Developing a Pedagogical Photoreal Virtual Environment to Teach Civil Engineering
<- Publications
Developing a Pedagogical Photoreal Virtual Environment to Teach Civil Engineering
James Walker,
Dave Towey,
Matthew Pike,
Georgios Kapogiannis,
Ahmed Elamin,
Ran Wei
Interactive Technology and Smart Education (ITSE) | 2020
| View on Publisher's Website
Abstract
It is possible for civil engineering (CE) students to graduate from a degree programme without gaining experience on a construction site. The implementation of virtual field trips using virtual reality (VR) in CE education is a development that can address this phenomenon and help facilitate the consolidation of abstract theories into tangible competences. This project aims to solve a fundamental CE education problem: once a structure has been completed, it is often impossible to see how it was built; hence, how can you demonstrate the construction process to a student? This research used the opportunity of a new campus library development to record its construction sequence. This was achieved by visiting the site eight times to take panoramic stereoscopic photos of the construction process. By its nature, using VR as a didactic tool facilitates experiential learning, but this project also incorporates discovery learning and situated cognition to develop students’ understanding of the construction process. The study highlights the role of VR in enhancing student learning by providing authentic and immersive experiences that bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical understanding.