- The document discusses the 10 year history of remote laboratories at EPFL, including various European research projects on online and flexible engineering education, professional learning, and technology enhanced learning. - It addresses challenges and trends in moving from formal teaching and learning management systems to informal learning using personal learning environments and the integration of Web 2.0 technologies. - The future of remote labs is discussed in the context of the Internet of Things, personal learning environments, widgets, smart devices, and the Web of People.

1. Remote Laboratory @ EPFL 10 years of exploitation (200 std/y) Dr. Denis Gillet & Dr. Christophe Salzmann MIT GOLC 7-8 Feb 2011

2. Research Context Swiss & European RTD research projects eMersion & Mentors 2001 : Hands-on Experimentation Modules and online Tutoring Services for Flexible Engineering Education ProLEARN 2004 : EU Research Network of Excellence in Professional Learning and Knowledge Management PALETTE 2006 : EU Pedagogically sustained Adaptive LEarning Through the exploitation of Tacit and Explicit knowledge (Online Learning Communities and Communities of Practice) ROLE 2009 : EU Integrated Project on Responsive Open Learning Environments (8M€) - Leader Web 2.0 Service Bundles STELLAR 2009 : EU Research Network of Excellence in Technology Enhanced Learning (5M€) – Executive

3. Challenges and Trends Formal Teaching … LMS Informal Learning … PLE

4. Web 2.0 Integration Internet of Things Web of People Experiments Students Educators Documents Activities Modalities

5. Smart device Same hardware - enhanced software Way to implement functionalities More intelligence at the server side No supervision, autonomous actions, push Structured to support any protocol Agent Environment (peers) discovery elogbook agent SMS: initiate tasks eMail: multiple formats RSS feed: self diagnostic

6. Widget for PLE Graaasp PLE

7. Future remote labs Internet of things PLE Widgets Former client Smart devices Web of People

8. Smart device - protocols Graphics build using SVG + javascript transmitted via websocket Video streaming mjpeg Transmitted via web push Sliders Javascript + PNG Post Save data XML RSS feed ① ② ③ ④

9. Challenges & constraints Pedagogical Appropriation by the students, provide added value Appropriation by the educators Just work From everywhere, anytime, on any equipment Robust to students Does not require specific IT installation Should run on standard open-access computers No specific software need to be installed Firewall, blocking port Does not clog the Internet Follows Internet best practice, i.e. bandwidth adaptation Net neutrality