chat rooms. As Digital Signal and Image Processing are areas that heavily depend on mathematics, the lab-sessions are performed through MATLAB Web Server. Some specific applications are shown as well as complementary tools like Web-calendar and Digital Library. Finally, benefits and future work on this virtual classroom are discussed

The All Squirrel Band

Business Problem Science is a crucial part of our educational curriculum. It has become vitally important for children to be introduced to science at an earlier age to insure their interest is cultivated throughout the rest of their education. The dilemma is finding interesting ways to engage grade school aged children in learning about science. Technical Solution The All Squirrel Band is a web based phrase completion game hosted by a rock band made up entirely of squirrels. The object of the game is to collect enough nuts for the band to go on tour this winter. Each nut represents a letter of the alphabet used to complete the phrase. A category is given for each phrase. Categories would include subjects pertaining to science. An example category would be the moons of our solar system, where each phrase contains the name of a moon and the planet it orbits. The phrase can then be used to search the web for additional information on the subject. Business Case The purpose of the project is to introduce science to grade school aged children through the use of art, music and games. The project also introduces the use of the internet as a learning tool and resource for information

Recurso digital educativo para el análisis de datos en un laboratorio de Mecánica de Suelo

[EN] This work aims to implement and evaluate an interactive educational software that helps Civil Engineering students to perform and analyze the calculations related to different Soil Mechanics laboratory tests. This experience consists of an attempt to incorporate information and communication technologies (ICTs) into the engineering teaching-learning process. The content of the program is distributed into three different modules: “Compaction test”, “Consolidation test”, and “Direct shear test”. Using vector graphics, tables, illustrative figures, animations, equations, tip buttons, and immediate correction of mistakes, the software clarifies the relationship between theoretical concepts and practical laboratory results, instructs the students in the moments of doubt, attracts their interest, and motivates them to achieve the complete data interpretation. Based on the results of an applied evaluation questionnaire, it was observed that most of the students were satisfied with the contents and functionalities of the program. The developed tool can be an inspiration for the creation of new educational software that improve the quality of education in different engineering areas.[ES] El presente trabajo pretende implementar y evaluar un software educativo interactivo que ayuda a los estudiantes de ingeniería civil a realizar y analizar los cálculos relacionados con los diferentes ensayos de laboratorio de Mecánica de Suelos. Esta experiencia tiene como objetivo incorporar las Tecnologías de Información y Comunicación (TICs) en el proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje de la ingeniería. El contenido del programa se distribuye en tres módulos diferentes: “Ensayo de compactación”, “Ensayo de consolidación” y “Ensayo de corte directo”. Usando gráficos vectoriales, tablas, figuras ilustrativas, animaciones, ecuaciones, botones de ayuda y corrección inmediata de errores, el software aclara la relación entre conceptos teóricos y resultados prácticos de laboratorio, instruye a los estudiantes en los momentos de duda, atrae su interés y motiva ellos para lograr la interpretación completa de datos. Con base en los resultados de un cuestionario de evaluación, se observó que la mayoría de los estudiantes quedaron satisfechos con los contenidos y las funcionalidades del programa. La herramienta desarrollada puede ser una inspiración para la creación de nuevos programas educativos que mejoren la calidad de la educación en diferentes áreas de la ingeniería.The authors would like to express gratitude to the Civil Engineering Department and to the Geotechnical Laboratory of the Federal University of Viçosa, for the great support to this research.Nalon, GH.; Barbosa, PSDA.; Nascimento, WD. (2018). Educational digital resource for data analysisof Soil Mechanics laboratory tests. Modelling in Science Education and Learning. 11(1):43-54. doi:10.4995/msel.2018.9140SWORD435411