01-11-2006
31-10-2007
The main aim of the project: LABS ON THE WEB is to improve the quality of teaching and learning for higher education students taking engineering courses, particularly in areas related to electronics, mechanics and physics. Access to laboratory resources is of fundamental importance in these areas, in order to consolidate theoretical knowledge and develop the practical skills that are essential in the respective fields. Despite the importance of laboratory practice, restrictions that limit students' access to laboratory benches contribute to academic failure and negatively affect the competence of those who pass. Access to laboratory benches via the web can counteract school failure in this specific area, by enabling students to continue their laboratory work from home or elsewhere. It is important to emphasise that the project is not intended to exempt students from being present in laboratories, but rather to complement that presence (in line with the methodologies often referred to as blended learning, which in this case are applied to laboratory work). The solution advocated in this project makes students' access to the laboratory more flexible, overcoming the traditional limitations that restrict access to practical classes and little else. Web-based access to the laboratory benches extends the concept of e-learning by allowing laboratory-based school activities to be carried out at any time and from any location, as is already the case with access to theoretical content made available through e-learning platforms. It is also important to note that web access to laboratory benches has existed for several years, although still in its infancy. The proposing institution and the project's Technical Manager have also participated in various international projects in this area since 2000. Only now, however, are the technologies and technical standards available to facilitate the introduction of these solutions into current teaching practice, since the existing prototypes were usually realised with the limited aim of proving this pedagogical concept or allowing it to be used in demonstrations, particularly during lectures (in which case it was only for the teacher).
CAFTe – Curriculum, Assessment, Training and Technologies in Education
Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior
POCI/N/04.01.02/0265/0001/2006
CIIE/ Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação da Universidade do Porto
Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto