Real Experiments in a MOOC Through Remote Lab VISIR: Challenges, Successes and Limits

Online Education has proven that can provide rich learning environments and stimulating experiences. However, the inherent physical distance in online education/learning complicates the learning process in some educational areas. This is the case of subjects related to technical aspects, in which the knowledge cannot be attained only through ideal models. Traditionally, this disadvantage has been alleviated by the substitution of real labs by simulators, however, simulators still obey a model. More recently, remote labs -real instruments and equipment, performing experiments in real environments, which are controllable remotely- grant the opportunity to provide real labs in online courses. The availability -both, temporal (24/7) and geographical- is the key feature in which remote laboratories lie. This aspect makes remote lab an ideal tool for online education/learning and, in most cases, the unique way to provide a contact with real devices in a 100% online educational model. This is nevertheless false in courses in which scalability is a requirement. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) inherit the advantages and disadvantages of online education/learning approach. However, scalability is a must in MOOCs and remote labs, as any other real system, have physical limitations. In this paper, we will show the integration of a remote lab in a MOOC and how the physical limitations of a real environment have been overcome.