Remote Laboratories for Optical Circuits

This paper presents a remote laboratory implementation for an optical circuits course. The process from design and implementation towards assessment and continuous improvement phase is outlined. The design of the experiments involved the research on remote access technology and the investigation of best practices for an experimental setup. The first pilot implementations were used to determine the possible shortfalls during an ldquoIntroduction to an Optical Communicationsrdquo course in fall 2004 at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and an ldquoOptical Circuitsrdquo course in fall 2005 at the University of Houston, Houston, TX. After improvements, two experiments were pilot tested during spring 2006 at the University of Houston. Assessment of learning outcomes and teaching methods were performed. The remote access methods, in addition to the delivery of the class and lectures, are presented in the paper. Delivery of a class with remote laboratories and videotaped lectures are also outlined under future directions of this project.