At the beginning of this chapter a short introduction to remote technologies will be made. Furthermore we will learn what is learning in lab environment and in online lab environment, why we use the labs in generally and particularly in the educational institutions.

Laboratories are important elements in science, engineering and technical education. They allow applying and testing theoretical knowledge in practical learning situations.

Active work with experiments and problem solving helps learners to acquire applicable knowledge that can be used in practical situations. That is why courses in the sciences and engineering consider laboratory experimentation as an essential part of educating of students. Experimentation and experience-based learning, so called learning by doing, is also performed in many other subjects’ area, for example economics where students can lead virtual companies and compete on a simulated market.

Online laboratories make scientific experiment available via the Internet.

The availability of high band width internet connections world-wide and other derivative capabilities in the areas of real-time communication, control, teleconferencing, video streaming, utilizing state-of –the-art equipment in remote laboratories across the globe represent the current reality.

On Figure 1 is presented the development of remote experiments with development internet and computing.

Note: For more information about Technology and hands learning and Virtual Learning Environments you can have a look to the following links:

http://wit.tuwien.ac.at/teaching/courses/ss04/eLearning_pr/literatur/Standardization_in_Computer_Based_Learning.pdf

http://oit2.utk.edu/helpdesk/kb/entry/819/

http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/infokits/vle/