Apples and Oranges: A Framework to Explore the Practiced Pedagogy in Experiential Learning

Experimental learning, traditionally conducted in on-campus laboratory venues, is the cornerstone of science and engineering education. To satisfy online student and accreditation requirements, the common practice has been to offer equivalent remote and/or simulated laboratory experiments in lieu of the ones delivered, face-to-face, on campus. The current implementations of both remote and simulated laboratories tend to be specified with a focus on technical characteristics, instead of pedagogical requirements. This work attempts to redress this situation by detailing a framework for the investigation of quality teaching and learning in existing and proposed experimental educational environments. For the tertiary education sector, involved with technical or scientific training, a tool capable of comparatively assessing the pedagogical limitations of laboratory venues is an important aid during the planning, designing and evaluating stages of face-to-face and online environments that facilitate student experimentation. Providing quality experimental learning venues has been identified as one of the distance-education providers’ greatest challenges.