Abstract:
Online laboratories are useful and valuable resources in high education, especially in engineering studies. This work presents a methodology to create effective laborator...Show MoreMetadata
Abstract:
Online laboratories are useful and valuable resources in high education, especially in engineering studies. This work presents a methodology to create effective laboratories for learning that interact with a Learning Management System (LMS) to achieve advanced integration. It is based on pedagogical aspects and considers not only the laboratory application itself but also related resources that complement it. The methodology is flexible, covers all possible cases, and it is structured in stages that can be used with any system architecture, standards, or type of online laboratory (virtual, remote, or hybrid) because it abstracts technical aspects at a high level. This methodology facilitates the creation of new online labs so that any teacher, even those without specialized knowledge, can clarify many of the questions that may arise and gain understanding of how to implement an effective online laboratory with LMS integration to assist learning. As an example and validation of the methodology, this work describes a laboratory developed as a Shared Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) package which is hosted in the institutional LMS at the University of Jaen. The laboratory was presented to 338 students taking an Industrial Automation class, and student evaluations were quite positive.
Published in: IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies ( Volume: 9, Issue: 4, 01 Oct.-Dec. 2016)
Funding Agency:

Group of Robotic, Automation, and Computer Vision, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
Ildefonso Ruano received the degree in telecommunication engineering
from the University of Málaga, Spain, in 1996. Since 1996, he has been in the Telecommunication Department of
the University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain. His current research interest includes e-learning, online virtual
and remote laboratories, and engineering education.
Ildefonso Ruano received the degree in telecommunication engineering
from the University of Málaga, Spain, in 1996. Since 1996, he has been in the Telecommunication Department of
the University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain. His current research interest includes e-learning, online virtual
and remote laboratories, and engineering education.View more

Group of Robotic, Automation, and Computer Vision, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
Javier Gámez received the degree in electrical engineering, in
2001 and the PhD degree from the University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain, in 2006. From June to September 2003
and June to October 2004, he was a visiting researcher in the Department of Automatic Control, University of Lund,
Lund, Sweden. Since 2005, he has been an assistant professor in the System Engineering and Automation Department,
University of Jaén. His cu...Show More
Javier Gámez received the degree in electrical engineering, in
2001 and the PhD degree from the University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain, in 2006. From June to September 2003
and June to October 2004, he was a visiting researcher in the Department of Automatic Control, University of Lund,
Lund, Sweden. Since 2005, he has been an assistant professor in the System Engineering and Automation Department,
University of Jaén. His cu...View more

Department of Informatica and Automatica, Universidad Nacional de Educacion a Distancia, Madrid, Spain
Sebastián Dormido (M’08) received the BS degree in
physics from Complutense University, Madrid, Spain, in 1968 and the PhD degree in the sciences from Basque Country
University, Bilbao, Spain, in 1971. He received a doctor honorary degree from the Universidad de Huelva and
Universidad de Almería. In 1981, he was appointed as a professor of control engineering at UNED, Madrid. He
became a member of the IEEE in 2008. Hi...Show More
Sebastián Dormido (M’08) received the BS degree in
physics from Complutense University, Madrid, Spain, in 1968 and the PhD degree in the sciences from Basque Country
University, Bilbao, Spain, in 1971. He received a doctor honorary degree from the Universidad de Huelva and
Universidad de Almería. In 1981, he was appointed as a professor of control engineering at UNED, Madrid. He
became a member of the IEEE in 2008. Hi...View more

Group of Robotic, Automation, and Computer Vision, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
Juan Gómez (M’10) received the degree in electrical
engineering in 1989 and the PhD degree from the University of Seville, Seville, Spain, in 1994. In 2001, he became a
professor with the University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain. From 1987 to 2001, he was a research assistant, then
an assistant professor, and an associate professor in the Departamento de Ingeniería de Sistemas y
Automática, University of Seville. In 2001, he b...Show More
Juan Gómez (M’10) received the degree in electrical
engineering in 1989 and the PhD degree from the University of Seville, Seville, Spain, in 1994. In 2001, he became a
professor with the University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain. From 1987 to 2001, he was a research assistant, then
an assistant professor, and an associate professor in the Departamento de Ingeniería de Sistemas y
Automática, University of Seville. In 2001, he b...View more

Group of Robotic, Automation, and Computer Vision, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
Ildefonso Ruano received the degree in telecommunication engineering
from the University of Málaga, Spain, in 1996. Since 1996, he has been in the Telecommunication Department of
the University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain. His current research interest includes e-learning, online virtual
and remote laboratories, and engineering education.
Ildefonso Ruano received the degree in telecommunication engineering
from the University of Málaga, Spain, in 1996. Since 1996, he has been in the Telecommunication Department of
the University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain. His current research interest includes e-learning, online virtual
and remote laboratories, and engineering education.View more

