Integration of major research instrumentation in geotechnical engineering education at remote campuses

In this paper, we share with the geotechnical engineering community the results of a study aimed at developing, implementing, and assessing an educational module that integrates remote major research instrumentation into geotechnical engineering courses. The students' activities within the module are centered on designing and building a model of a shallow foundation on a sand deposit utilizing a centrifuge facility and using this model for (1) visual observation of the response of soil-foundation systems, (2) learning the use of instrumentation, (3) interpreting acquired data, and (4) comparing experimental results to theoretical predictions. Testing a soil-foundation system helped the students identify the lab experiments needed to design the system. A survey was used to gauge the students' learning outcomes as a result of introducing the module. The module proved that remote sites can be made conveniently accessible to students and faculty, thereby enhancing the learning experience of students that otherwise do not have access to these types of facilities.