Augmented and Virtual Reality Experiences for Learning Robotics and Training Integrative Thinking Skills
Learning through augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences has become a valuable approach in modern robotics education. This study evaluated this approach and investigated how 99 first-year industrial engineering students explored robot systems through such online experiences while...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Robotics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-6581/11/5/90 |
| _version_ | 1797470016181895168 |
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| author | Igor Verner Dan Cuperman Huberth Perez-Villalobos Alex Polishuk Sergei Gamer |
| author_facet | Igor Verner Dan Cuperman Huberth Perez-Villalobos Alex Polishuk Sergei Gamer |
| author_sort | Igor Verner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Learning through augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences has become a valuable approach in modern robotics education. This study evaluated this approach and investigated how 99 first-year industrial engineering students explored robot systems through such online experiences while staying at home. The objective was to examine learning in the AR/VR environment and evaluate its contribution to understanding the robot systems and to fostering integrative thinking. During the AR experiences that we developed using Vuforia Studio, the students learned about TurtleBot2 and RACECAR MN robots while disassembling and modifying their models and by obtaining information about their components. In the VR experience with the RacecarSim simulator, the students explored sensor-based robot navigation. Quizzes were used to assess understanding of robot systems, and a post-workshop questionnaire evaluated the workshop’s contribution to learning about the robots and to training integrative thinking skills. The data indicate that the students gained understanding of the robot systems, appreciated the contribution of the augmented and virtual reality apps, and widely used integrative thinking throughout the practice. Our study shows that AR apps and virtual simulators can be effectively used for experiential learning about robot systems in online courses. However, these experiences cannot replace practice with real robots. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:31:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8027759214434b8fa0b8c9ae9efc7a21 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-6581 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:31:47Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Robotics |
| spelling | doaj.art-8027759214434b8fa0b8c9ae9efc7a212023-11-24T02:23:25ZengMDPI AGRobotics2218-65812022-09-011159010.3390/robotics11050090Augmented and Virtual Reality Experiences for Learning Robotics and Training Integrative Thinking SkillsIgor Verner0Dan Cuperman1Huberth Perez-Villalobos2Alex Polishuk3Sergei Gamer4Faculty of Education in Science and Technology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, IsraelFaculty of Education in Science and Technology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, IsraelFaculty of Education in Science and Technology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, IsraelFaculty of Education in Science and Technology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, IsraelFaculty of Industrial Engineering and Management, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, IsraelLearning through augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences has become a valuable approach in modern robotics education. This study evaluated this approach and investigated how 99 first-year industrial engineering students explored robot systems through such online experiences while staying at home. The objective was to examine learning in the AR/VR environment and evaluate its contribution to understanding the robot systems and to fostering integrative thinking. During the AR experiences that we developed using Vuforia Studio, the students learned about TurtleBot2 and RACECAR MN robots while disassembling and modifying their models and by obtaining information about their components. In the VR experience with the RacecarSim simulator, the students explored sensor-based robot navigation. Quizzes were used to assess understanding of robot systems, and a post-workshop questionnaire evaluated the workshop’s contribution to learning about the robots and to training integrative thinking skills. The data indicate that the students gained understanding of the robot systems, appreciated the contribution of the augmented and virtual reality apps, and widely used integrative thinking throughout the practice. Our study shows that AR apps and virtual simulators can be effectively used for experiential learning about robot systems in online courses. However, these experiences cannot replace practice with real robots.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-6581/11/5/90robotics educationfirst-year engineering studentsonline learningaugmented realityvirtual simulationintegrative thinking |
| spellingShingle | Igor Verner Dan Cuperman Huberth Perez-Villalobos Alex Polishuk Sergei Gamer Augmented and Virtual Reality Experiences for Learning Robotics and Training Integrative Thinking Skills Robotics robotics education first-year engineering students online learning augmented reality virtual simulation integrative thinking |
| title | Augmented and Virtual Reality Experiences for Learning Robotics and Training Integrative Thinking Skills |
| title_full | Augmented and Virtual Reality Experiences for Learning Robotics and Training Integrative Thinking Skills |
| title_fullStr | Augmented and Virtual Reality Experiences for Learning Robotics and Training Integrative Thinking Skills |
| title_full_unstemmed | Augmented and Virtual Reality Experiences for Learning Robotics and Training Integrative Thinking Skills |
| title_short | Augmented and Virtual Reality Experiences for Learning Robotics and Training Integrative Thinking Skills |
| title_sort | augmented and virtual reality experiences for learning robotics and training integrative thinking skills |
| topic | robotics education first-year engineering students online learning augmented reality virtual simulation integrative thinking |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-6581/11/5/90 |
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