Authors:
K. Ninos
;
I. Stavrakas
;
G. Hloupis
;
C. Anastasiadis
and
D. Triantis
Affiliation:
Technological Educational Institution of Athens, Greece
Keyword(s):
Virtual laboratory, Networked Teaching, Teaching Physics of Semiconductors, Server - Client Java Application.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Artificial Intelligence and Decision Support Systems
;
Computer-Supported Education
;
e-Learning
;
e-Learning Hardware and Software
;
Enterprise Information Systems
;
Information Technologies Supporting Learning
;
Intelligent Tutoring Systems
;
Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning
;
Virtual Learning Environments
Abstract:
Virtual laboratory tools have been introduced long ago. Such tools have been used by students to improve their performance and stimulate their interest. When the high cost of hardware replacement and maintenance is contrasted to the flexibility of adding new subjects in a laboratory course, the virtual laboratory tools render a power tool for educational purposes. Since students statistically do not spend adequate time preparing for laboratory modules, new methodologies and software have been sought to help students increase their laboratory skills and understanding. In this work a virtual laboratory environment dealing with Semiconductor Physics assignments is described, discussed and evaluated. Semiconductor Physics was chosen since it is a first year module not connected to any background knowledge familiar to the students. The evaluation was made by providing the software to some of the students and comparing their performance to that of students having no access to the software.
It is concluded that the software tool provided to the students before taking the laboratory helped to increase their performance. It was also observed that this tool mainly serves weaker students since, according to the evaluation tests, they are mainly helped to achieve a pass score.
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