Node.js for Development RSTEM to Support Remote Physics Practicum During COVID-19

Abstract

Social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic has changed many things in the way we teach. We are used to learning through video conferencing, e-learning, and virtual experiments such as PhET interactive simulation. However, the experience gained from an experiment in a real condition is still interesting to do and cannot be replaced by a virtual experiment. Therefore, we investigated several remote instrumentation models and technologies that were more effective and more efficient to develop. The results of our research show that the Node.js runtime environment is the most appropriate, effective choice because Node.js is based on open source, so that various microprocessors and various OS support it. We run Node.js on a low-cost device, Raspberry PI 4, with Ubuntu 20.10, a very familiar open-source OS. In addition, Node.js has a feature to communicate with the hardware, making it very easy to connect to experimental physics instrumentation. Because Node.js is based on javascript, it is indeed very suitable for developing web-based applications. We succeeded to carry out initial development through measurements on the magnetic field generated by a coil. Students can interactively control the movement of the sensor and see it in real-time during experiments of measuring the strength of the magnetic field generated by a coil. Experimental activities are part of STEM activities, so we call this remote experimental platform “Remote STEM”, abbreviated as RSTEM.