The Development And Implementation Of Em Viz, A 3 D Undergraduate Electromagnetic Engineering Visualization Tool, With An Assessment Of Its Relative Efficacy For Minority Visual Literacy And Achievement

Abstract

Studies showing that students in undergraduate engineering exhibit a stronger preference for the active, sensing, visual and sequential learning styles indicate that virtual reality can potentially have a tremendous impact on engineering education. By providing learning environments rich in varied learning methods, educators can provide students with more diverse means of receiving and applying knowledge and information resulting in a more engaging and interactive educational setting. Such environments allow students to construct their own understanding of what they are studying through their interaction with the environment, and their use of the knowledge and skills that they already have to experiment and form a more conceptual understanding of the information. At Morgan State University, we have developed EM-Viz, a 3D electromagnetic visualization tool designed to support undergraduate electromagnetic students in gaining an understanding of the theory of electromagnetics and provide conceptual views that offer insight into the behavior of their associated fields. In this paper, we will explain the design and features of this tool and discuss the use of a low-cost semi-immersive VR system designed to provide a group-learning environment. This paper will also quantify the application of VR to engineering education by determining its significance and relative efficacy to student achievement. In preliminary subjective tests, students found that the application was very useful in that it provided an overall context on an otherwise difficult and frustrating subject. Also, preliminary analytical results of the integration of the EM-Viz tool into the course revealed that there was significant increase in student achievement, perhaps indicating that virtual reality maybe a possible instrument in addressing the needs in the education and training of future minority engineers.