Description

A total of 3 experiment sets have been established, namely the mechanical pendulum, interference and diffraction, and radioactivity. All of the setups are fully-automated such that key experimental parameters can be remotely controlled via the internet. In particular, the following components have been built:
- Automated experimental setups with motorized control of experiment parameters, real-time video monitoring and data-logging of experimental results. A number of web-cams were used to monitor the setups and allow the students to observe the system during operation. Students could control experimental parameters and save the results through the same interface.
- A registration system which allows students to reserve experiment sessions and login the system at the reserved time.
- Websites have been developed for three experiments. Online instructions facilitated the students to conduct experiment with minimal assistance. Background information concerning the experiment was also prepared for students’ self-learning.
- Online demonstration videos have been prepared, demonstrating the procedures of using the setups. These videos also addressed some of the comments raised by the students during the trial runs.

Intended Educational Value

This platform is going to solve a practical problem of the provision of practical laboratory sessions caused by increasing number of students due to the launch of the new 4-year curriculum.

Example of Application

Two of the experiments were employed as supplementary assignments by two different batches of students. The experiment of damped oscillations was tested by 15 undergraduate students of AP in November 2010 as an extension of an experiment in the course AP2211 Physics Laboratory. Hard copies of worksheets were distributed to students, who were instructed to perform a 2-hour experiment session at home within two weeks’ time.

A larger-scale trail run was conducted for the class of engineering students (AP208 with an enrolment of 65 students) in November/ December 2011. Students were instructed to follow the laboratory manual on the website to perform the corresponding experiment (interference of light). An extended period of 4 weeks was given to the students due to unexpected technical difficulties (as described later). In both trial runs students opinions concerning the setup were consolidated through a post-teaching survey.

Evaluation/ Comments

Simple surveys were conducted for the pendulum and interference/ diffraction experiments. There has been mixed response among students. While the idea of remote laboratory setup has been praised by students for its innovative nature, there were quite a few of technical issues arisen during the trial run. Nevertheless, the attempt has served a good example for future setups.