Hybrid Laboratory of Radio Communication With Online Simulators and Remote Access

Contribution: Two toolsets for the remote teaching of radio communication laboratory classes: 1) online simulators for individual work of students and 2) a remote access system to laboratory workstations for group work. Initial assumptions and method of implementation of both tools are presented. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a change in teaching at all levels of education. The specificity of practical classes, such as laboratories, means that the tools used must often be atypical, prepared for a specific type of activity. Intended Outcomes: Hybrid laboratory with tools for remote learning in the form of online simulators and remote access to laboratory workstations, enabling students to achieve the same educational results in the field of radiocommunication as presential classes. Application Design: Online simulators were prepared as Javascript code run in a Web browser as part of a html page, which provide easy integration with various learning platforms and Web servers. The remote access system uses Javascript code for the user interface and a gateway server based on an Apache Web server and FastCGI interface to communicate with C/C++ programs responsible for controlling measuring equipment. Findings: Online simulators have been positively assessed by students during two years of remote learning, but comparison of the grades from remote and presential classes is inconclusive. The obtained grades were comparable in the first year of remote laboratories, but they were worse in the second year than the grades from classroom learning. The system for remote access to the laboratory stands has not yet been evaluated.

I. Introduction

Undeniably traditional education based on lessons, lectures, exercises and laboratories carried out in schools and universities is constantly evolving. Teachers make changes to the curriculum to take into account the progress of science and knowledge, and changes in the way they teach to take advantage of new teaching methods. One factor that provides many opportunities to renew education is digital transformation and universal access to the Internet. Online lectures, interactive remote lessons using shared whiteboards and video tutorials have been increasingly often used in teaching for more than 20 years. Increased interest in such methods of remote teaching can be seen from 2020 and many interesting ideas and concepts of remote education have been proposed and implemented in practice during last two years [1]. The experience gathered during remote lectures and projects carried out using various online tools showed that such teaching methods are positively assessed by students, which is also visible in higher attendance at online classes compared to traditional lectures.