Using service oriented remote laboratories in engineering courses

This paper suggests a new approach to perform the laboratories sessions in engineering courses using remote laboratory. Our approach is that for each laboratory session, there are sets of user interfaces designed as services available for the learners. Each service allows applying some inputs (if any) to the physical equipment and returns some selected output signals from the equipment. These outputs signals can be measured and/or saved. In order to obtain the required results formulated by the teacher in his/her learning scenario, the remote learner has to select the services that match the best, and be able to perform all necessary calculations and analysis We refer to this approach as constructional, since, to achieve a given task, the user has to search and choose the appropriate user interfaces designed as services among many others available. The teacher is also able to assess whether the learner has understood the theoretical concepts previously studied in class. The proposed approach is used in a Control System Laboratory session using a DC motor remotely controlled and in Electric circuit analysis course.