Group of Robotic, Automation, and Computer Vision, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
Javier Gámez received the degree in electrical engineering, in
2001 and the PhD degree from the University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain, in 2006. From June to September 2003
and June to October 2004, he was a visiting researcher in the Department of Automatic Control, University of Lund,
Lund, Sweden. Since 2005, he has been an assistant professor in the System Engineering and Automation Department,
University of Jaén. His current research interests include force control and sensor fusion in robotic
manipulators. He was the recipient of a Formacion de Profesorado Universitario grant from the Spanish Ministry of
Education and Science in 2002.
Javier Gámez received the degree in electrical engineering, in
2001 and the PhD degree from the University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain, in 2006. From June to September 2003
and June to October 2004, he was a visiting researcher in the Department of Automatic Control, University of Lund,
Lund, Sweden. Since 2005, he has been an assistant professor in the System Engineering and Automation Department,
University of Jaén. His current research interests include force control and sensor fusion in robotic
manipulators. He was the recipient of a Formacion de Profesorado Universitario grant from the Spanish Ministry of
Education and Science in 2002.View more

Department of Informatica and Automatica, Universidad Nacional de Educacion a Distancia, Madrid, Spain
Sebastián Dormido (M’08) received the BS degree in
physics from Complutense University, Madrid, Spain, in 1968 and the PhD degree in the sciences from Basque Country
University, Bilbao, Spain, in 1971. He received a doctor honorary degree from the Universidad de Huelva and
Universidad de Almería. In 1981, he was appointed as a professor of control engineering at UNED, Madrid. He
became a member of the IEEE in 2008. His scientific activities include computer control of industrial processes,
model-based predictive control, hybrid control, and web-based labs for distance education. He has authored or
coauthored more than 250 technical papers in international journals and conferences and has supervised more than 35
PhD thesis. From 2001 to 2006, he was the president of the Spanish Association of Automatic Control, CEA-IFAC. He
received the National Automatic Control prize from IFAC Spanish Automatic Control Committee.
Sebastián Dormido (M’08) received the BS degree in
physics from Complutense University, Madrid, Spain, in 1968 and the PhD degree in the sciences from Basque Country
University, Bilbao, Spain, in 1971. He received a doctor honorary degree from the Universidad de Huelva and
Universidad de Almería. In 1981, he was appointed as a professor of control engineering at UNED, Madrid. He
became a member of the IEEE in 2008. His scientific activities include computer control of industrial processes,
model-based predictive control, hybrid control, and web-based labs for distance education. He has authored or
coauthored more than 250 technical papers in international journals and conferences and has supervised more than 35
PhD thesis. From 2001 to 2006, he was the president of the Spanish Association of Automatic Control, CEA-IFAC. He
received the National Automatic Control prize from IFAC Spanish Automatic Control Committee.View more

Group of Robotic, Automation, and Computer Vision, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
Juan Gómez (M’10) received the degree in electrical
engineering in 1989 and the PhD degree from the University of Seville, Seville, Spain, in 1994. In 2001, he became a
professor with the University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain. From 1987 to 2001, he was a research assistant, then
an assistant professor, and an associate professor in the Departamento de Ingeniería de Sistemas y
Automática, University of Seville. In 2001, he became a professor with the University of Jaén, and
actually he is the Rector of the University of Jaén. He became a member of the IEEE in 2010. He has been
responsible for several research projects on robotic systems, computer vision applied to fault detection, and
automatic assembly, with some of them being directly applied to industry, and he has been serving as a reviewer for
different technical journals. His research interests include force control and sensor fusion in robotic manipulators,
sensor planning, mobile robot, and education in engineering.
Juan Gómez (M’10) received the degree in electrical
engineering in 1989 and the PhD degree from the University of Seville, Seville, Spain, in 1994. In 2001, he became a
professor with the University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain. From 1987 to 2001, he was a research assistant, then
an assistant professor, and an associate professor in the Departamento de Ingeniería de Sistemas y
Automática, University of Seville. In 2001, he became a professor with the University of Jaén, and
actually he is the Rector of the University of Jaén. He became a member of the IEEE in 2010. He has been
responsible for several research projects on robotic systems, computer vision applied to fault detection, and
automatic assembly, with some of them being directly applied to industry, and he has been serving as a reviewer for
different technical journals. His research interests include force control and sensor fusion in robotic manipulators,
sensor planning, mobile robot, and education in engineering.View more