1.

INTRODUCTION

Laboratory teaching has always been a major component in science education [1]. The processes of making observations, performing systematic and quantitative investigations, data collection and analysis, are the skills fundamental to the training of all science subjects. Performing experiments also serve to reinforce students’ classroom learning experiences. Well-controlled laboratory settings can provide students with first-hand experiences to the relevant scientific phenomena and verify their knowledge acquired from textbooks.

In general, experiment teachings are carried out during traditional laboratory sessions. Students are asked to perform well-controlled experiments in pre-defined time slot. This arrangement allows a large number of students to perform the experiments together with the supervision of only a few instructors. However, traditional laboratory learning is fairly passive, as the students need to perform the pre-assigned experiments by following instructions provided from the teachers, depriving them of opportunities for self-directed learning, i.e. it cannot cater students with diverse background.

Besides traditional laboratory sessions, some educators start to explore on new routes of laboratory teaching, such as virtual laboratory [2-6]. In these studies, virtual laboratory solved some issues associated with traditional laboratory. These studies showed that virtual laboratory can support science teaching in some ways [6, 7]. However, for computer simulations or virtual laboratory, subtle details are easily neglected because of their irrelevance to the main scientific phenomena under consideration. For example, increasing the separation between the sound source and the receiver naturally leads to a reduction in the detected sound intensity (inverse-square law), irrespective to the presence of interference or diffraction effects. The absence of such features convey a naive message that real-life experiments have simple correspondences between the experimental parameters and the observables discussed, and are free from other potential influences. Including such complexities in simulation, while possible, is cumbersome and it involves a tricky balance between highlighting the specific phenomena and the complexity of the real-world situations. Additionally, as simulations always yield ‘perfect results’, students are deprived of the opportunities to understand how randomness, imperfections and errors can arise in real experiments. For example, randomness in radioactive decay processes is inevitable and can be systematically analyzed, while systematic errors or instrument noises can be suppressed with proper experimental techniques. The discussion of such ‘imperfections’ are also of significance for scientific studies.

Recently, apart from virtual laboratory, remote laboratory experiments, which allow students to access automated setups via the internet, have been suggested to replace the traditional laboratory [8, 9]. In these remote laboratories, the setups involve simple user interfaces for displaying experimental control and results. Due to the explosive development of internet technology, recently-reported remote laboratories are mostly incorporated with real-time video streaming of the setup. Additional features, such as multi-user control and discussion forum, facilitates the interactions between instructors and students [10]. Using the remote experiments, students can monitor and actively control the setups by themselves through sensors, with real-time video monitoring to visualize the experiment ‘in action’ [11].

There are also practical concerns that motivated us to look for alternative experiment experiences for students. From September 2009, the educational system in Hong Kong has shifted to a new 3-3-4 system, which consists of three-years of junior and three years of senior secondary education (graduate with Diploma of Secondary Education DSE), and four years of university education. This is in contrast with the old system of seven-year secondary education plus three years of university education. The first cohort of students educated under the new 3-3-4 system was admitted to our university (PolyU) in 2012. We realized that the students who completed DSE and enrolled into PolyU’s physics and engineering programmes have very diverse science background. In a typical 2-hour laboratory session when students are asked to perform controlled experiments, some students finish the laboratory without any difficulty in the allotted time, while others show great difficulty in setting up and finishing the experiment within the assigned time.

Out of the considerations above, we developed a remote laboratory (RemoteLab) platform which can cater for different student backgrounds and provide opportunities for self-directed learning of fundamental principles of physics, before they progress towards more advanced subjects in their course of study. In particular, here we report the development of the optical interference experiment. In the design of our RemoteLab, an internet-based platform is available for students to perform some particular experiments. No specific software is required to run the platform. The flexible learning schedule helps students to increase their learning experience and enhance their understanding of experiments, so students are able to repeat experiments anytime. This allows slow-learning students to repeat the experiments to achieve better results, and perform their experiments anytime, anywhere and as often as they need.

2.

HARDWARE

We have developed a centralized repository of selected experiments for the platform to improve physics learning experience for our first year undergraduate students. Through remote access via the internet, students operate such setups in a way similar to running the experiment in school laboratories. With the platform, various teaching and learning (T&L) modes can be adopted as deemed suitable by teachers. For example, teachers can use a particular setup for in-class demonstrations and illustrate important concepts, or assign the experiment as assignments for students’ exploration after class.

