Abstract:

Augmented reality applications (app) are promising technologies for learning purposes for both reasons, wide and versatile capabilities and attractiveness from the student’s point of view. With the aim of increasing the interest and the motivation in the field of Thermal Engineering, an app including augmented reality elements has been developed from zero in Android Studio with Google APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). A SQLite data base has been also designed and implemented to support the learning activities presented to the user.

The learning topic is the vapor compression refrigeration cycle, considering a drinking fountain as case study. The present paper summarizes the design and development procedures of the app, as well as the previous study on benchmark and the interests of students and lecturers based in opinion surveys. The educational contents are distributed into five activities: introduction to the refrigeration cycles, the refrigeration system under study, system operation, thermodynamics operation and final assessment.

Keywords:

Augmented reality, Active learning, Mobile devices, Higher Education Innovation, Engineering Thermodynamics.