The Development of a Hybrid Training Module for Laboratory Practice of Engineering Courses During the Pandemic

Abstract

The World Health Organization's announcement in May 2023 declared that COVID-19 no longer meets the criteria for a global emergency. However, the pandemic is not over and remains a global health threat, with the potential for new variants to emerge. The impact of the coronavirus on teaching and student learning has been significant. Consequently, nearly all educational institutions have begun integrating remote education technology to varying degrees in response to the COVID pandemic. In study sectors like engineering, program outcomes emphasize the importance of developing both theoretical and practical aspects. Although virtual laboratories cannot entirely replace physical experiments conducted in traditional labs, a combination of online and physical laboratories can mutually enhance academic environments. This study presents the development of a low-cost training module that provides the option of traditional onsite training kits that can be used for engineering courses such as microcontrollers, basic computer programming, and sensors, along with online simulations using Tinkercad and Proteus software. Detailed instructions in the form of lab sheets and videos are included for both versions. By utilizing this module, students can practice wiring sensors as inputs to microcontrollers and control outputs (such as motors and LEDs) using C language programming, in the lab or online. Preliminary results from the implementation of the hybrid training module indicate positive student feedback regarding the effectiveness and usefulness of the approach. Assessment trials show that both methods can be used interchangeably and will benefit students in the same way.