scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question
Author

Félix García Loro

Bio: Félix García Loro is an academic researcher from National University of Distance Education. The author has contributed to research in topics: Remote laboratory & Distance education. The author has an hindex of 5, co-authored 13 publications receiving 68 citations.

Papers
More filters
Proceedings ArticleDOI
01 Sep 2013
TL;DR: This paper describes the design and development of a novel Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on industrial electronics circuits that is the first MOOC that includes the extensive use of a real remote laboratory dedicated to practices in electronic circuits.
Abstract: This paper describes the design and development of a novel Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on industrial electronics circuits. It is the first MOOC that, besides the usual features of these courses, includes the extensive use of a real remote laboratory dedicated to practices in electronic circuits. Although the nature of a MOOC is completely open, this course targets especially people with at least basic circuits knowledge, related with the demand on industrial sector of labour markets. As said, the core objective of the course is to learn practical competences in basic electronic circuits. This is possible by implementing the remote laboratory for electronic circuits' practices VISIR (Virtual Instrument Systems in Reality) within the MOOC to allow online, real time, delivery of such practices-which makes this MOOC a first of its kind. The paper presents the design and development of the MOOC. We show also some preliminary results in the middle of the course that is running, with more than 2200 students enrolled, during 5 months since May.

27 citations

Proceedings ArticleDOI
01 Feb 2016
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an approach to the use of simulators and virtual labs for providing theoretical contents in distance learning (videos, documents, tutorials, scaffolding activities, peer-to-peer reviews, forums, etc.) to students.
Abstract: Universities and educational organizations or institutions, when designing any electronics course, trust in experimentation through laboratory practices in order to build successful cross-curricular capabilities and capacities. In electronics courses there is a need to have practical experiences, the benefits of electronics laboratory practices are widely known for professionals and necessary for any person who seeks for a broad comprehension of the real-time performance beyond the ideal modelling. Therefore, when designing any electronics course, the laboratory practices are one of the pillars on which the learning is established. Distance education has become widespread in the last decade and has fostered lifelong learning and continuing education patterns, allowing access to learning resources at any time and from everywhere. It has been possible thanks to the internet development and technologies associated with learning tools for a new teaching pedagogy. To support life-long learning and students' autonomous learning activities, remote experimentation has become a challenge in electronics courses; rather, the way the universities and educational organizations or institutions deliver remote experimentation to students in distance learning environments, has become a challenge. Nowadays, there is an extensive variety for providing theoretical contents in distance learning (videos, documents, tutorials, scaffolding activities, peer-to-peer reviews, forums, etc.) to students. These tools, by an efficiently and appropriate selection from professors and use from students, can complement or replace successfully in-person education, even they can reach some aspects that in-person education cannot achieve. Unfortunately, practical issues are not as developed as theoretical ones are. A first approach to this problem is clearly the use of simulators and virtual labs. Although, they are still a bit far from providing to student the real performance and features of equipment under real-life operation conditions. The major challenge is the provision of laboratory working online along with the theoretical contents in a massive context.

18 citations

Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 2018
TL;DR: An analysis of the already prosecuted actions regarding this project and an assessment of their impact in terms of conditioning factors shows the overall outcomes are highly positive since, in each Latin American Higher Education Institution, all training actions were successful, the first didactical implementations were designed and ongoing in the current semester.
Abstract: Experimental competences allow engineering students to consolidate knowledge and skills. Remote labs are a powerful tool to aid students in those developments. The VISIR remote lab was considered the best remote lab in the world in 2015. The VISIR+ project main goal is to spread VISIR usage in Brazil and Argentina, providing technical and didactical support. This paper presents an analysis of the already prosecuted actions regarding this project and an assessment of their impact in terms of conditioning factors. The overall outcomes are highly positive since, in each Latin American Higher Education Institution, all training actions were successful, the first didactical implementations were designed and ongoing in the current semester. In some cases, instead of one foreseen implementation, there are several. The most statistically conditioning factors which affected the outcomes were the pre-experience with remote labs, the pre-experience with VISIR and the training actions duration. The teachers’ perceptions that most conditioned their enrollment in implementing VISIR in their courses were related to their consciousness of the VISIR effectiveness to teach and learn. The lack of time to practice and discuss their doubts and the fulfillment of their expectations in the training actions, also affected how comfortable in modifying their course curricula teachers were.

