Personal learning devices and remote labs: Applying what we learned in the pandemic to post pandemic education

Prior to Covid, we were experimenting with a hybrid laboratory format for our ECE labs combining classic benchtop labs and personal learning devices utilizing the same experiments.Ironically, when Covid hit and we had to go remote for 18 months, we were ready to transition to remote learning which greatly benefitted the university and our students.In this paper we present the data that shows that learning outcomes using personal learning device-based labs are comparable to classic laboratory format.Programs that switched to simulation-based lab programs put students at a disadvantage when they returned to on campus, while those that maintained hardware-based labs, only lacked a few learning opportunities that would have been gained by in person laboratory work.Based on pandemic experience and this study we plan to continue utilizing the personal learning device to our in-person laboratory courses