Comparison between Traditional and Web-Based Interactive Manuals for Laboratory-Based Subjects

Abstract

This paper presents the salient features of web-based interactive manuals for laboratory-based subjects and compares them with traditional laboratory manuals. The manuals utilize the latest developments in web applications, JAVA programming and pre-designed spreadsheets with the objective of reducing the time taken for students to perform the mundane and laborious calculations and plotting of graphs. The students can therefore utilize the time in the laboratories on the analysis and discussion of results besides performing the actual experiments. Moreover, the web-based interactive manuals incorporate virtual experiments, digital pictures, animated GIF files and quick movies to familiarize the students with the experimental set-up before performing the physical experiments. The proposed approach is applicable for laboratory-based subjects, which are not amenable to be converted completely to virtual laboratories.