Remote Lab Activities in a Digital Age

Insights into Current Practices and Future Potentials

Abstract

Laboratories and practical workshops are a crucial element in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subject streams in higher education, where the COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented challenge in conducting such activities face-to-face. Many universities in the western world are now experimenting with various platforms to conduct laboratory activities remotely, in conjunction with online delivery of teaching. It demands significant adjustment to traditional face-to-face laboratory activities, where this paper investigates the practices universities currently adapted and potential future technologies available for remote delivery of laboratories. This paper also identifies the areas for enhancement of students’ remote laboratory experience, and a survey was also conducted to identify students’ perception of laboratory activities during online and hybrid delivery of teaching. The research study explored current practices of remote lab delivery and also provide an insight into the future potentials of remote lab activities in a digital age.