Improving Student Learning Using a Three-Dimensional Immersive Learning Environment for Foundational Engineering Concepts

该项目旨在通过使用基于增强和混合现实技术的身临其境体验来改善学生在本科静力学课程中的学习，从而服务于国家利益。静力学是全国许多工程专业的基础课程。在这门课程中，学生发现解决工程问题尤其具有挑战性，在工程问题中，力被施加到三维空间中的物理物体上。学生需要学习解决这些复杂问题所必需的空间推理技能。如果没有这些技能，学生可能会对这门课程感到沮丧，这可能会影响学生在工程方面的留存和坚持不懈。这个项目将通过创建一个三维学习环境来应对这些挑战，该环境使用交互式软件来帮助学生学习基本的工程概念和发展三维空间推理技能。这个项目将研究学习环境的有效性，并调查导致学生学习改善的条件。这项研究有可能改变工科学生在工程项目的早期阶段被教授的方式。在课程中成功应用这项技术可能会导致在静力学课程中更广泛地采用沉浸式技术。预计学生的学习将有所改善，这将有助于提高工程学的保留率。这个项目的总体目标是系统地建立一个理论和实践的知识库，了解如何使用沉浸式技术来增强静力学课程，以改善学生的学习，培养空间技能，并增强学生的动机。三维学习环境将为主要课程主题量身定做，使学生能够(A)执行仅用铅笔和纸无法完成的三维操作，(B)沉浸在与真实和计算机生成的对象交互的环境中，以及(C)学习对工程成功至关重要的具有挑战性的抽象概念。该项目将作为一项元设计实验进行，其中学习环境的迭代设计和经验研究将指导技术的不断改进。虽然该项目的范围仅限于工程学，但教学方法可以推广到其他STEM课程，这些课程可以受益于身临其境的学习体验。此外，该项目开发的软件不会局限于特定的硬件平台，以便不同操作平台的机构共享和适配。对项目成果的评价将由一名独立的外部评估员进行。项目成果将通过一个网站传播，以建立一个研究人员实践社区、工程教育会议报告和STEM教育期刊。NSF IUSE：EHR计划支持研究和开发项目，以提高所有学生的STEM教育的有效性。通过参与的学生学习路径，该计划支持有前景的实践和工具的创建、探索和实施。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势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 improving student learning in an undergraduate statics course using immersive experiences based on augmented and mixed reality technologies. Statics is a foundational course in many engineering programs throughout the country. In this course, students find it especially challenging to solve engineering problems in which forces are applied to physical objects in a three-dimensional space. Students need to learn the spatial reasoning skills that are necessary to solve these complex problems. Without these skills, students can become frustrated with the course, which can affect student retention and persistence in engineering. This project will address these challenges by creating a three-dimensional learning environment that uses interactive software to help students learn foundational engineering concepts and develop three-dimensional spatial reasoning skills. This project will study the effectiveness of the learning environment and investigate the conditions that lead to improvements in student learning. The research has the potential to change how engineering students are taught in the early stages of engineering programs. Successful deployment of this technology in coursework could lead to broader adoption of immersive technology in statics courses. It is expected that student learning will improve, which would help improve retention rates in engineering. The overall goal of this project is to systematically build upon a theoretical and practical knowledge base of how a statics course can be enhanced with immersive technology to improve student learning, build spatial skills, and enhance student motivation. The three-dimensional learning environment will be tailored to major course topics such that students will be able to (a) perform three-dimensional manipulations that are impossible with only pencil and paper, (b) immerse themselves in an environment to interact with both real and computer-generated objects, and (c) learn challenging abstract concepts that are vital for success in engineering. The project will be conducted as a meta-design experiment where iterative design of the learning environment and empirical studies will guide continuous refinement of the technology. While the scope of the project is limited to engineering, the pedagogical approach can be generalized to other STEM courses that can benefit from immersive learning experiences. In addition, the software developed in this project will not be limited to a specific hardware platform so that it can be shared and adapted by institutions with different operating platforms. Evaluation of project outcomes will be conducted by an independent external evaluator. Project results will be disseminated using a website to develop a community of practice for researchers, engineering education conference presentations, and STEM education journals. 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.