University of North DakotaSchool of Engineering and Mines
On-line Laboratories for a Distance Engineering Program
John Watson, SEM, UND George Bibel, ME, UND Kenneth Ebeling, IME, NDSU John Erjavec, ChE, UND
Hossein Salehfar, EE, UND Marcellin Zahui, ME, UND
IECC 2005 A FIPSE Project
Distance EngineeringDegree Program
Distance Engineering Degree Program (DEDP)
1989 Initiated as 3M ProgramVideotaped classes, mailed to studentsAssignments by e-mail and FAXAdvising by phone and e-mailExams proctored at student siteEnrollment - 8
1993 Corporate Engineering Degree Program2001 Distance Engineering Degree Program2002 FIPSE On-line Laboratory Project2003 Electronic Delivery of Classes2004 Enrollment - 108, 25 graduates to date
To meet the laboratory requirements of the programs, students must:
spend 5-10 days each summer on campusbear the expense of travel and accommodation, and use vacation time
DEDP DETAIL
ABET accredited programs in ChE, CE, EE and MEPrograms are equivalent to on-campus programsStudents are required to take labs on campus in summer1 CH semester lab is equivalent to 5 days of condensed labs
On-Line Laboratory Project 2002-05
FIPSE project initiated to design and implement 3 lab courses
Each with 50% on-line content to reduce time required at UND.
On-line content to be mix of virtual and real-time assignments
Three Laboratory Courses Selected:
ChE 431 – Chemical Engineering Laboratory IV
EE 306 – Circuits Laboratory I
ME 486 – Mechanical Engineering Practice
Each lab course has 50% on-line content consisting of :
50% virtual assignments – Packaged or Custom
50% real-time assignments – Lab Equipment + LabView and Remote Panels
VIRTUAL ASSIGNMENTS
• Packaged Software or Custom Built Programs for each Laboratory Course
Packaged – ChemCAD for ChE process design
Custom Built – LabView for EE circuits
using wiring diagrams and
front panels
Virtual Inverting Op-Amp EE Assignment
Laboratory Real-Time Assignment Equipment Schematic
Real – Time Laboratory Assignments
Lab equipment operating through LabViewFront Panel
Internet publishing through Remote Panels
Incorporating real-time video image
One user in control with unlimited observers
Video Image of Process Control Equipment
Front Panel and Video Image for First Order Response
Oil Bath
Pump
HeaterLift
StainlessAlumnium
Copper
Computer
Monitor
Unsteady State Thermal Conductivity Lab
Security and Access
All laboratory instructions are on UND Blackboard
All required downloads are available from Blackboardsite or on CD
All laboratory computers are on a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
User computer must link to VPN, and supply authentication data
Access to the virtual and real-time assignments is from Blackboard
ASSESSMENT
Several of the labs were used remotely byon-campus groups in spring semester, 2005.
DEDP students will use some of the labs in the summer, and in the fall
HB Associates are assisting with the assessment processwhich involves survey and focus groups.
Acknowledgements
This project is sponsored in part by the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education. The authors would also like to acknowledge the technical associates, graduate students, and undergraduate students who contributed to the project.
Thanks for listening
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