Laboratory Experimentation for Supporting Collaborative Working in Engineering Education over the Internet

Authors: S. Odeh, E. Abdelghani

Abstract:

Collaborative working environments for distance education can be considered as a more generic form of contemporary remote labs. At present, the majority of existing real laboratories are not constructed to allow the involved participants to collaborate in real time. To make this revolutionary learning environment possible we must allow the different users to carry out an experiment simultaneously. In recent times, multi-user environments are successfully applied in many applications such as air traffic control systems, team-oriented military systems, chat-text tools, multi-player games etc. Thus, understanding the ideas and techniques behind these systems could be of great importance in the contribution of ideas to our e-learning environment for collaborative working. In this investigation, collaborative working environments from theoretical and practical perspectives are considered in order to build an effective collaborative real laboratory, which allows two students or more to conduct remote experiments at the same time as a team. In order to achieve this goal, we have implemented distributed system architecture, enabling students to obtain an automated help by either a human tutor or a rule-based e-tutor.

Keywords: Collaboration environment, e-tutor, multi-user environments, socio-technical system.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1056270

References:

[1] B. Akin, "Application of a Remote Lab: Single Phase PFC circuit," iJOE: International Journal of Online Engineering, vol. 2, no. 2, 2006.
[2] S. Odeh, "Cognitive-Compatible Human-Machine Interfaces by Combining Ecological Interface Design and Object-Oriented Programming," International Journal of Online Engineering, vol. 3, Nr. 1, Kassel University Press, ISSN 1861-2121, 2007.
[3] J. R. Anderson, Cognitive psychology and its implications (5th ed.), New York: Worth, 2000.
[4] G. Johannsen, Mensch-Maschine-Systeme. Berlin: Springer, 1993.
[5] Deitel Associates, Visual Basic 2005: How to Program. Prentice Hall, 2006.
[6] E. Abdelghani, "Collaborative working environments for web-based remote experimentation," MBA thesis, Electronic and Computer Engineering Master Program, Faculty of Engineering, Al-Quds Univ., Abu Dies, Jerusalem, 2009.
[7] S. Odeh and E. Ketaneh, "Collaborative Working e-Learning Environments Supported by Rule-Based e-Tutor," International Journal of Online Engineering, Vol. 3, Nr. 4, Kassel University Press, ISSN 1861-2121, 2007.
[8] J. Begole, M. Beth Rosson, and C. A. Shaffer, "Flexible Collaboration Transparency: Supporting Worker Independence in Replicated Application-Sharing Systems," ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 95-132, 1999.
[9] M. W. L. Fong, e-collaboration and virtual organizations. IRM Press, 2005.
[10] T. Sch├╝mmer and S. Lukosch, Patterns for Computer-Mediated Interaction. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, England, 2007.
[11] A. Bischoff and C. Rohrig, Streaming Audio/Video and Multiuser Virtual Reality based Environment for Collaborative Remote Experimentation. Department of Electrical Engineering, and Information Technology, University of Hagen, D-58084 Hagen, Germany.
[12] J. A. Burkke, "Collaborative Accounting Problem Solving Via Group Support Systems in a Face-to-Face Versus Distant Learning Environment," Information Technology, Learning, and Performance Journal, vol. 19, no. 2, 2001.
[13] R. Kuhlen, J. Griesbaum, T. Jiang, J. Konig, A. Lenich, P. Meier, T. Sch├╝tz and W. Semar, K3 - an e-Learning Forum with Elaborated Discourse Functions for Collaborative Knowledge Management. Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Konstanz, Germany
[14] I. Hamburg, C. Lindecke and H. ten Thij, "Social aspects of e-learning and blending learning methods," 4-th European conference-comm-line 2003, Bucharest, September 25-26, 2003.
[15] Distance Learning for Nonprofit Organizations. NinthBridge, New York, 2003
[16] J. Preece and D. Maloney-Krichmar, Online Communities: Focusing on sociability and usability. University of Maryland, Baltimore County, USA, 2003.
[17] A. Böhne, N. Faltin and B. Wagner, "Synchronous tele-tutorial support in a remote laboratory for process control," INNOVATIONS 2004: World Innovations in Engineering Education and Research (iNEER), W. Aung, R. Altenkirch, T. Cermak, R. W. King and L. M. Sanchez Ruiz, Eds. USA, 2004.
[18] I. Sommerville, Software Engineering. Addison Wesley, 2007.
[19] A. J. Caristi, ieee-488: General purpose instrumentation bus manual (professional and technical series). Academic Press, 1989.
[20] J. Axelson, Parallel Port Complete: Programming, Interfacing & Using the PC'S Parallel Printer Port. Lakeview Research, 1997.