Applying Flipped Classroom with a Remote Laboratory for Photovoltaic Energy Efficiency Experimentation

The flipped classroom methodology combines theoretical and practical learning by encouraging students to work with theoretical content at home and practical in-class activities. The purpose of this study is to provide an active learning approach combining flipped classroom and the incorporation of hands-on experimentation with remote laboratories to improve student engagement and performance, especially in complex subjects or engineering areas, where traditional lecture-based methods are not sufficient. To evaluate the effectiveness of this active learning approach, we conducted a pilot study with a selected group of students, using a combination of predictive and post-experimentation assessments and feedback mechanisms. In the pilot, hands-on experimentation was carried out using our newly developed photovoltaic (PV) solar remote laboratory, to improve the understanding of the influence of altitude on PV energy efficiency, which cannot be achieved with simulations or with a real laboratory deployed in a single location. The results showed a significant improvement in the post-experimentation scores from 50% average to 79% and high student satisfaction with the learning experience. The findings of this pilot study provide valuable insights for the future adoption of similar methodologies and the implementation of the proposed approach.