Web-based computer assisted laboratory instruction

The feasibility of computer-assisted instruction in a practical laboratory has been explored in this work. Computer assisted instruction (CAI), in which educational instruction is delivered through a computer, has been a popular area of research and development. Computer assisted laboratory instruction (CALI), on the other hand, has not been systematically studied in the past as literature reveals. In the work conducted in this research, the concept of CALI has been examined by developing a web-based multi-media CALI package for Control Systems laboratory that is used by around 100 students annually in the School of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering, University of Wollongong. Some elements of Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) have been also incorporated to increase the flexibility of the instruction provided. A systematic approach has been employed to develop the specifications of the package and design its structure to ensure its effectiveness. The latest tools in Web development have been employed to achieve all the defined specifications efficiently and systematically. The outcome is a system that has proved very effective in its operation and instruction for the students in the laboratory. In addition to the specific results and benefits produced directly as the result of employing the package in Control Laboratory, the study has also generated outcomes that are generic and can be considered in the application of the approach in any practical laboratory.