Abstract:

Today, the use of virtual reality (VR) is spreading to more and more fields. The teaching of technical disciplines is one of the areas where this technology has a great potential for development, among other factors because it:
(i) avoids the dangers involved in the use of machines, toxic products or electricity;
(ii) decongests laboratories in practical classes in technical degrees; and
(iii) gives students the possibility to run the application as many times as they need, thus helping them to better assimilate the concepts being studied. In fact, a systematic search of a database such as Web of Science shows that there is now a large amount of VR-based software dedicated to teaching technical disciplines. In addition to this, the number of applications of this type developed each year is increasing.

This article presents an application that constitutes a virtual reality learning environment (VRLE) dedicated to helping engineering students learn how to perform a Rockwell hardness test. To do this, the VRLE simulates a step-by-step Rockwell hardness test on a durometer similar to that found at many universities. The design of this VRLE has followed the recommendations made in previous research studies, in order to achieve more efficient didactic results. Thus, the VRLE shown in this article presents a realistic look, with use similar to a modern video game, and allows it to be used on any mid-range computer currently sold.

The main objective of this VRLE is to enable students to perform Rockwell hardness testing in a real laboratory, an activity that is part of many engineering degree programs. During the execution of the program, the VRLE guides the student through each step of the process, giving precise instructions as to what action to take or indicating the error made. In addition, the application asks the student to choose among different options and perform a final exercise, for which he/she must first have correctly assimilated the theory taught in class.
This VRLE is displayed on a computer monitor and is operated via keyboard and mouse, or via keyboard and touchscreen. During the virtual hardness test, interaction with the application takes place:
(i) by pressing certain buttons that appear on the screen; or
(ii) by clicking directly on certain elements of the durometer. This way of interacting allows the student not only to understand the process to be followed during the test, but also to be able to identify the main features of a real machine.

To validate this VRLE designed with a step-by-step guidance, 19 engineering students completed a software usability measurement inventory (SUMI) survey after using the application. The results, presented and discussed in this paper, confirm the successes of the VRLE design and the aspects that can be further improved. In this way, this experience can help other readers to elucidate the aspects to consider when designing a similar didactic tool.

Keywords:

Virtual reality learning environment, virtual laboratory, rockwell hardness test, step-by-step, materials science and engineering.