Mixed mode teaching: case study in mixed mode delivery of hardware-based undergraduate engineering laboratories during COVID-19 pandemic

Due to the COVID-19, educational institutions fully or partially shifted to online teaching. Hardware-based laboratories presented a major challenge given the online learning environment. Online running of hardware-based laboratory classes using software does not provide students. Online teaching reduces the interaction level between students and demonstrators. As a result, students’ performance and satisfaction were reduced. To address these challenges, this article presents a novel mixed mode delivery approach for undergraduate engineering students. This approach is based on pairing remotely and on-campus students. This article uses a case study to describe the implementation of the proposed approach for a large first-year electronics circuit theory class. Compared to students’ laboratory performance before COVID-19 pandemic (on-campus only laboratories), online students’ laboratory experience was not affected. Their lab performance found to be at 89.64%. Online students gained experience in troubleshooting by their involvement, while on-campus students are connecting the hardware and obtaining measurement results.