I very much like Muhammad Farhan's response because of its student focus. I teach electronics to all engineering students, except for electrical and computer engineers, which makes my classes mostly mechanical engineers. We do not use traditional instrumentation. Rather, each student team purchases a Mobile Studio (see http://mobilestudioproject.com) which, for the cost of a textbook, provides all of the functionality usually available in an electronics lab (scope, function generators, power supplies, spectrum analyzers ...). What makes this learning environment really different is that it is not confined to a limited access classroom as is the case with traditional labs. The students are able to do all aspects of their classwork (paper and pencil problem solving, computer simulation, experimentation, etc.) anywhere and anytime. The Mobile Studio and similar devices (NI's myDAQ and Digilent's Analog Discovery) are not toys but, when connected to a laptop computer, are serious electronic instruments that provide the same quality of measurement and control as much more expensive standard instruments. I recently wrote an article in the Chronicle on Higher Ed on the approach we take. (http://chronicle.com/article/With-a-Mobile-Circuit-Board/134688/) The key is to empower the students to do their work in the same mode they will see in industry and to pursue their ideas when it is best to do so rather than waiting until we open the door to the lab. With a Mobile Studio or similar device, they carry their lab in their backpacks.

Hi Christian. My colleagues and I have run a program in Australia called "Advancing Science by Increasing Learning in the Laboratory" (called ASELL). One of the objectives is to share high quality undergraduate laboratory exercises in the enabling sciences. I don't know whether a program like this would work or be useful in engineering, but we have a website: www.asell.org. If you would like to have a look, and if such an approach might be useful then I am happy to extend this conversation.

In my opinion engineering education can never be popular and realistic with out proper knowledge on the principles of science on which the Technology deals implicitly or else the engineering education is just like any other undergraduate courses with out any contribution to the mankind.

@ Hans-Peter Huth

inIT looks pretty interesting, which hits the bulls eye in another direction for me! One of my core subject is the technological enhancement of lab learning for engineering students especially in manufacturing technology. Therefore, we develop fully automated test equipment to use the entire set up in a tele-operative way. At the moment, a comprehensive test cell for material characterization for metal forming is the target.

But a further challenging aspect is the re-integration of such tele-operated experiments into a meaningful lab learning environment. That is the other part we are working on.

Best

Christian

@Scott Kable

ASELL is very interesting! Did you also have a look at labs for mechanical or manufacturing engineering too?

Best

Christian

Thank you to Muhammad Farhan and Dillip Bisoyi.

I very much like Muhammad Farhan's response because of its student focus. I teach electronics to all engineering students, except for electrical and computer engineers, which makes my classes mostly mechanical engineers. We do not use traditional instrumentation. Rather, each student team purchases a Mobile Studio (see http://mobilestudioproject.com) which, for the cost of a textbook, provides all of the functionality usually available in an electronics lab (scope, function generators, power supplies, spectrum analyzers ...). What makes this learning environment really different is that it is not confined to a limited access classroom as is the case with traditional labs. The students are able to do all aspects of their classwork (paper and pencil problem solving, computer simulation, experimentation, etc.) anywhere and anytime. The Mobile Studio and similar devices (NI's myDAQ and Digilent's Analog Discovery) are not toys but, when connected to a laptop computer, are serious electronic instruments that provide the same quality of measurement and control as much more expensive standard instruments. I recently wrote an article in the Chronicle on Higher Ed on the approach we take. (http://chronicle.com/article/With-a-Mobile-Circuit-Board/134688/) The key is to empower the students to do their work in the same mode they will see in industry and to pursue their ideas when it is best to do so rather than waiting until we open the door to the lab. With a Mobile Studio or similar device, they carry their lab in their backpacks.

Its true that without learning science it is very very difficult to learn about engineering and technology and there is no doubt on it. If any one will not agree with me then I will very much happy to interact with him or her through this nice platform i.e. research gate.

Thank you for the valuable input Kenneth. I like your idea on technological enhanced labs. I am thinking about what could be important when enhancing a hands-on lab with resources that are available for tele-operative usage. This means, a certain set-up of the real test equipment can be accessed via a comprehensive interface over the internet.

So how could hands-on an enhanced lab resources play together to achieve the learning aims of the lab?

Good lab for engineering are those labs which includes measurements related to applied science and must be well demonstrated by only basic science.

A good laboratory should have good and modern equipment and technical staff, to man the equipment. There is need for availability of manual that will explain the practicals for students to carry out. There should also be material available for the various tests.. There should be enough space for the equipment and for students. Since the laboratory is for educating the students, all facilities required in a classroom is also required in this laboratory.

A good laboratory is that which as the facilities for measurement of scientific parameters that involved to the Technology.

• I Think is necessary to link theory and practice but is better if you relate both with a real case of the industry and work in group and after check.

Thanks again for the valuable answers. Besides equipment and the studied engineering problem, I always think lab work in relation to the educational goals aimed to achieve and the didactical concepts behind it. What do you think are good goals ore concepts?

A good engineering is that where one gets the scope to do experiments related to his option if one really learned the all experiments during their carrier before entering to engineering education. With out scientific attitude doing any engineering experiment is use less.

I do agree completely with Ronald.

I think the teacher o teachers with their students should design and manufacture the lab accord to their reality or needs, its possible and its more interesting for example like a thesis etc.

Thank you for the great feedback!