Web-Based Learning and Training for Virtual Metrology Lab

The use of World Web Wide for distance education has received increasing attention over the past decades. The real challenge of adapting this technology for engineering education and training is to facilitate the laboratory experiments via Internet. In the sciences, measurement plays an important role. The accuracy of the measurement, as well as the units, help scientists to better understand phenomena occurring in nature. This paper introduces Metrology educators to the use and adoption of Java-applets in order to create virtual, online Metrology laboratories for students. These techniques have been used to successfully form a laboratory course which augments the more conventional lectures in concepts of Metrology course at Faculty of Engineering, Albaha University, KSA. Improvements of the package are still undergoing to incorporate Web-based technologies (Internet home page, HTML, Java programming etc...). This Web-based education and training has been successfully class-tested within an undergraduate preliminary year engineering course and students reported a positive experience with its use. The use of these labs should be self-explanatory and their reliable operation has been thoroughly tested.