Enhance Active Learning in Additive Manufacturing via a Bilingual, Assisted Virtual Reality Platform

Technology is integrated into every aspect of today’s world; therefore, the education system needs to train students in the use of technology. Virtual reality (VR) is one method that can be incorporated as a part of the curriculum, as an instructional delivery system, an instrument to enhance the learning process, and a tool for evaluation. This NSF RETTL project focuses on additive manufacturing (AM) and will leverage emerging technologies by using VR to develop a bilingual (English/Spanish) immersive learning environment for engineering students. All students, including students with disabilities, will have access to cutting-edge learning modules within the virtual environments. AM technologies play a critical role in future manufacturing; however, they pose high-level safety-related threats to workers and environments. Hence, workers who need to directly or indirectly work with these technologies must be professionally trained with hands-on experience to gain the specific certified skills needed. The learning platform developed during this project will transform traditional approaches of learning and teaching, and improve engineering education in additive manufacturing.