Title
Real-time collaboration of virtual laboratories through the Internet
Abstract
Web-based learning environments are becoming increasingly popular in higher education. One of the most important web-learning resources is the virtual laboratory (VL), which gives students an easy way for training and learning through the Internet. Moreover, on-line collaborative communication represents a practical method to transmit the knowledge and experience from the teacher to students overcoming physical distance and isolation. Considering these facts, the authors of this document have developed a new dynamic collaborative e-learning system which combines the main advantages of virtual laboratories and collaborative learning practices. In this system, the virtual laboratories are based on Java applets which have embedded simulations developed in Easy Java Simulations (EJS), an open-source tool for teachers who do not need complex programming skills. The collaborative e-learning is based on a real-time synchronized communication among these Java applets. Therefore, this original approach provides a new tool which integrates virtual laboratories inside a synchronous collaborative e-learning framework. This paper describes the main features of this system and its successful application in a distance education environment among different universities from Spain.
Year
DOI
Venue
2009
10.1016/j.compedu.2008.07.007
Computers & Education
Keywords
Field
DocType
collaborative learning
Virtual Laboratory,Asynchronous communication,World Wide Web,Collaborative learning,Computer science,Distance education,Teaching method,Java applet,Java,Multimedia,The Internet
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
52
1
Computers & Education
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
33
2.02
24
Authors
6
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Carlos A. Jara11207.50
Francisco A. Candelas21207.83
Fernando Torres319624.92
Sebastian Dormido4869.10
Francisco Esquembre522622.76
Oscar Reinoso61277.01