Hands on Online Experimentation

This work summarizes our design of an online laboratory in mechanical engineering instruction. The laboratory is designed to cover mechanical engineering metrology using low-cost microcontrollers, sensors, and actuators to enable experimentation essentially anytime, anywhere. The laboratory is composed of formative learning modules designed to teach fundamentals of metrology through experiential learning exercises or design activities. A summative module culminates student learning experiences through an open-ended project, where students work on a thematic field considering value creation and unmet needs. We measured student learning gains through Student Assessment of their Learning Gains survey. Students reported good to great gains for student learning outcomes. Finally, we discuss how our online laboratory approach could be enhanced through scaffolding with other online laboratory modalities.