Designing Virtual Practicum Modules for Basic Laboratory of
Telecommunication System
Maksum Pinem*, Muhammad Zulfin, Naemah Mubarakah, Sri Indah Rezkika
Electrical Engineering Department, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Padang Bulan, 20155 Medan, Indonesia
Keywords: Basic Telecommunications, Modeling, Simulation, GUI, Matlab.
Abstract : Accordance with the development of information technology in the form of network technology and software,
then as a companion physical laboratory proposed a powerfull innovation in the form of innovation laboratory
designing and implementing software-based telecommunication system (virtual laboratory).The Virtual
Laboratory presents a number of advantages such as portability, ease of re-deployment processes, to lower
cost of provision and operation.This paper designs and builds a virtual laboratory of telecommunication
systems based on the procurement of virtual individual practical work modules which then integrate between
the modules. Based on the results of the tests conducted, has been obtained and has successfully executed
seven modules of virtual practicum that is integrated and ready to be empowered for student practicum.
1 INTRODUCTION
Procurement of laboratory infrastructure is a part that
often becomes a major obstacle for universities to
produce qualified graduates.One of the challenges
faced by the laboratory is the limitations of physical
practicum modules and measuring instruments.But
there are two solutions offered to overcome the
problem that is by making the device itself as
practicum practiced by (Darlis, A. R, 2013;
Kharisma, W., A., 2013; Supriandani, Y, 2015) the
second solution is to make a breakthrough media
development as a supplement learning teaching
materials lab that so far can be done with two
approaches, namely Augmented Reality or ARLAB
and Virtual Laboratory or commonly referred to as
VLAB. However, the creation of instructional media
should be in accordance with educational standards
and may represent actual practicum (Potkonjak,
2016), so it can be used by learners who have limited
access to laboratory equipment, because basically the
learning media is one model approach to help know,
understand and analyze certain phenomena contained
in a field of science. In addition, one of the principles
of learning media is not limited to use at anytime and
anywhere by anyone who wants to operate.
Virtual laboratory is one form of modern
laboratory that is enough to help institutions,
educators or learners in the implementation of
practice-based learning. The results of a research
survey of students using physical and virtual labs
show that virtual labs are better in terms of physical
security availability (Burd. Stephen D, 2009).
Of course, the development of virtual laboratories
is inseparable from reliable Software support that
integrates computing, visualization and programming
in an easy-to-use environment where problems and
solutions are expressed in familiar mathematical
notation. In the field of engineering, especially
Telecommunication Engineering, the utilization of
GUI-based simulation software such as Matlab which
provides convenience in explaining scientific
concepts when quite a lot of mathematical terms are
involved in the teaching process (Mohamed S. Al
Oraibi, 2016; Shalini Garg, 2014). Therefore, this
research designs and builds a virtual laboratory of
telecommunication systems based on the
procurement of virtual individual practicative
modules which then is done to integrate all the
individual practice modules.
Pinem, M., Zulfin, M., Mubarakah, N. and Rezkika, S.