Aiming to offer a more social learning experience, overcome pandemic isolation and deepen understanding of VR and simulation, the ‘virtual teaching island’ known as Nottopia hosted 50 students each week for lectures and seminars on using VR in product and technology design.
The “Simulation, VR and Advanced Human-Machine Interface” course, which ran from September to December 2020, was open to final year undergraduates in mechanical and aerospace engineering, product design and manufacturing, and postgraduates in human factors and ergonomics.
According to a university press release, 100% of participants viewed their experience as positive or somewhat positive.
“VR has many different applications and engineering students need to know the pros and cons of the technology – how it can influence product design and technological innovation, and what might affect people’s ability to use VR at work,” said course convenor Professor Gary Burnett.
“We get them thinking about the major human factors issues they would need to address in the design process and critique the results of using simulation. As the decision makers of the future, VR will increasingly become part of their working lives.”
Students created their own avatars to navigate Nottopia and communicate with each other.
Mechanical engineering MEng student Rebekah Kay is researching the student experience of the virtual learning island for her degree. She described the module as “completely unique” compared to other learning experiences.
She said: “Joining in as an avatar gives you a veil of anonymity that has made everyone less awkward about speaking up and sharing views in class. With its three-dimensional spaces, I also feel like I’m back in a classroom with my peers. In some ways, I feel more present than if I was physically there.
“It’s so important to learn how to communicate online; our life is increasingly digital and we don’t know how long the effects of the pandemic are going to affect in-person teaching. This course has given me unparalleled opportunities to understand VR and simulation from all angles and get ahead of the curve.”
The VR environment enabled unique experiences, such as walking through walls to access specific tasks, or instantly scaling 3D objects up or down. By switching to ‘fly mode’, students were able to view a huge model of a jet engine from the air and climb inside its mechanisms in a way that defied gravity and reality. Another seminar, focused on advanced in-car interfaces, gave students the chance to study and solve design problems on a driverless ‘robotaxi’ that was not accessible to them in real life.
Nottopia was also a learning environment with genuine wellbeing benefits for students, the university said. Participating students said it helped them cope with isolation due to Covid-19. It provided much-needed bonding without the stresses and barriers of social distancing and mask-wearing.
Topics covered in the course included fidelity and validity of simulators, VR technologies, multi-modal VR, space perception, immersion and presence, natural language interfaces and VR sickness.
Sickness was a key reason that Nottopia was operated as a desktop PC VR space. Headsets could be used but were not necessary. The university aims to invest in them in future, to give students the opportunity to use them in particular ‘rooms’.
“While face-to-face teaching will likely remain an essential part of the curriculum for most, Nottopia proves that VR can replicate and elevate some aspects of the in-person classroom experience, particularly for engineering students who are increasingly likely to use VR in their future careers,” said the university release.
Professor Burnett recorded the sessions to analyse the findings. He will also use feedback from a participant survey to refine and develop the experience for next year’s intake.
Of those who took part, 85% said their motivation to participate in classroom activities increased or somewhat increased, while three-quarters (74%) agreed or somewhat agreed that Nottopia helped relieve social isolation caused by the pandemic.
Want the best engineering stories delivered straight to your inbox? The Professional Engineering newsletter gives you vital updates on the most cutting-edge engineering and exciting new job opportunities. To sign up, click here.
Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.