The Effectiveness of Simulated Electronics Laboratories for Distributed Online Learning

Can online students learn from simulated electronics labs? We previously replaced some physical labs with simulated labs in a college-level electronic circuits course. Students who used the simulated labs performed significantly better on written tests of electronic theory than the group using entirely physical labs. They were equivalent in time to complete the criterion physical lab. This study replicates that work. Students were assigned to either physical labs or to a combination of simulated and physical labs. They took written tests on electronic theory, and a physical lab posttest. Students using a combination of simulated and physical labs performed as well as those using all physical labs, on both written and physical lab performance tests. This evidence supports the use of carefully designed simulated labs to replace some physical labs, including use of simulated labs for distributed distance education. To what extent can we use simulations with embedded tutorials for beginning electronic circuits labs? With the increase in distributed (online) learning, we face an issue of access: the requirement for students to come to physical labs. Can we offer some “hands-on” laboratory classes outside the physical laboratory setting, so students need make fewer trips to physical labs?