Comparative Study of Mobile Lab and Smart

Lab: Approaches for Conducting Practicals

in Blended Learning Mode at Virtual
University of Pakistan

Prof. Dr. Masroor Ellahi Babar

Dean, Faculty of Science and Technology
Virtual University of Pakistan
 Life Sciences at VU
VU started life science programs in 2014 and currently
:following degree programs are being offered

BS: Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Zoology

M.Sc: Zoology
,MS: Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Molecular Biology
Zoology and Genetic
Ph.D: Biotechnology
 Life Sciences at VU
Being ICT based university we have recorded the theory
in modular form but for practicals we have established six
Labs in the following cities

Lahore
Rawalpindi
Multan
Karachi
Peshawar
Faisalabad
 Research Projects Won by Life Science
worth ≈ 50 Million
S. Title Principal Funding Amount
N Investigator Agency (Million)
1 Selection of Superior Beetal Goat/ Bucks for Increasing Milk Productivity Prof. M. E. Babar PARB-Punjab 14.085

2 Transcriptome Analysis of Milk Production Genes for Developing Libraries of Prof. M. E. Babar ALP-PARC- 5.991
Pakistani Buffalo Islamabad
3 Preparation of effective Vaccine against Newcastle disease using recombinant DNA Dr. Abdul Wajid PARB-Punjab 4.000
technology and study in chicken (as Co-PI)
4 Responding to Climate Change: Gene Expression Profiling of Heat Tolerance in Dr. Tanveer HEC-Pakistan 3.700
.Pakistani Cattle Breeds Hussain
 
5 Strengthening of the Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Molecular Dr. Tanveer HEC-Pakistan 2.755
Biology, Virtual University of Pakistan, Lahore Hussain

6 Selection of Superior Dera Din Panah Goats for Milk and meat production Prof. M. E. Babar HEC-Pakistan 9.97

7 Genotyping By Sequencing (GBS) Based Genome Exploration of Pakistani Camel to Dr. Tanveer HEC-Pakistan 7.63
Determine their Genetic Potentials as the Animal of Future Hussain
8 Distribution, Habitat Assessment and Population Status of Asiatic Rock Python Prof. M. E. Babar WWF 0.600
(Python molurus) in Punjab, Pakistan
 
9 Genomic Study for Genetic Diversity, Phylogeny and Conservation of Urial (Ovis Dr. Tanveer WWF 0.595
.Orientalis Vignei) Hussain
 
Lahore Labs
Multan Lab Rawalpindi Lab

Karachi Lab Peshawar Lab

 Problem

VUP students are spread all over the country including

the remote areas

Students face difficulties like accommodation,

travelling and pausing their routine activities to reach
nearby physical lab.

To overcome this issue, VUP conceived the idea of Lab

on Wheels so that instead of students travelling, the lab
should reach to their door step
 Solution

 Lab on Wheels
 Smart Lab

Objective

To provide equal wet lab facilities to all VUP

students at their door steps
 Lab on Wheels

In advanced countries, the concept of mobile labs is

not new
Lab on Wheels
Lab on Wheels
 Basic Requirements of a Mobile Lab

Main Facilities/ Features

Power supply/ Generator

Work areas
Onboard water tanks
Multimedia for demonstrations
AC
Washing area for washing glass wares
Working kitchen (optional)
Wash room (optional)
 
 Equipment for Mobile Lab

All necessary equipment required for practical training of

ongoing Life Sci degree programs
History of Mobile Lab Design

Dr./Salwa Hassan Teama 2012

History of Mobile Lab Design

Dr./Salwa Hassan Teama 2012

History of Mobile Lab Design

Dr./Salwa Hassan Teama 2012

Lab on wheels
Lab on Wheels
Dr./Salwa Hassan Teama 2012
Dr./Salwa Hassan Teama 2012
Dr./Salwa Hassan Teama 2012
Dr./Salwa Hassan Teama 2012
Dr./Salwa Hassan Teama 2012
Dr./Salwa Hassan Teama 2012
Dr./Salwa Hassan Teama 2012
Dr./Salwa Hassan Teama 2012
Dr./Salwa Hassan Teama 2012
 Smart Lab
Various difficulties faced during practical
sessions in ML such as

,Space for mounting ML

,Electricity and water supply
limited sitting space for the students and 
especially The students feedback i.e. ML is best
suited for conducting practical sessions of Zoology
.students, VUP felt to establish Smart Lab
 The Idea of Smart Lab
The idea was that a mini truck/ mazda will be
used for carrying and moving bio-lab
equipment and consumables, packed in trollies
.to the designated VUP campuses
After that, the equipment is moved to the next
VUP campus for conducting practical sessions
arranged using the same equipment and
.consumables and so on
Dr./Salwa Hassan Teama 2012
 The Idea of Smart Lab
To prevent from damaging the equipment
during travel, high quality foam was placed all
.around the equipment in the trolley/ vehicle

Dr./Salwa Hassan Teama 2012

Practicals in Smart Lab

Dr./Salwa Hassan Teama 2012

Survey – Mobile Lab and Smart Lab
 Mobile Lab Vs. Smart Lab
Mobile Lab Smart Lab
A well-furnished and customized Not a bus. Biological
bus equipped with all necessities equipment is moved through a
for conducting practical classes mini truck to a designated
station
Bus is mounted at the selected Biological equipment is shifted
station and practical classes are to the physical room prepared
arranged in the bus with a capacity for conducting practical
of 25 seats sessions
Bus is moved to the next station The equipment is shifted to the
along with equipment after a next place through the mini
specified period of time Mazda
 Conclusions
Based on the survey of 350 students it was concluded that

•Students preferred to work in smart lab as compared to mobile lab

•Smart lab is much cheaper
•Movement of the equipment is much easier
•Development cost of smart lab is comparatively less
•More comfortable environment in smart lab
•Students feel that they are working in conventional lab
 Future line of actin
The concept of mobile and smart lab opens new horizons in the
filed of open and distance learning. There is a need to establish
more such labs in the filed of agriculture, health sciences,
engineering etc. Such labs can be more useful for vocational
trainings to produce skilled man power for the countries need as
well as to meet the requirements of many other countries
Thank you