Our RemoteLab plaform primarily now hosts six experiments (interference of light, Earth’s magnetic field, radioactivity, electron charge/mass ratio measurement, ultrasound imaging and photoelectric effect). The architecture of RemoteLab is similar to many of other existing remote laboratory platforms and is illustrated in Fig. 1. Users approach the platform via the webpage of RemoteLab, and access to the web server of RemoteLab platform requires pre-assigned usernames and passwords. The web server allows user access to the interfacing control program in local consoles, which are responsible for manipulation of various components of the experiment setups, data acquisition from sensors and the signal transmission to the remote users.

Fig. 1

Schematic diagram showing the concept of real-time, remote-access laboratory experiment platform.

To demonstrate the functionalities of various components in the RemoteLab platform, we showcase here the optical interference setup for illustrating the significance of such incorporations in students’ experiment learning experience. The purpose of the experiment of optical interference is to examine the interference patterns formed by laser light after passing through slits of different parameters. Also, the effect of the wavelength of light on the interference pattern can also be examined. Successful generation of the interference pattern require precise positioning of the laser beam on the slits. Although this optical alignment process can be easily achieved by pre-defined movement of the laser, it is a good learning opportunity for students to monitor the processing while doing the experiment using a remote monitoring system.

To allow the students to perform the experiments as if they perform it in the laboratory, the hardware include the following components:

Fig. 2

Components of light interference experiment, (a) Movable slit sets, (b) light intensity sensor with white screen for easy visualization of interference pattern, and (c) complete setup. Notice the web camera at the top right corner of picture for viewing the slits during experiment.

3.

ACCESSORIES

While the hardware is crucial for the RemoteLab, some basic but significant functions are also available in the RemoteLab platform [12], as listed in the following.

4.

EVALUATION

To gauge the educational impact of the RemoteLab platform on students’ learning of interference effect, the interference experiment was prescribed to two groups of students, namely a group of form five students from a local secondary school, and a group of freshman undergraduates in the Department of Applied Physics of PolyU.

PolyU freshman students’ survey

The survey was conducted in 2016 to collect users’ opinion on RemoteLab’s interference experiment, including the experimental setup, booking system, user interface and other related aspects. 109 students completed a 15-question survey (Table 1) that used a 5-point Likert scale from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 5 (Strongly Agree). We note that the survey was different from the secondary school students’ survey (Table 2, to be discussed in the next paragraph) as the survey for undergraduates were primarily for optimizing the setup.

Table 1.

Survey used for evaluating on RemoteLab by undergraduates in AP, PolyU.

Experimental SetupQ1. Interference of Light is suitable for remote control experimentsQ2. Experiment setup can be visualized clearly from screenQ3. More viewpoints are necessary

Booking SystemQ4. Easy to use the booking systemQ5. Sufficient guidance provided to book RemoteLabQ6. Time allocated for each session is appropriateQ7. Prefer to use email to notify user of booking time

User InterfaceQ8. Online instructions to conduct experiments are clearQ9. Webpage design is user-friendlyQ10. Easy to enter the Remote Lab for experimentQ11. Instructions to use the Remote Lab are clearly stated in the lab manual

Overall CommentQ12. It is an effective way to conduct a laboratory sessionQ13. The experiment can be completed smoothlyQ14. It’s a good learning experienceQ15. RemoteLab serves as a supplementary to a normal Laboratory session

Table 2.

Survey used for evaluating on RemoteLab by secondary school students. Unless specified, the questions are rated on a 5-pont Likert scale (1: Strongly Disagree; 5: Strongly Agree).

User Interface Q1. The platform’s setup and user interface is easy to use and understand.Q2. The experimental interface is shown clearly.Q3. The user manual provides sufficient background knowledge about the experiment.Q4. There are clear and accurate instructions and guidance in completing the experiment.Q5. Which part in Lab Manual is mostly useful? (Mark only one)•Objective (YouTube Video)•Apparatus•Theory•ProceduresQ6. Which part in Lab Manual is mentioned in textbook? (Check all that apply)•Objective (YouTube Video)•Apparatus•Theory•ProceduresQ7. Which part in Lab Manual is mentioned in class’ materials? (Check all that apply)•Objective (YouTube Video)•Apparatus•Theory•ProceduresQ8. Do you need more instructions before using RemoteLab?

