Teaching Online Laboratories: Experiences and Practical Aspects

This lecture explores the development of online laboratories at EPFL, focusing on virtual and remote labs, standardization efforts, and practical aspects of creating online lab experiments. The instructors share their experiences, pedagogical scenarios, and strategies for organizing and teaching online labs, emphasizing the importance of wider accessibility and interactive tools. The session covers topics such as simulation/virtual labs, remote desktop access, pedagogical considerations, evaluations, and conclusions drawn from years of working with online laboratories. The lecture also addresses the challenges of engaging students remotely, ensuring a similar user experience to on-site labs, and the continuous need for updates and improvements in online lab setups.