Lab kits using the Arduino prototyping platform

Abstract

We present a lab kit platform based on an Arduino microcontroller board and open hardware that enables students to use low-cost, course specific hardware to complete lab exercises at home. The platform is designed to be accessible to a wide range of students and easily adapted for other applications. Careful hardware selection allows existing laboratory exercises to be modified for use with the platform, and the platform enables new exercises that would not be possible in a traditional lab. We describe the adoption of these kits in a course designed for on-campus and remote students that teaches the science and technology of modern display systems. We find that the platform delivers a consistent, high quality laboratory experience for both on-campus and remote students.