Booking System & Experiment SetupQ9. It is easy to book and enter lab session.Q10. There is sufficient time to complete all the tasks within the reserved time slot.Q11. The experiment functions smoothly.Q12. The viewing ports allow you to visualize the setup clearly.Q13. It is easy to download the data and result for analysis.Q14. The experimental results obtained in a “good quality” way.Q15. The data you obtained is able to fit in the scientific theory or phenomenon.

Learning ProcessQ16. What was your expectations before using RemoteLab? (Check all that apply)•Hands-on experimental experiences•Problem-solving skills•Analysis•Enhance theoretical and conceptual knowledge•Thinking skillsQ17. Did the platform meet your expectations?Q18. How did the result and data of experiment satisfy your expectations? (1-Very Dissatisfied - 5-Very Satisfied)Q19. How did the supporting materials (lab manual) satisfy your expectations? (1-Very Dissatisfied - 5-Very Satisfied)Q20. How did the process of performing experiment satisfy your expectations? (1-Very Dissatisfied - 5-Very Satisfied)Q21. How did the experiment setup and user interface satisfy your expectations? (1-Very Dissatisfied - 5-Very Satisfied)Q22. Did you gain better understanding about the scientific theory after doing experiment?Q23. In this experiment, I observed these following details: (Check all that apply)•Effects of wavelength (color) on interference patterns•Effects of slit separation on interference pattern•Relationship between fringe separations•The different interference patterns of single, double and multiple slits

CommentsQ24. The RemoteLab is a good learning experience.Q25. The RemoteLab provides an effective and advanced learning method to conduct a laboratory session.Q26. The RemoteLab increases the opportunities of performing experiment.Q27. The RemoteLab enhances your learning motivation. Q28. How would you rate your experience regarding this activity? (1-Very Poor – 5-Excellent) Q29. Would you recommend this platform to others? Q30. Any suggestions and recommendations

As shown in Fig. 4, more than 80% of students chose “Neutral” or ‘Agree/Strongly Agree’ on questions 4 and 8. The result of question 4 (mean M = 3.85, standard deviation σ = 1.096) suggests that it is easy to use the booking system of RemoteLab, and question 8 (M = 3.37, σ = 1.042) shows that the online guidance to conduct experiment are clear. Also, almost 84% of participants chose “Neutral” or above on question 12, which means they likely agreed RemoteLab is an effective way to conduct a laboratory session. Close to 70% of participants chose “Agree” or “Strongly Agree” on question 14, and it indicates that 71 out of 109 students agreed RemoteLab is a good learning experience.

Fig. 4

Freshman students’ evaluation on RemoteLab.

Secondary school students’ survey

For the survey on secondary school students, we attempted to measure students’ understanding on the specific physics topics by questionnaire. The questionnaire asks for some basic experiences such as students’ reactions about user interface, support materials, experiment and platform setup. To thoroughly understand the benefits and improvement of RemoteLab, the questionnaire also focuses on students’ learning process about doing the interference experiment, and the evaluation indicates students’ expectation and suggestion about their platform and experiment setup through their knowledge.

Secondary school students’ survey was conducted in 2017. 11 participants completed the survey with 30 items, including various types of questions such as closed format, rating scale, likert scale (from 1-Disagree to 5-Agree), and dichotomous questions. In these 30 items of the survey, we focused on 4 different topics, namely user interface, booking system, experiment setup, and learning process. Students’ experiences in RemoteLab and how this platform influenced their learning processes was evaluated.

