Abstract:

Technological development has contributed to the creation of new teaching tools and opportunities in order to attract the student attention on new and non-conventional ways. Chemical Engineering is a complex technical discipline that is mainly applied to industry, which often makes it difficult for high school students to approach it, due to the physical barriers of moving huge and delicate equipment or instruments, among others. These difficulties can be eliminated using innovative tools, which could also be very useful and attractive for the promotion and dissemination of the Degree in Chemical Engineering among high school students. Virtual reality, through the viewing of videos recorded with 360° cameras, is an example of such promotional activities.

Recently, 360° videos have increased their presence on our lives as an exciting visual way of engaging viewers in a full 360° panoramic view with or without additional emerging information nodes. In this presentation, we share our experience in the University Orientation Days (University of Cádiz, course 21/22), where 360° videos using virtual reality glasses were shown to high school´s students. These videos show the Campus and the laboratories of the Chemical Engineering and Food Technology Department during the development and normal operation of the practical classes that take place during the university courses. High school students can see the facilities and the equipment that university students normally handle. And some additional information is displayed about the subjects or materials shown.

In order to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of this promotional activity, a survey was presented to the students and the main results are shown in this communication. Additionally, the survey participants were asked about different aspects to identify strengths and weaknesses of the videos, with the aim to improve them in the future. The results obtained motivate us to upgrade this type of activities and extend it to other kinds of promotion or dissemination days (Researchers' Night, University Welcome Days etc.) as well as to a greater number of technical and practical Grades, like as Biotechnology Degree or Chemistry Degree.

Keywords:

High school, Virtual Reality, 360° videos, Chemical Engineering.