Experiences And Learning Outcomes Of Using Virtual Reality In Building Services Engineering Education

Authors

Juho POSIO, Rovaniemi Municipal Federation of Education, FinlandFollow
Petteri MALJAMÄKI, Lapland University of Applied Sciences, FinlandFollow
Marko HAAVIKKO, Rovaniemi Municipal Federation of Education, FinlandFollow
Tauno TEPSA, Lapland University of Applied Sciences, FinlandFollow
Heli VÄÄTÄJÄ, Lapland University of Applied Sciences, FinlandFollow

Document Type

Conference Paper

Abstract

Virtual Reality (VR) is a promising learning environment in vocational and higher education as it enables learning by doing. We developed a digital twin (DT) for learning the most common maintenance procedures of an air-to-water heat pump using game engine technology, targeted for students and professionals in the building services engineering industry. 22 HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) students participated in a user study to evaluate their experience with the DT, their usage preferences, and learning outcomes. Results of an online posttest questionnaire show that participants found the use of the DT easy and useful for learning maintenance procedures, regardless of their previous experience with VR devices or video gaming. More than half of the participants reported preferring to use the DT before practicing with the physical device. Learning outcomes measured with eight questions indicate that most of the students learned the tasks and safety issues correctly and in correct order (72-95% answered correctly). However, the questions measuring the learning related to adjusting the pressure was challenging for almost all students. The functional and task correspondence as well as the visual similarity of the digital twin to the real-world context is important for learning outcomes. The reported perceived usefulness by students for using VR in learning the maintenance procedures was related to realism of working with the digital twin, illustrating the maintenance procedures and tasks, as well as safety issues in the learning phase. The transfer of learning to real maintenance situations could be tested on the physical device.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.21427/KCVD-PH95

Recommended Citation

Posio, J., Maljamäki, P., Haavikko, M., Tepsa, T., & Väätäjä , H. (2023). Experiences And Learning Outcomes Of Using Virtual Reality In Building Services Engineering Education. European Society for Engineering Education (SEFI). DOI: 10.21427/KCVD-PH95

Creative Commons License

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