Laboratory-based courses play a critical role in scientific education. Automation is changing the nature of these laboratories, and there is a long-running debate about the value of hands-on versus simulated laboratories. In addition, the introduction of remote laboratories adds a third category to the debate. Through a review of the literature related to these labs in education, the authors draw several conclusions about the state of current research. The debate over different technologies is confounded by the use of different educational objectives as criteria for judging the laboratories: Hands-on advocates emphasize design skills, while remote lab advocates focus on conceptual understanding. We observe that the boundaries among the three labs are blurred in the sense that most laboratories are mediated by computers, and that the psychology of presence may be as important as technology. We also discuss areas for future research.

Science and engineering students? involvement in practical work contributes to the development of their understanding of the concepts and processes of science. The Practical Experimentation by Accessible Remote Learning (PEARL) project aimed to develop a system to enable students to conduct real-world experiments at a distance using a computer. We explored methods of extending the flexibility of laboratory teaching in terms of time and location, and of meeting the requirements of students with special needs. This involved the development of remote experiments at four Universities. This paper uses one of the four experiments, spectroscopy for introductory science in a distance learning setting, to illustrate the process of developing remote experiments. We describe the evaluation work leading to refinement of the design, and an assessment of the learning experience for students. This paper presents the findings of the validation phases of the project which have established the feasibility of the remote experiment approach.

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