Desktop VR Centered Project Based Learning in ET Courses Using a Low-cost Portable VR System

Magesh Chandramouli; George Takahashi; Gary R. Bertoline

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Conference: 2014 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Publication Date: June 15, 2014
Start Date: June 15, 2014
End Date: June 18, 2014
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: Simulations and Project Based Learning I
Tagged Division: Engineering Technology
Page Count: 12
Page Numbers: 24.381.1 - 24.381.12
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--20272
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/20272
Download Count: 548

Paper Authors

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Magesh Chandramouli Purdue University, Calumet (College of Technology) orcid.org/0000-0002-3500-0946

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Magesh Chandramouli is an assistant professor of computer graphics technology at Purdue University, Calumet. Earlier, he was a Frederick Andrews Fellow at Purdue University, West Lafayette, where he completed his doctoral studies. He received a master of science degree from the University of Calgary, M.Eng. from the National University of Singapore, and B.E. degree from the College of Engineering, Guindy, India.

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George Takahashi Purdue University

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Gary R. Bertoline Purdue University, West Lafayette

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Dr. Gary R. Bertoline, Dean of the College of Technology, is a Distinguished Professor of computer graphics technology and a professor of computer and information technology at Purdue University, with a courtesy appointment in the School of Engineering Education. He led the development of the Envision Center for Data Perceptualization at Purdue and served as its director for five years. He also had a major role in the build-out of Purdue’s campus cyber-infrastructure while serving as associate vice president and director of the Rosen Center for Advanced Computing (RCAC) that he co-founded.

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Abstract

Desktop VR centered Project Based Learning in ET courses using a low-cost Portable VR System In this paper desktop VR is used as a medium to deliver Project-based Learning (PBL)curricula to Engineering and technology students. Recently, several courses in engineering andtechnology education seem to be focusing more on proprietary software tools for modeling,visualization, and animation. While learning a software tool surely will add to the skill sets ofstudents, this cann ot replace theoretical knowledge. A strong understanding of thefundamental mathematical, geometric, trigonometric, and physics fundamentals plays a crucialrole in determining the career-success of students. Students, especially those at the beginner'slevel, typically tend to associate theoretical knowledge with 'textual information' involvingsubstantial reading. Hence, this paper puts forth a novel PBL-based approach wherein aninteractive portable desktop Virtual (pdVR) framework is used to methodically organize andpresent such foundational information. The application is being built using web-friendly XML-based technologies such as VRML/X3D and Java/JavaScript to facilitate online dissemination.This is presented using a low-cost portable VR system so that the overall system remains cost-effective. This way, technology and engineering schools that would like to implement such asystem for teaching fundamental Engineering & Technology ( ET) theory to students will not bedeterred by the high costs of immersive facilities (e.g. CAVE). This framework can beincluded in the form of PBL-based exercises or within course curriculum in ETdepartments/schools.

Citation
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Chandramouli, M., & Takahashi, G., & Bertoline, G. R. (2014, June), Desktop VR Centered Project Based Learning in ET Courses Using a Low-cost Portable VR System Paper presented at 2014 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Indianapolis, Indiana. 10.18260/1-2--20272