11 citations

Proceedings ArticleDOI
31 Mar 2016
TL;DR: This tutorial is devoted to one such remote lab named Virtual Instrument Systems in Reality (VISIR), elected as the best remote controlled laboratory in the world, at the first time this distinction was awarded.
Abstract: Experimental activities with real components are an essential part of all courses including or devoted to electrical and electronic circuits theory and practice. The knowledge triangle composed of hand-written exercises, simulations and traditional lab experiments has been enriched with the possibility for students to conduct real experiments over the Internet, using remote labs. This tutorial is devoted to one such remote lab named Virtual Instrument Systems in Reality (VISIR). The Global Online Laboratory Consortium (GOLC) elected VISIR as the best remote controlled laboratory in the world, at the first time this distinction was awarded. At the end of this tutorial, attendees are expected to know what is VISIR, what can (not) be done with it, who is currently using it, and how can one integrate it in a given course curriculum.

7 citations

Proceedings ArticleDOI
01 Sep 2018
TL;DR: This paper will show the integration of a remote lab in a MOOC and how the physical limitations of a real environment have been overcome.
Abstract: Online Education has proven that can provide rich learning environments and stimulating experiences. However, the inherent physical distance in online education/learning complicates the learning process in some educational areas. This is the case of subjects related to technical aspects, in which the knowledge cannot be attained only through ideal models. Traditionally, this disadvantage has been alleviated by the substitution of real labs by simulators, however, simulators still obey a model. More recently, remote labs -real instruments and equipment, performing experiments in real environments, which are controllable remotely- grant the opportunity to provide real labs in online courses. The availability -both, temporal (24/7) and geographical- is the key feature in which remote laboratories lie. This aspect makes remote lab an ideal tool for online education/learning and, in most cases, the unique way to provide a contact with real devices in a 100% online educational model. This is nevertheless false in courses in which scalability is a requirement. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) inherit the advantages and disadvantages of online education/learning approach. However, scalability is a must in MOOCs and remote labs, as any other real system, have physical limitations. In this paper, we will show the integration of a remote lab in a MOOC and how the physical limitations of a real environment have been overcome.

6 citations


Cited by
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The potential of educational data mining driving human decision-making as an alternate paradigm for online learning, focusing on intelligence amplification rather than artificial intelligence is discussed.
Abstract: The initial vision for intelligent tutoring systems involved powerful, multi-faceted systems that would leverage rich models of students and pedagogies to create complex learning interactions. But the intelligent tutoring systems used at scale today are much simpler. In this article, I present hypotheses on the factors underlying this development, and discuss the potential of educational data mining driving human decision-making as an alternate paradigm for online learning, focusing on intelligence amplification rather than artificial intelligence.

212 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The conclusions point to the need for VISIR interface modernization and showed it is more useful in basic courses than in more advanced ones, when dealing with classic lab experiments, and teachers' involvement plus their ability to brief students on VISIR's usefulness have a significant influence on students' performance and perception of learning and satisfaction with the tool.
Abstract: Remote Laboratories have become part of current teaching and learning, particularly in engineering Their potential to aid students beyond their hands-on lab classes has been a matter of discussion in literature Teachers and researchers are aware that the thorough analysis of both strengths and shortcomings of remote labs in didactical implementations may not only lead to the improvement of these resources but also of the pedagogical implications in engineering classes The present study was carried out in a Higher Education Institution in Brazil in two different courses during three consecutive semesters where a remote lab (VISIR) addressing electric and electronic topics was implemented, yielding 471 students' academic results and opinions These students' results (while using VISIR) cross-analysed with the course characteristics, reveal some factors teachers may tackle to foster student learning and motivation The conclusions point to the need for VISIR interface modernization and showed it is more useful in basic courses than in more advanced ones, when dealing with classic lab experiments Results also show that teachers' involvement plus their ability to brief students on VISIR's usefulness have a significant influence not only on students' performance but also on their perception of learning and satisfaction with the tool In the analysed cases, the students with more learning needs seemed to be the ones who could benefit more from VISIR

70 citations

Proceedings ArticleDOI
22 Jun 2016
TL;DR: The current existing development platforms are reviewed in order to present one alternative for students as part as an Educational environment and several applications based on different development platforms used currently are covered.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to review the current existing development platforms in order to present one alternative for students as part as an Educational environment. Furthermore, the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education is an emerging trend which needs modular, adaptable and easy to use tools, these attention during the educational session. Additionally, this paper covers several applications based on different development platforms used currently.

44 citations