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Introducing a Remotely Accessible Optical Laboratory for Undergraduate Students

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Conference

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

San Antonio, Texas

Publication Date

June 10, 2012

Start Date

June 10, 2012

End Date

June 13, 2012

ISSN

2153-5965

Conference Session

Computer-based Measurements

Tagged Division

Instrumentation

Page Count

12

Page Numbers

25.837.1 - 25.837.12

DOI

10.18260/1-2--21594

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/21594

Download Count

353

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Paper Authors

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Farid Farahmand Sonoma State University

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Saeid Moslehpour University of Hartford

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Saeid Moslehpour is an Associate Professor and Department Chair in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department in the College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture at the University of Hartford. He holds a Ph.D. (1993) from Iowa State University and bachelor's of science (1989) and master's of science (1990) degrees from University of Central Missouri. His research interests include logic design, CPLDs, FPGAs, embedded systems, electronic system testing, and eLearning. Email: moslehpou@hartford.edu.

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Harika Kuppuru P.E. Sonoma State University

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Swathi Matsa Sonoma State University

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Abstract

Introducing a Remotely Accessible Optical Laboratory for Undergraduate StudentsWith the current economic downturns where educators are constantly confronted with furtherbudget cuts, fewer resources, and larger class sizes, online (or web-based) learning is receivingmore attention than ever before. One key advantage of online learning is that it can providedirect delivery of education at anytime from anywhere to anyone, and thus, enhancinginstitutional learning to wider student population when resources are limited. Furthermore,various research results have indicated that online learning and training are in fact as effective astraditional face-to-face learning, at least in terms of measurable academic achievements.Motivated by such shortcomings, we have developed a remote laboratory platform that allowsstudents to login and complete a number lab experiments in fiber optics. Generally, performingsuch experiments are expensive and require expensive hardware and testing equipment. Oursetup offers remote access to state-of-the-art Agilent test equipment. Thus, students in otherinstitutions can run a number of laboratory experiments, including, eye-diagram testing, Bit-errortest, optical attenuation, and signal dispersion in fiber optics.In this paper we describe the basic laboratory setup, as shown in the figure below. We alsoelaborate on laboratory experiments, which remote students can carry out. In addition, we reporton student feedback we received. Figure 1 – Remote Access Optical Laboratory

Farahmand, F., & Moslehpour, S., & Kuppuru, H., & Matsa, S. (2012, June), Introducing a Remotely Accessible Optical Laboratory for Undergraduate Students Paper presented at 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, San Antonio, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--21594

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