The Design And Realization Of The Virtual Laboratory In Distance Education

Virtual Laboratory is an integrated virtual experiment environment, which utilizesa variety of instruments, such as information technology, network and simulation, andit has great potential as well as practical perspective.At present, network-based distance class teaching has become mature in bothtechnique and approach, but network-based experiment teaching is still in its researchphase. Based on multimedia, network, practical controls, and programming language,this paper proposes a conception of implementing virtual experiments via network,which means software is used to take the place of hardware, and all the processes ofthe experiment are simulated with software to achieve the same effect as in a realexperiment laboratory.The realization of virtual experiment will relieve many colleges and universities ofthe pressure and difficulty in expenditure、equipment and place. Furthermore, virtualexperiment can break the limitation of traditional experiment in time and space. Bothteachers and students can get into the virtual laboratory freely via network, andperform experiments, which will help to improve the teaching quality.This paper describes the emergence of virtual laboratory plus its developmenthome and abroad, and explains the necessity and significance for studying this subjectaccording to the situation of present laboratory. Virtual laboratory is the virtualizationof existing teaching laboratory. The concept of virtual laboratory is based on network,computer and programming, and the virtual experiment is performed under virtualenvironment. Importance should be attached to the reciprocity and simulation of theexperiment.B/S is chosen after being compared with C/S model. By analyzing the programingsoftware for virtual laboratory and some key techniques used home and abroad, thispaper gives a new solution, namely combining controls with ASP.NET. According to the design principles and objectives of virtual laboratory, this paper analyzes themodules and functions of the system, and the process of building a virtual networklaboratory. Based on the building process of Linux Network Virtual Laboratory, thispaper gives some common problems and also the solutions in development, whichshows that the realization of this system is not only effective in function, but alsoversatile and extendable.With the help of the virtual laboratory, students can put what they learn to practical use.The arrangement of experiments is flexible and it is free from the limitation of time orspace. Experiments can be performed as long as there is network. Virtual experimentcan reduce the expense of maintaining the experiment equipment, solve the problem ofequipment shortage, and thus combine theory with practice. The virtual laboratorymentioned in this paper makes certain contribution for future design and developmentof virtual laboratory, and thus does some basic work for a better teaching quality incolleges and universities.