Introduction to Virtual and Augmented Reality
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are advanced technologies which might be changing the best way we learn, discover, heal, and create. VR uses advanced display and immersive audio technologies to create an interactive, three-dimensional image or environment. AR, alternatively, uses digital technology to overlay video and audio onto the physical world to offer information and embellish our experiences.
Innovative Teaching Experiment on the University of Rochester
At the University of Rochester, a team of researchers is using AR to revolutionize the best way students learn. In a recent experiment, a bunch of chemical engineering students used an AR table to simulate reactions in a real-life chemical plant. The table used coffee mugs and popsicle sticks to represent reactors and pipes, and a nob to regulate the temperature inside each reactor. The students were capable of rearrange the reactors and pipes to see how different configurations affected the chemical response.
How the AR Table Works
The AR table uses a camera to capture the precise location of every reactor and pipe, and a projector to display the outcomes of the simulation in real-time. The students can adjust the temperature and configuration of the reactors and pipes to see the way it affects the chemical response. The table also allows students to work collaboratively and interact in dialogue with one another, making it a useful tool for learning.
The Benefits of AR in Education
The use of AR in education has several advantages. It allows students to interact in hands-on, experiential learning, which will be simpler than traditional teaching methods. It also provides students with a richer set of literacies, allowing them to speak and reason in recent and revolutionary ways. Additionally, AR might help students to develop essential skills equivalent to problem-solving, critical considering, and collaboration.
A Needed Piece in Higher Education
According to April Luehmann, an associate professor and director of secondary science education on the Warner School of Education, the AR table is a "needed piece in higher education." It provides students with opportunities to interact in dialogue, make mistakes, and wrestle with complex, real-life problems, that are essential skills for achievement in the sphere of chemical engineering.
Future Developments and Applications
The researchers on the University of Rochester are planning to attach the AR table to the University’s supercomputer, which can allow for much more sophisticated simulations. They are also working on developing an AR platform to simulate oil and water on the molecular level, which might be used to show students in regards to the effects of oil spills. The use of AR in education has the potential to revolutionize the best way we learn and will have a major impact on the sphere of chemical engineering.
Conclusion
The use of AR in education is a rapidly growing field, and the University of Rochester is on the forefront of this innovation. The AR table is a useful tool for teaching chemical engineering students, providing them with hands-on, experiential learning and a richer set of literacies. As the technology continues to develop, it’s prone to have a major impact on the sphere of education, providing students with recent and revolutionary ways to learn and interact with complex concepts.
