ABSTRACT
Labs are a vital component to learning;hands-on labs reinforce the theory that the students learned in lecture. Whether you are conducting experiments, evaluating results, or comparing data, access to the labs on campus is vital to learning. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, accessing the labs on campus has been a challenge. In Fall 2020 first-year students were invited back to campus. Introduction to Engineering is one of the first-year courses having lab components. How to conduct the lab experiment to meet the course requirements and provide a good experience for the first-year students are challenges for instructors. To provide necessary hands-on experience and at the same time to reduce the overall risk of COVID-19 exposure, the first-year students Mechanical engineering labs were carefully classified to virtual and in person labs. This paper describes the design, implementation, and challenges of the virtual/in person labs. Student's feedback was collected to reflect their overall lab experience in this special time. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2021