Providing a laboratory for students everywhere

This article reports on a Web-based mechatronics system for remote learning in engineering education. Using communication and network technologies, Web-based learning occurs remotely, bi-directionally and interactively, beyond the limitations of time and space. Current technology enables remote access to laboratory equipment via the Internet, which is particularly useful for part-time students learning. The study was carried out with 36 students in the Department of Industry Education and Technology at the National Changhua University of Education in Taiwan. Eighteen students were in each group, experiment and control groups. The preliminary evaluation of the laboratory mechatronics module was encouraging and demonstrated its effectiveness. This article also presents the results of a survey questionnaire conducted among students taking the laboratory module, in order to determine its advantages and performance.