Implementation and Assessment of an Integrated Extended Reality Renewable Energy Laboratory for Enhanced Learning

Abstract

The present educational research investigated the improvement, implementation, and initial assessment of a previously developed experiential Virtual Reality Renewable Energy Laboratory (VR-REL) and Virtual Reality Learning Environment (VRLE) module. The module enables students to explore fundamental concepts such as water electrolysis fundamentals, fuel cell characterization, solar power generation parameters and effects, and wind turbine parameters and operation. The developed learning framework and virtual reality experiential module targets students of different learning styles. Virtual Reality technology enables faculty to use multisensory teaching tools to enhance student comprehension and motivation to learn. The end-goal of these transformative immersive teaching instruments is to offer students improved means of exploration of fundamental notions of the topics studied, leading to a personalized and optimized learning in a subject matter [1], [2], [3], [4]. The paper is presenting the latest developments of the previously created Virtual Reality Learning Environment and its modules in Renewable Energy Sources laboratory, and the preliminary surveys of the impact and evaluation of the improved VR Learning Environment (VRLE). The main methods to achieve the goals of the investigation are questionnaire surveys conducted in various engineering courses both in our program and at the partner institution. The feedback received in this study is especially valuable concerning the students' opinion on the accessibility of the study material provided, the logical consistency between the topics, and the visual presentation of the knowledge. The questionnaires along with randomly selected interviews ask students to evaluate their overall experience about the Extended reality (XR) experiments, adequacy of virtual laboratory setups, and their suggestions for improvement. The results obtained from this survey are analyzed and summarized. Conclusions have been made about the importance of students' evaluation of the tutorials, and virtual experiments presentations and the perceived role of the platform in their knowledge retention and for the improvement of the quality of education.