Pandemic-Induced Challenges and Creative Instructor Solutions to Convert University Engineering Laboratory Courses to Online Format

In this paper we describe how the electrical engineering laboratory courses at CSULB have been adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic. Background: laboratory courses have been impacted to a significant degree by the pandemic; although, educational improvements have also been brought on in response. Research Questions: How can engineering laboratory courses be adapted to the quarantine restrictions brought on by the pandemic in a manner that preserves the quality of instruction for the students while keeping them engaged? Methodology: The engineering department opted to invest in the purchase of and then to loan to the laboratory students, small remote laboratory kits that they could use at home. The kits are for lab projects involving building and programming Arduino based robot kits and making and testing digital networking and analog circuits using the National Instruments MyDAQ™. Findings: Our university has striven to provide to the students the most professional education that can be offered to help them pursue a successful career, and the response by the student body was favorable to the changes that we made to the laboratory courses to overcome the pandemic.