Remote Access: Redesigning the Physics Laboratory to Enhance Accessibility and Equity

The pandemic unwantedly pushed higher education into online teaching. This otherwise unwelcome experience, however, has unlocked previously untapped opportunities to reach underserved students struggling to succeed within the traditional path. Here we report on a two-semester remote introductory physics laboratory course we designed to provide authentic scientific training on par with traditional in-person laboratory instruction. The class centers on hands-on experiments performed by the students at home with instruments and supplies from a low-cost reusable laboratory kit we assembled. Activities have been thoughtfully designed to facilitate interactions among students and between students and instructors. We aim to provide a sound alternative to the in-person lab especially for at-risk and transfer students who face greater challenges to fulfill their academic requirements. Since its inception, the class has been on high demand, and the students have consistently cited flexibility as a reason for taking it.