Video recording laboratory experiments for open laboratory environments

In a 400-level CIMT (computer-integrated manufacturing technology) class entitled Manufacturing Applications of Sensor Technology, a series of laboratory assignments has been developed to teach PLC (programmable logic controller)-based and PC-based data acquisition, as well as how sensors play a vital role in CIM environments. Student feedback suggested that laboratory assignments would require less time and the students would learn the material better if they could be given a `live´ demonstration of the assignment before they started working on it. This was not feasible due to time constraints. The solution was to video-tape the demonstration using a standard camcorder and enable the students to watch the demonstration (at their own convenience) using a television and a video cassette recorder (VCR) which resided in the laboratory. It was generally found that the video tapes gave the students more insight into the assignments and decreased the amount of time it took the students to complete the assignments