Using head mounted display virtual reality simulations in large engineering classes: Operating vs observing

Authors

  • Andrew Valentine The University of Western Australia
  • Tom Van Der Veen The University of Western Australia
  • Patrick Kenworthy The University of Western Australia
  • Ghulam Mubashar Hassan The University of Western Australia
  • Andrew L Guzzomi The University of Western Australia
  • R. Nazim Khan University of Western Australia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3349-5006
  • Sally Amanda Male The University of Western Australia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9852-3077

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14742/ajet.5487

Keywords:

virtual reality, engineering education, safety in design, work-integrated learning, active learning

Abstract

A barrier to using head mounted display (HMD) virtual reality (VR) in education is access to hardware for large classes. This paper compares students’ learning when engaging with an HMD VR simulation as the operator and as the observer, to evaluate whether benefits of HMD VR can be achieved without requiring all students to operate the equipment. Postgraduate engineering students (N = 117) completed a safety hazard identification exercise in a workshop. The performance of students who operated and observed was compared. Results showed that students performed similarly in the exercise that followed the simulation whether they operated HMD VR (n = 33) or observed (n = 84). The finding suggests that educators may be able to use HMD VR simulations in classes with a large enrolment, by reducing the need for investment and management of a large number of sets of HMD VR equipment.

Implications for practice or policy:

  • Engineering educators can use HMD VR simulations to teach students about safety in design.
  • Engineering students are able to identify safety hazards in a HMD VR simulation effectively whether they are operating the equipment or observing another student in their group operating the VR equipment.
  • One HMD VR set per student group is sufficient.
  • HMD VR simulations can be used inclusively, even when some students are unable or unwilling to wear the headset.

 

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Author Biographies

Ghulam Mubashar Hassan, The University of Western Australia

Lecturer, School of Physics, Mathematics and Computing

Andrew L Guzzomi, The University of Western Australia

Senior Lecturer, School of Engineering

Sally Amanda Male, The University of Western Australia

Chair in Engineering Education, School of Engineering

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Published

2021-03-19

How to Cite

Valentine, A., Van Der Veen, T., Kenworthy, P., Hassan, G. M., Guzzomi, A. L., Khan, R. N., & Male, S. A. (2021). Using head mounted display virtual reality simulations in large engineering classes: Operating vs observing. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 37(3), 119–136. https://doi.org/10.14742/ajet.5487

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Articles