Effectiveness of Using Remote Laboratory in Promoting Simulation and Verification Tools
2026-07-12 • Computers and Society
Computers and Society
AI summaryⓘ
The authors studied how remote learning during the pandemic made it hard for students to do hands-on lab work because they couldn't easily access the needed hardware. To fix this, they created a virtual breadboard system that lets students use FPGA hardware remotely for their lab assignments. Their surveys showed that this method worked well to shift labs online. They also found that industry experts value skills in simulation and verification tools, which remote labs help teach, suggesting these labs could stay useful even after pandemic restrictions end.
remote learningFPGAvirtual breadboardhardware accessibilitysimulation toolsverification toolslab assignmentsindustry skills
Authors
Shuowei Li, Rania Hussein
Abstract
The transition to remote learning during the pandemic has necessitated the development of new methods for conducting hands-on experiments. One significant challenge in this transition has been providing students with reliable and sustainable access to necessary hardware components, particularly for courses that require substantial equipment. Additionally, industry partners have high expectations for students to be proficient in simulation and verification tools. To address these challenges, we implemented a virtual breadboard feature that allows students to remotely access Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) hardware and complete lab assignments. Our evaluation of this approach, which included surveys of students and industry partners, revealed that it effectively transformed a traditionally in-person lab assignment into an online modality. Furthermore, this paper presents the perspective of industry professionals on verification and simulation tools as a highly desirable skill in the industry, a skill that remote labs tend to emphasize which makes remote labs a viable educational solution that can continue to be utilized even after the pandemic.