Using sensors and data-loggers in an integrated mobile school-lab setting to teach Light and Optics

Abstract

The present study aims to evaluate a specific mobile science laboratory (the MSL - PCB100). This is intended for the teaching of Science and, being mobile, it is easy to use in the classroom. Moreover, it bypasses the Virtual Lab vs Real Laboratory controversy. Learners can use both, according to educational needs and wishes. For the purpose of the present evaluation, 77 freshmen students of the Department of Electrical Engineering in the University of Thessaly participated, and the topic of instruction was Light and Optics. Teaching involved parallel use of both real and virtual Labs. Students' understanding of related Physics concepts was first examined before and after the teaching took place, with the use of a specially designed questionnaire of 39 questions. The results are acquired by comparing these datasets, and are presented herein, together with the experimental errors involved These reveal that students' conceptual understanding was considerably improved by the use of the mobile School-Lab during teaching. © 2014 IEEE.