Enabling effective and inclusive learning opportunities with software-based remote access laboratories

Practical or laboratory-based learning activities are an important part of engineering and surveying education. Offering such activities to distance education students is both difficult and expensive. Remote Access Laboratory (RAL) systems are gaining popularity to provide students with access to on-campus rigs or hardware. Such RAL systems are equally versatile in providing on-campus software access to distance students. In the discipline of Surveying and Spatial Science, the RAL system is being used as an avenue for providing Geographic Information System (GIS) software access to distance students. In this study, the effectiveness of RAL based software activities in supporting student learning is investigated as part of a larger study involving its general use. This project investigates the research question whether RAL-based software activities can address the same learning outcomes as face-to-face practical classes. Data collected from students' discussion forum and via interviews with teaching staff members were analysed. This project provides a clear case in which the use of RAL technology has provided inclusive educational opportunities more efficiently. The key outcomes that students can achieve similar learning outcomes undertaking the activities remotely, system access and usability are critical, the learning activity needs to be supported by comprehensive learning materials and the staff effort to develop such an activity is considerable. These general results are also applicable to experiments that involve physical hardware.