Presentation in the pedagogical colloquium by Lena Claesson, Lund University.

Abstract

In physics and other natural science subjects, laboratory work and experimental activities are essential components of teaching. Laboratory exercises serve several purposes in supporting student learning, such as verifying theoretical models, practicing scientific methods, and designing and conducting experiments. Today, remotely controlled laboratories and simulations can act as effective complements to, or in some cases substitutes for, traditional hands-on labs. They can enhance conceptual understanding and facilitate the learning of key principles. However, an important question remains: do different types of laboratories foster different skills and competencies? In this pedagogical colloquium, I present the remotely controlled electronics laboratory VISIR (Virtual Instrument Systems In Reality) from a didactic perspective. VISIR was developed at Blekinge Institute of Technology and has been used in physics courses at an upper secondary school in Lund.

I am a certified physics and mathematics teacher with 38 years of experience in education. I have a PhD in physics education, and my research focused on remote laboratories in STEM education and how they can be effectively implemented. Today, I divide my time between teaching at Katedralskolan and working at the National Resource Centre for Physics (NRCF), where I teach future teachers about physics education.