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The innovation brought by the introduction of new technologies in our modern society has also started to appear in education. The biggest efforts come from the institutions involved in distance education, partly due to the characteristics of the educational system they represent. In order to improve the technology development there are a large number of projects being developed inside the European Union. Index Terms--Distance education, European Union projects, technology resources and innovation.

The study of the stability of frequency sources is a matter of major interest due to the evolution of communication and instrumentation systems resulting in increasing the number of channels in a limited spectrum, and reducing size and power consumption. The paper relates laboratory experiences that explain the behavior versus temperature of thickness-mode quartz crystal resonators (AT- and SC-cut crystals) that are applied to the control of frequency sources, and the performance of digital compensation techniques. Prototypes of Microcomputer-Compensated Crystal Oscillators (MCXO's) have been developed to compare the compensation performance using the resonator as the temperature sensor against the use of an external sensor and verify the reduction of compensation errors due to thermal lags and hysteresis. The design of a CMOS integrated circuit for the MCXO is also included. A frequency correction method that does not modify the crystal resonance has been implemented in the circuit. This allows sensing the temperature by means of the crystal and improving its long-term stability (aging). A new frequency comparator is also introduced. Its aim is to obtain the difference between two very close frequencies at its output, without being affected by the phase variations that the new frequency correction method and the digital circuit introduce. This detector has been implemented to get a high-resolution thermometric frequency and to realize a frequency-locked loop that includes a crystal controlled local oscillator, allowing the use of the MCXO as good short-term stability source.

This article reports on the design and development of a new set of remotely controlled electronics experiments oriented to postgraduates and apprentices. Industrial-related issues are emphasized to allow understanding of the behavior of electronics components. The experiments are fully delivered online with a high level of flexibility. Remote retrieved results are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on a state-of-the-art remote laboratory project called Virtual Instrument Systems in Reality (VISIR). VISIR allows wiring and measuring of electronic circuits remotely on a virtual workbench that replicates physical circuit breadboards. The wiring mechanism is developed by means of a relay switching matrix connected to a PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation (PXI) instrumentation platform. The entire equipment is controlled by LabVIEW server software, in addition to a measurement server software that protects the equipment from hazard connections by verifying input circuit designs, sent by students, before being executed. This paper addresses other approaches such as remote labs based on Data Acquisition Cards (DAQs), NetLab, and RemotElectLab, comparing them with VISIR in order to emphasize its singularity. Topics discussed are as follows: the technical description, software, operation cycle, features, and provided services. In addition, the feedback received by students at several universities and the encountered drawbacks along with the proposed solutions are highlighted. The paper finally addresses the ongoing and future challenges within the VISIR community including its integration with Learning Management Systems (LMSs) and iLab Shared Architecture (ISA), its new hardware version release that is based on LAN eXtensions for Instrumentation (LXI), and its new open platform version that supports federated access. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]