As shown in Fig. 5, more than 80% of participants chose “Agree” and “Strongly Agree” in question 1 (M = 4.27, σ = 0.79), which means most of them likely agreed the setup of RemoteLab platform and user interface is easy to use and understand. In addition, question 9 shows that 90% of participants (M = 4.55, σ = 0.69) are mostly agreed it is easy to book and enter lab session. On question 12 (M = 4, σ = 0.89) and 13 (M = 4, σ = 0.77), all of the 11 students chose neutral or above, and none of them chose “Disagree” or “Strongly Disagree.” It shows all of the participants believed that the viewing ports of experiment setup showed clear images of the setup, and the data was easy to download for analysis. For the experiment setup (question 12-15), 100% of participants chose “Neutral” or above; none of them chose “Disagree” or “Strongly Disagree”. In particular, more than 80% of participants chose “Agree” and “Strongly Agree” for question 15, which means they mostly agreed the data could fit the scientific theory or phenomenon.

Fig. 5

Secondary school students’ evaluation on RemoteLab.

Fig. 6a and 6b show the analyses of all items used for evaluating students’ learning process and their comments on using RemoteLab. Question 16 of the survey aimed at probing the students’ expectations before using RemoteLab. Based on the graph, 8 out of 11 participants chose “Knowledge”. Questions 17 to 21 were used to show students’ expectations in different aspects of RemoteLab. 60% - 90% of participants chose “Agree” and “Strongly Agree” on these items.

Fig. 6

Secondary school students’ evaluation on RemoteLab (Learning Process & Comments), based on their responses on question 16 (a) and questions 17 – 28 of the survey in Table 2.

Concerning the last two (open-ended) questions in the survey to secondary school students, most of the students agreed that Remote Lab has certain advantages. They appreciated the flexibility of Remote Lab. They were able to operate setups anytime and anywhere through the internet. The booking system was simple and user friendly. Users were able to book more than one lab session, allowing them to conduct the experiments more than once and obtain better results compare with traditional lab. Moreover, due to the flexible learning schedule, participants could conduct experiment and discuss with groupmates outside regular and specific time of traditional lab sessions. They also commented that the instructions were easy to follow and demonstration videos were clear, which were useful for students with weak scientific background.

However, half of the students experienced difficulty in booking lab sessions. Lab session for some experiments were fully occupied near the deadline and one participant mentioned he could not login even when he booked the lab session. Peer support was not strong on the RemoteLab platform, as they cannot discuss with other team members. Sometimes, the motivation to conduct experiments was low as the setup was distant and tedious on clicking buttons repeatedly. Two of the interviewed students showed ignorance of theories and meaning of procedures. They agreed that it would be better if there were lectures or relevant materials covering the knowledge of RemoteLab. Some students suggested they might acquire more hands-on experience if they could ‘build’ the experiment setups by themselves.

There are some discussions in Fig. 4, 5 and 6. For instance, as shown in Fig. 4, close to 24% of freshman students thought experiment setup cannot be visualized clearly from screen. According to students’ feedback, RemoteLab could be improved by setting more viewports that students could visualize the experiment setup much easier. As shown in Fig. 5, question 3 indicates that there are almost 30% of participants think the lab manual did not provide sufficient background knowledge about experiment. Students suggested the provisions of more instructions and guidance, which enhances their understanding of experiment theoretically and practically and facilitates them to conduct the experiment. On question 10 and 11, 10% of participants disagreed there is not sufficient time to complete all the tasks within the reserved time slot and disagreed the experiment functions smoothly. As shown in Fig. 6b, 2 out of 11 participants (M = 3.45, σ = 1.37) might think RemoteLab does not help them to enhance their learning motivation.

In order to improve the Remote Lab, participants suggested to restrict the number of sessions that can be reserved by each student per day. They proposed to modify the operation procedures of RemoteLab, increase the complexity and authentic feeling of operation instead of simply clicking the buttons. They prefer setting up the apparatus by themselves to enhance their attention in operation and hence developing a stronger impression on the lab experience. They agreed that changing the layout of website with icons looking like real equipment (such as ‘turning knob’ button to ‘switch on/off’) equipment would enhance students’ interests and understanding on the experiment procedures.

5.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, we have developed a remote experiment platform which enables students to conduct experiments everywhere at all times. The particular experiment of interference of light was showcased in this paper, with the details of the hardware and accessories introduced. The experiment was piloted in two groups of students, and the users were generally positive towards the idea of remote experiments. It is anticipated that the platform can be further elaborated for other disciplines of science education, and it’s potentials awaits to be systematically explored.