Designing Laboratories for Online Instruction using the iOLab Device

TL;DR

This paper presents the development and implementation of online physics labs using the iOLab device, emphasizing teamwork, feedback, and self-regulation to enable engaging, inquiry-based experiments outside traditional classrooms.

Contribution

It introduces a novel combination of the iOLab device and pedagogical strategies for effective online laboratory instruction in physics courses.

Findings

Enhanced student engagement and inquiry skills

Successful integration of iOLab into online courses

Improved feedback and collaboration in remote labs

Abstract

Scientific laboratories are among the most challenging course components to integrate into online instruction. Available technology restricts the design and nature of experiments and it can be hard to replicate the collaborative lab environment where frequent and immediate instructor feedback is the norm. Here we report on technological and pedagogical aspects of newly developed labs for online courses using the Interactive Online Lab (iOLab) device. We argue that this technology, coupled with an online course design emphasizing teamwork, targeted feedbacks, and self-regulation skills, provides a robust framework for students to do reliable, engaging, inquiry-based and hands-on labs outside the classroom. After describing the implementation and technology, we explain our lab objectives and how the labs were integrated into two introductory physics courses. We conclude with an example lab on kinematics.