Multiphysics Enriched Mixed Reality for Integrated Geotechnical Education

该项目旨在通过设计，实施和评估一系列创新的混合现实游戏对本科生的兴趣和成功的影响，为国家利益服务。尽管地质技术工程在当今许多全球问题中发挥着关键作用，但许多土木工程课程中都缺少全面的地质技术教育。此外，学生很少有机会应用地质技术原理，很少选择专门从事这一重要的子领域。该项目将在不同的机构环境中实施。使用新颖的基于游戏的学习环境（MERGE）以及智能城市设计理念的整合是提高学生参与度的有效途径。混合现实游戏将网络基础设施学习经验和元认知技能注入到一个有吸引力和激励性的学习环境中。MERGE预计将提供一个综合的地质技术学习经验与可视化，协作和模拟工具，以促进元认知的地质技术设计和解决问题。MERGE旨在为学生创造一个互动学习平台，以数字方式探索多物理地质技术现象。该项目将推进当前对混合现实在促进学生学习中的作用的理解，工程设计的交互式视觉探索过程，以及元认知干预和解决问题策略的相互作用。研究问题明确阐述，以指导调查，在游戏为基础的学习环境，其中包括对学生学习的地质技术工程概念，学生的实验技能，网络基础设施知识和道德决策的影响检查。使用混合方法将允许对定量和定性结果进行三角测量。游戏系统的网络功能将使学生在传统课堂之外无限制地使用游戏，鼓励学生终身学习，以适应不断变化的世界。该项目将直接加强罗文大学和哥伦比亚特区大学（HBCU）学生的地质技术学习，并为未来的地质技术工程队伍做好准备。该项目将为地方和国家的地理技术教育工作者举办讲习班，以传播项目信息和收集专业意见，供今后改进。NSF IUSE：EHR计划支持研究和开发项目，以提高所有学生STEM教育的有效性。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project aims to serve the national interest by design, implementation and assessment of the impact of a series of innovative mixed reality games on undergraduate students’ interest and success in geo-technical engineering. Despite the critical role of geo-technical engineering in many global issues today, comprehensive geo-technical education is missing from many civil engineering curricula. Additionally, students have few opportunities to apply geo-technical principles and very rarely choose to specialize in this important sub-field. The project will be implemented across different institutional settings. The use of the novel game-based learning environment (MERGE) as well as integration of smart city design concept is a powerful way to enhance student engagement. The mixed reality game infuses cyber-infrastructure learning experiences and meta-cognitive skills into an attractive and motivating learning environment. MERGE is expected to provide an integrated geo-technical learning experience with visualization, collaboration and simulation tools to promote metacognition for geo-technical design and problem solving. MERGE seeks to create an interactive learning platform for students to digitally explore multi-physical geo-technical phenomena. The project will advance the current understanding of the role of mixed reality in fostering student learning, the process of interactive visual exploration for engineering design, and the interplay of meta-cognitive interventions and problem-solving tactics. Research questions are clearly articulated to guide investigations in the game-based learning environment which include the examination of impact on student learning of geo-technical engineering concepts, student experimental skills, cyber-infrastructure knowledge and ethical decision-making. The use of a mixed method approach will permit the triangulation of quantitative and qualitative findings. The cyber-features of the game system will enable unlimited access outside the traditional classroom, encouraging life-long learning for students to adapt to a continuously changing world. The project will directly enhance geo-technical learning for students at Rowan University and the University of the District of Columbia (an HBCU) and prepare them for the future geo-technical engineering workforce. The project will organize workshops for both local and national geo-technical educators to disseminate project information and gather professional comments for future improvements. The NSF IUSE: EHR Program supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through the Engaged Student Learning track, the program supports the creation, exploration, and implementation of promising practices and tools.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.