Work in progress - a hands-on Internet accessible laboratory model for electronics

A number of laboratory pedagogies have been developed to support distance learning. It has been an ongoing challenge to develop a hands-on experience for electronics courses that can be delivered via the internet. The authors have developed an online laboratory system that is used to supplement and substitute for typical onsite laboratory experiences. The Automated Laboratory Test Environment (ALTE) system allows instructors and students to conduct hands-on laboratory experiences over the Internet. The ALTE system allows student access to laboratory experiments 24/7. ALTE was pilot tested in fall 2004, and the spring and summer of 2005. During these semesters students in the pilot courses performed several experiments over the Internet using ALTE and the remainder of the experiments using the traditional method of coming to the onsite lab. This paper will present the results of both pilot tests and the conclusions reached from the data