EAGER: US Ignite: A Cloud Enabled Virtual Reality Based Pedagogical Ecosystem for Green Energy and Environmental Engineering Education

该项目将开发、实施和评估一个基于虚拟现实(VR)的新颖、可扩展和可转移的教学生态系统，为学习者提供相关技能培训，以解决绿色能源和环境工程领域现有的熟练工人短缺问题。这将有助于增加该部门初级职位的新工作和培训机会。具体地说，生态系统将使用亚马逊网络服务(AWS)等云服务来提供后端技术，并使用Unity3D等3D游戏引擎进行前端渲染，以创建涵盖绿色能源和环境工程技术主题的身临其境的教育模块。该生态系统将在课堂内外引入和维持：1)来自STEM环境工程领域的基于云的独立VR模块的独特组合，以学生交付的内容为特色，如虚拟可再生能源安装(风力发电场、太阳能发电场等)。为了最优的能源生产，以及能源自动化系统的虚拟设计以及以最佳能力运行的战略，2)提供虚拟现实教育模块的基于云的技术框架，以及3)评估学生应用的基于游戏的学习教学模式游戏-课程活动-反思和讨论(PCaRD)？独立的思维过程，以及创建这些可交付成果的设计和操作技能。在具体的绿色能源主题背景下创建一个基于虚拟现实的教学生态系统，将为利用计算和带宽替代选定的物理实验室和实地考察提供机会。VR模块的仪器将提供有关网络带宽和延迟对教育体验影响的数据。这些数据将直接有助于设计和提供更大规模的美国Ignite基于VR的教育项目。进入课堂的途径包括通过德雷克塞尔？S与伯灵顿县学院合作提供的社区大学水平的教育，通过GK-12积极资助的高中，以及德雷克塞尔？S工程学院的本科课程。实施计划、课程材料和相关技术将定期更新，并通过高度互动的门户网站以便于在其他大学实施的形式向公众提供。这一努力产生的成果将通过教育研究会议、期刊和场所分享，并将帮助1)美国点燃社区使用拟议的教学生态系统的好处和局限性，以及2)正在进行的关于基于云的VR教育的全国对话，从而帮助所有利益相关者更好地协调他们的教育努力。

This project will develop, implement, and evaluate a novel, scalable and transferable virtual reality (VR) based pedagogical ecosystem that provides learners with the relevant skill training to address existing skilled worker shortage in the area of green energy and environmental engineering. This will facilitate the growth of new jobs and training opportunities for entry-level positions in this sector. Specifically, the ecosystem will use cloud services such as the Amazon Web Services (AWS) for backend technology and 3-D gaming engines such as Unity3d for front-end rendering to create immersive educational modules that cover technical topics on green energy and environmental engineering. The ecosystem will introduce and sustain inside and outside the classroom: 1) a unique blend of cloud-based self-contained VR modules from STEM areas of environmental engineering that feature student deliverables such as virtual renewable energy installations (wind-farms, solar-farms, etc.) for optimal energy generation, and virtual designs for energy automation systems along with strategies to operate them at optimal capacity 2) a cloud-based technological framework to deliver VR educational modules, and 3) a play-based learning pedagogical model Play-Curricular activity-Reflection and Discussion (PCaRD) that assess the application of students? independent thought processes, along with design and operational skills in creating these deliverables. The creation of a VR-based pedagogical ecosystem in the context of the specific green energy themes will provide insight into the opportunities for using computation and bandwidth as a replacement for selected physical laboratories and field trips. The instrumentation of the VR modules will provide data on the impact of network bandwidth and latency on the educational experience. This data will be directly useful for designing and provisioning larger scale US Ignite VR-based education projects.The pathways to the classroom include community college level of education via Drexel?s partnership with Burlington County College, high schools via an active GK-12 grant, and undergraduate courses at Drexel?s College of Engineering. The implementation plan, course materials, and associated technology will be regularly updated and made available to the public via a highly interactive web portal in a format that is easily adaptable for implementation in other universities. The results generated from this effort will be shared via education research conferences, journals and venues, and will help inform 1) the US IGNITE community of the benefits and limitations of using the proposed pedagogical ecosystem, and 2) the ongoing national dialogue on cloud-based VR education, thereby helping all stakeholders better align their educational efforts.