Virtual Labs – Improved Laboratory Experience

Goal:

• The Virtual Labs initiative is a paradigm shift in ICT-based education.
• To provide remote access to simulation-based Labs.
• To enthuse students to conduct experiments by arousing their curiosity. This would help them in learning basic and advanced concepts through remote experimentation.

Context:

Good lab facilities and updated lab experiments are critical for any engineering discipline. The paucity of lab facilities often makes it difficult to conduct experiments. Further, lab experiments in the curriculum are often restricted by the availability of lab infrastructure.

The Virtual Labs project addresses the above issues of lack of good lab facilities, as well as trained teachers, by providing remote access to simulation-based Labs in various disciplines of science and engineering.

Remote access to simulation-based labs arouses the curiosity of the students and permits them to learn at their own pace. This student-centric approach facilitates the absorption of basic and advanced concepts through simulation-based experimentation. Internet-based experimentation further permits the use of additional web resources, video lectures, animated demonstrations, and self-evaluation. Specifically, the Virtual Labs complements the lab facilities already available. Virtual labs are any place, any pace, anytime, any-type labs. It is a paradigm shift in student-centric, online education used to its best during the current pandemic.

Practice:

1. Step 1: The labs and experiments offered on the Virtual Labs’ platform are mapped with the labs and exercises prescribed in the curriculum. After due discussions, the department announces the information to the students about the labs and exercises in the remote mode.
2. Step 2: Mentors are appointed for each Lab.
3. Step 3: A workshop in association with Virtual Labs is organized to sensitize the students and faculty members on how to navigate the platform.
4. Step 4: Students navigate through the platform and access the lab. The students are informed to go through the relevant video content and lab manual in remote mode.
5. Step 5: Student will perform the simulation experiment in the remote mode and submit the feedback form to the mentor.

The laboratory sessions are conducted by the concerned mentor who supplements the same by engaging the discussion sessions.

Evidence of Success

Table 5.6c: Evidence of Success:

KHIT is the nodal center for Virtual Labs

The lab sessions are completed during the AY 2023-2024 and 2024-25 successfully.

Problems:

• The lab experiments are limited to simulation-based ones.
• Some of the lab experiments are not available.

Resources:

• Computer systems with the latest configuration and better connectivity.