Designing a Structured Repository of Remote Laboratories for Enhanced Online Education

Abstract

One of the key challenges for users of remote engineering is finding available remote laboratories worldwide and efficiently integrating them into teaching practice. The lack of practical skills and institutional support often limits their implementation, which contradicts the fundamental idea of expanding scientific and educational resources. To address this challenge, a digital repository of real remote laboratories was developed in this study. The search process was conducted according to a defined algorithm based on a strategy consisting of three sequential phases. First, relevant academic databases and general online sources were systematically searched using predefined keywords. Next, the identified laboratories were evaluated according to several criteria, including their geographical origin, field of application, and availability. Finally, a digital repository focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines was developed. The repository was designed to enable fast and user-friendly access to practical knowledge. All included laboratories were thoroughly tested and individually evaluated. Based on the identified advantages and limitations, the main directions for the future development, sustainability, and improvement of remote laboratories were proposed.