An architecture for virtual and remote laboratories to support distance learning

This work describes the experience of the authors regarding the design, development, analysis, and exploitation of Web-based technologies for creating an online experimentation framework with distance education purposes. This framework is specially design for scientific and technical courses that require a quite important presence of experimentation. Every component belonging to the proposed structure for these kind of portals is integrated into a free modern Learning Management System (LMS) that enhances collaborative work. The features, use, and integration of this LMS (Moodle) along with the other required tools are detailed. The proposed framework was used to implement a network of remote and virtual laboratories for control engineering education (Automat Labs) that is presented here too as an example of its application.