VIEW: A Virtual Interactive Web-based Learning Environment for Engineering
This addresses the need for effective web-based learning tools in engineering education, but it is incremental as it builds on existing virtual learning environment concepts.
The paper tackles the problem of enhancing engineering education by developing VIEW, a 3D virtual interactive learning environment, and finds that students achieve learning objectives with limited difference in performance between physical and virtual dissection activities.
The use of computer-aided and web-based educational technologies such as Virtual Learning Environments (VLE) has increased significantly in the recent past. One example of such a VLE is Virtual Interactive Engineering on the Web (VIEW). VIEW is a 3D virtual, interactive, student centered, framework of web-based modules based on the Extensible 3D standard. These modules are dedicated to the improvement of student success and learning. In this paper, an overview of the recent developments in VIEW along with associated assessment results is presented. An experimental study was also performed to compare the learning experience and performance of students in a physical dissection activity vs. that in a virtual dissection activity using a VIEW module. The results of this study show that students can meet given learning objectives and that there is limited difference in their learning and performance irrespective of a physical or virtual setting.