Engineering Education: Journal of the Higher Education Academy Engineering Subject Centre, Vol 4, No 2 (2009)

With the recent advances in information technologies, a new mode of laboratory known as “Virtual Laboratory” has begun to revolutionize engineering education. This development has generated some attention and discussion on the fundamental learning outcomes of laboratory and ultimately, an interest in the changes within the learning experiences of students.

This exploratory case study provided the initial phase in a research agenda that is focused on investigating the effectiveness of virtual laboratories in electrical and electronic engineering (EEE) in a research intensive university. The long-term goals of the agenda are to eventually add to the literature of how effective virtual EEE laboratories are, in terms of delivering specific learning outcomes, engaging and motivating students and teachers, and if virtual laboratories could substitute traditional laboratories and at the same time, provide an equivalent comparable learning experiences to the students.