ccli pi 2008 collaborative research: remote laboratory for optical circuits courses driss benhaddou...

CCLI PI 2008 www.tech.uh.edu/rockwww.tech.uh.edu/rock

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: REMOTE LABORATORY FOR OPTICAL CIRCUITS

COURSES

Driss Benhaddou and Deniz Gurkan University of Houston

Alan Mickelson and Frank Barnes University of Colorado

www.tech.uh.edu/rockwww.tech.uh.edu/rock


Motivations Introduce hands-on laboratory for

distance education. Internet provides connectivity

everywhere and broadband access enables high capacity connections.

Introduce hands-on laboratory for distance education.

Access to high-cost equipment.


ROCK Project:Remote Optical Circuit

Knowledge The ROCK project is an NSF funded project that

aims to create remotely-controlled optical circuits laboratory experiments.

A set of optical circuits labs that can be remotely experimented have been implemented.

The key concept here is to introduce modularity so that resources can be used by different universities in different programs.

Offered at the Engineering Technology Dept at UH and Electrical and Electrical and Computer Engineering Dept at CU.


Project Objectives To determine what set of fundamental

concepts of optical circuits can be addressed in a laboratory environment,

To parse each experiment undertaken into pieces that can be addressed by simulation, by visual exposition, by analytical exercise and by actual manipulation of equipment

To differentiate between the imperfection of our student' s learning and that of our teaching technique.


Course and Lab Integration

Hybrid Mode: Lecture in Class and experiment conducted on-line.

On-line Mode: Both lecture and Lab on-line.

Each experiment is conducted in two phases:

Simulation Remote control of real

equipment

Webcam(IP Camera)

User

Server

EthernetSwitch

Lab Setup

Exp

eri

me

nt

Co

ntr

ol

Title and headlines

Streamingvideo andinstruction

window

Importantlinks

Router

Router

webcast laboratoryinstruction

Physical Laboratory Site

Remote Laboratory Site

Camera Instructor


Lab Teaching Model Simulation uses

VPI software, Labview or Matlab.

Remote experiment uses Labview webservices.

Simulation

Orientationvideo

RemoteExperiment

Report andKnowledgeEvaluation

Pre-Lab

Feedback andContinuous

Improvement

Model andlaboratory update


Laboratory Concepts Experiment 2: Free Space

Propagation Experiment 2: Dispersion Experiment 3: Fiber Loss

Characterization Experiment 4: Optical Light

Source Characterization Experiment 5: Optical Detector

Characterization Experiment 6: Bit Error Rate


Simulation


Simulations


Experiment Implementation

Example of remote control with LabView Optical switch for LED or laser source Output of switch to OSA OSA screen and controls available on LabView web interface Students access through Active-X plug-in on web browser


Remote Control

OTDR virtual instrument front panel Readings illustrating the measurement of a break in a single mode fiber


Technology Imperfections Remote lab interface: less than optimal number of controls

More controls – more like actual instrument More controls – more complex LabView program


Assessment


Learning Assessment


Assessment

E-Learning Laboratory Yes No

1.Connect an optical source to an OSA or an Oscilloscope. 86.7% 13.3%

OSA

1.Adjust OSA to see the signal. 86.7% 13.3%

1.Measure peak Wavelength. 93.3% 6.7%

1.Measure the line width of an optical signals. 93.3% 6.7%

1.Identify LED Vs. LD 86.7% 13.3%

Oscilloscope

1.Adjust the oscilloscope to see the signal. 100.0% 0.0%

1.Measure the Period. 100.0% 0.0%

1.Measure the frequency. 100.0% 0.0%

1.Measure the rise time. 100.0 0.0%


Lesson Learned Given the complexity of manipulating optical

equipment, the remote, lab concepts had to be simplified in order to cover both instrument usage and the optical concepts.

Technology Imperfection: Number of parameters that need to be control has to be high enough which not always possible.

Teaching imperfection: Lack of student-teacher interaction.

Need video orientation to explain the set up in order for students to have a feeling of the experiment.


Lessons learned Troubleshooting experience is not conveyed. Simulations need to be enhanced to involve

students in the design process of the simulations.

Modularity is very important for lab components to be utilized by different institutions. For a laboratory to be utilized by others, it should include a video orientation, video demonstration of how the experiment is set up and how to develop the simulation.


Questions1. What set of fundamental concepts of the subject mater that

can be most effectively addressed in an online laboratory environment?

2. How to best parse an experiment undertaken into pieces that can be addressed by simulation, by visual exposition, by analytical exercise and by actual manipulation of equipment?

3. How to differentiate between the imperfection of our student’s learning and that of our teaching technique? Indentify the capabilities and limitation of the e-laboratory.

4. How is student’s learning is improved? Distance learning versus on-ground learning settings and discussion of the factors in Teamwork, Communication, Real Life Problem Solution, and Critical Thinking etc. (Student Side)

5. What are the effective evaluation tools to measure the success of your distance based laboratory? Do you tabulate your findings? What are good and bad indications in your survey results? Ways to improve your survey results.

ccli pi 2008 collaborative research: remote laboratory for optical circuits courses driss benhaddou...

Documents

ccli pi

simulation slide

remote experiment

edurock slide

learning assessment

remote laboratory

web browser slide

dispersion experiment