This document discusses virtual laboratories as an alternative to traditional hands-on laboratories. It describes different types of virtual labs like animated, simulation, and remote triggered labs. It outlines the advantages and disadvantages of each type. It also discusses India's Virtual Labs project launched by MHRD which provides free online access to 150 virtual labs across various STEM subjects from top Indian institutes. Key features highlighted are practicing at one's own pace, self-evaluation, and freedom to experiment without risk of damage. Requirements for running virtual labs and how to work with simulation and remote triggered labs are also summarized.

1. DR. SAVITA KUMARI SHEORAN
A S S O C I A T E P R O F E S S O R
D E P T . O F C O M P U T E R S C I E N C E & E N G I N E E R I N G
I N D I R A G A N D H I U N I V E R S I T Y M E E R P U R , R E W A R I
( H A R Y A N A )
Virtual Laboratory
(Practical Approach)
Capacity Building Workshop on On-line Teaching-Learning for Regular / Guest Faculty
on 08/05/2020

2. Kinesthetic Learning
 Kinesthetic Learning: Learning by doing or
learning through experimentations Require
laboratories.
Traditional
Laboratory
Animated
Laboratory
Simulation
Laboratory
Virtualization
Remote Triggered
Laboratory

3. Traditional Laboratory
 Advantages
 Physical access to real equipments
 Generate real data
 Face to face interaction with teacher
 Support from technicians, scientific officers etc.
 Disadvantages
 Costly to establish
 Pre-scheduled lab time table
 Require more number of trained technicians
 High recurring expenses and maintenance charges

4. Animated Laboratory
 Advantages
 Effective visualization of experiments
 Explanation / step to step guide of experiments
 Easily accessible
 No ethical issues
 Disadvantages
 Only visual presentation for users
 Variable can’t be changed to desired values
 Only idealistic results

5. Simulation Laboratory
 Advantages
 More interactive
 User can change the variable to desired values
 Realistic results
 Scope to analyze the critical mistakes generally happened in
real laboratory
 Repeatability
 Disadvantages
 One-to-one instruction from teachers / support from
technician is missing
 Least scope for out of box experimentation
 No access to real time equipments

6. Remote Triggered Laboratory
 Advantages
 Real time access to costly equipments
 Repeatability
 Low instrumental damage
 Cost sharing
 Generate real time data and realistic results
 Disadvantages
 Network related issue
 Experiments could be performed in slots / on-demand only
 Almost no scalability

7. Concept of Virtual Laboratory
Virtual
Laboratory
Internet
Remote
User - 2
Remote
User - 1
Remote
User - n
Virtual Laboratory: To augment the learning in science &
engineering subjects experiments can be performed remotely
through the web-based platforms using the internet.

8. Virtual Labs: A Project of MHRD
 Any time, any where (24x7) free access across the globe
through Web-based platform
 Web link : http://www.vlab.co.in/
 Presently 150 labs and 1500 experiments
 Coverage of major subjects of science & engineering
including communication skills
 Contribution by best institutes of the country
 Invitation for more contribution by educational institutes is
open
 Support / popularization through workshop and web-based
solutions

9. Subject Areas
 Electronics & Communications
 Computer Science & Engineering
 Electrical Engineering
 Mechanical Engineering
 Chemical Engineering
 Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering
 Civil Engineering
 Physical Sciences
 Chemical Sciences

10. Participating Institute
 IIT KHARAGPUR
 IIT ROORKEE
 IIT GUWAHATI
 IIT DELHI
 IIT BOMBAY
 IIT KANPUR
 IIIT HYDERABAD
 AMRITA VISHWA VIDYAPEETHAM
 IIT MADRAS
 DAYALBAGH EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE
 NIT KARNATAKA
 COE PUNE

11. Target Group
 Research Scholars
 College / University Students
 Engineering Students
 School Students

12. Motivations for Virtual Labs
Virtual
Labs
Equal
Opportunity
Limiting the
Physical Distance
Resouce
Sharing
Quality
Laboratory

13. Reality versus Scalability
.

14. Important Features
 Learn at your own pace
 Practical Integrated Learning
 Supported by theory and laboratory manual
 Self –Evaluation
 Animation / videos of real experimental set-up
 Freedom to make mistake i.e. freedom of experimentation
in experiments

15. Requirements to Run Virtual Labs
 System configuration required for running Virtual
Labs:
 Browser: Chrome, Firefox, Internet explorer
 Plugins: Flash Player, Java 1.6 version, and Iced Tea
 JavaScript should be enabled on the browser
 No pop-up blockers
 Internet connection (2-4 MBPS)
 If firewall, the communication ports to facilitate VLab
network traffic should be open. Specifically ports 3306, 5900,
5902, and 8700 need to be opened.

16. Working with Virtual Labs
 Simulation Labs:
 Registration may or may not required
 Can be used by any number of students at any time
 Remote Triggered Labs:
 Registration is required
 After registration receive the user ID and password for slot
booking through e-mail
 After Registration book the slot from available slots

17. ?
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