TY - GEN
T1 - A scenario for collaborative learning in virtual engineering laboratories
AU - Arango, Felipe
AU - Chang, Chenghung
AU - Esche, Sven K.
AU - Chassapis, Constantin
PY - 2007
Y1 - 2007
N2 - The feasibility of developing interactive collaborative virtual environments for undergraduate student laboratory experiments is currently being explored at various institutions. Such environments can be implemented using commercial multiplayer game engines together with the associated software development kits. Such immersive environments are expected to provide students with an opportunity for exercising their problem solving skills by collaboratively interacting with each other and the virtual laboratory exercises. This paper discusses the requirements for designing game-based virtual laboratory environments from pedagogical as well as technical point of view. Also, the practical implementation of these design requirements in a prototype system is discussed and a sample scenario for a virtual laboratory based on an existing laboratory exercise from a juniorlevel mechanical engineering course on mechanisms and machine dynamics is presented. The described virtual laboratory environment represents an attempt to mimic important aspects of the learning experience gained through conventional hands-on experiments and even augment this experience by certain features that are not achievable in the traditional hands-on laboratory setting.
AB - The feasibility of developing interactive collaborative virtual environments for undergraduate student laboratory experiments is currently being explored at various institutions. Such environments can be implemented using commercial multiplayer game engines together with the associated software development kits. Such immersive environments are expected to provide students with an opportunity for exercising their problem solving skills by collaboratively interacting with each other and the virtual laboratory exercises. This paper discusses the requirements for designing game-based virtual laboratory environments from pedagogical as well as technical point of view. Also, the practical implementation of these design requirements in a prototype system is discussed and a sample scenario for a virtual laboratory based on an existing laboratory exercise from a juniorlevel mechanical engineering course on mechanisms and machine dynamics is presented. The described virtual laboratory environment represents an attempt to mimic important aspects of the learning experience gained through conventional hands-on experiments and even augment this experience by certain features that are not achievable in the traditional hands-on laboratory setting.
KW - Collaborative learning environment
KW - Computer games
KW - Game engine
KW - Online laboratory
KW - Remote experiment
KW - Software development kit
KW - Virtual experiment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=50149098039&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=50149098039&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/FIE.2007.4417818
DO - 10.1109/FIE.2007.4417818
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:50149098039
SN - 1424410843
SN - 9781424410842
T3 - Proceedings - Frontiers in Education Conference, FIE
SP - F3G7-F3G12
BT - 37th ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference, FIE
T2 - 37th ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference, FIE
Y2 - 10 October 2007 through 13 October 2007
ER -