Using Home-made Virtual Labs in Higher Education: An Experience in Teaching Power Hydraulics

Laboratories have traditionally played a significant role in higher education as a place where students can apply theory to real-life situations. However, most university laboratories have modest facilities that allow the implementation of only a few basic arrangements. In this regard, simulation software can be used to complement basic hands-on practice and also to reinforce previous concepts. This paper presents a home-made educational application used to simulate hydraulic power networks that has been developed by the authors. The application was designed for a virtual subject that employs a blending methodology for laboratory experience. First, the students implement several simple circuits in the laboratory in order to learn the basis of power hydraulics. Next, they can download the application from the web and use it to design, analyse and understand the operation of more complex networks. The effectiveness of the use of the application in the learning process was assessed at the end of the course by means of an opinion survey. The results obtained are presented at the end of the paper.