How To Create A Virtual Lab

Transcription

1 Interactive Simulation of Engineering Experiments Inspired by Game-Design D. Litynski 1, P. Ari-Gur 1, P. Thannhauser 1, R. Rabiej 1, P. Ikonomov 1, J. Johnston 2, T. Bayne 1, S. Hoin 1, MM Hassan 3 1 Western Michigan University 2 Muskegon Community College 3 Louisiana State University SALT Conference, Orlando, FL March 2014 Inspired by Game-Design 1

2 CEAS Modern 265-acre campus, 5 km south of main campus Includes a Business Technology and Research Park -- designated as a Michigan SmartZone and is home to companies in the life sciences, information technology and advanced engineering. Inspired by Game-Design 2

3 Funding for the Project This project was funded by Hewlett Packard's Higher Education HP Technology for Teaching Grant program ( ) The HP Catalyst program ( ) The National Science Foundation (NSF) grant number ( ) Inspired by Game-Design 3

4 Concrete and asphalt video Inspired by Game-Design 4

5 Outline Background Why Virtual Lab? Goals and Objectives Design of the Virtual Lab o Experiments and Data Collection o Videos o Simulations o Lab Manual Conclusions Inspired by Game-Design 5

6 Background Despite the growing need for engineers in the US workforce, there has not been a significant increase in engineering degrees awarded => NSF foresees that the US workforce will not have enough engineers in the future. Engineering is a very demanding curriculum. Even when students begin their studies as undergraduate engineering majors, the graduation rate is less than 50%. Inspired by Game-Design 6

7 Why Virtual Lab? Lab exercises reinforce the lecture and address the needs of certain learning styles However Material science processes may take several hours (or days) to complete in the real lab. They require major time commitment from both students and instructors. They are costly. Simulation by Emiliya Ikonomova An error in the real lab can become a major safety hazard. Inspired by Game-Design 7

8 Why Virtual Lab? (cont d) Simulation by Emiliya Ikonomova The millennial student grew up with computer games, like Nintendo and social and academic interaction like Second Life; 3-D virtual reality presents an attractive, effective way to learn. The millennial student feels comfortable in cyberspace. Virtual Laboratory is more accessible to disabled students. Virtual laboratory can be used in recruiting K-12 events. Inspired by Game-Design 8

9 Goals of the VL Project Transform teaching and improve classroom learning with innovative use of technology. Improve success rate in materials science sophomore-level course Transform the actual lab experience to a virtual lab by combining virtualization, applications, concepts and technology Use for outreach to a younger audience Inspired by Game-Design 9

10 Project Development Steps Design real lab experiments. Perform the experiments in the lab. Produce video-tapes of the experiments. Develop VL modules (simulations) using videotapes and data. Produce a manual for the Virtual Lab. Train VL instructors. Assess the Enhancement of Student Learning (and further improve the lab) Disseminate to other sites in the US and around the globe. Inspired by Game-Design 10

11 Video Annotations Text and Subtitles: Added to emphasize important aspects Cartoons were edited and incorporated into the Video 11 Inspired by Game-Design

12 Video Example Inspired by Game-Design 12

13 Development of lab modules There were several authoring software packages used: EON studio, a state-of-the-art virtual reality development tool was used for hardness tester, rolling machine and heat treatment; Unity3D, a popular game design engine was used for concrete and asphalt testing; and LabVIEW, a programming language for developing virtual instruments was used for the X-ray diffraction module. Principles used in the virtual lab experiments: The experiments have to simulate the physical lab experience. They also need to be interactive, and keep the student active. Students should be able to conduct the experiments with no assistance. The experience should be fun and memorable. The virtual lab can be run on a laptop (i.e., no need for specialty virtual reality equipment) Inspired by Game-Design 13

14 Impact The modules were developed to run on a PC (or laptop) with basic graphic capabilities, as our focus was on impacting the largest number of students at our institute, around the country, and around the globe. Inspired by Game-Design 14

15 Reaching students at all levels Interactive Simulation of Engineering Experiments Inspired by Game-Design 15

16 X-Ray Diffraction Lab Purpose: To run an X-ray diffraction experiment. Apply knowledge about Miller indices, Bragg s law, and lattice/crystal structure to a real-life application. Click here to go to part I Note: You must complete part I of the X-ray lab prior to running the experiment Interactive Simulation of Engineering Experiments Inspired by Game-Design 16

17 Operating Procedure of the X-ray virtual lab We use CuKα radiation (wavelength 1.54 Å) To start, click here: X-ray lab a dialog box will open Fill out information: Your name(s) and choose a sample (number between 1 and 6). You can open a context help window with ctrl-h anywhere in the lab. Interactive Simulation of Engineering Experiments Inspired by Game-Design 17

18 Put on the radiation badge Interactive Simulation of Engineering Experiments Inspired by Game-Design 18

19 Click on the specimen button Open the door to the x-ray diffractometer, insert the sample and close the door. Interactive Simulation of Engineering Experiments Inspired by Game-Design 19

20 Select the X-Ray tab Turn the key to the on position and wait a few seconds before flipping the X-RAYS ON switch. The X- RAY ON indicator light stays on as long as the x-ray tube is energized. Wait for the indicator to show 25KV. You can turn the KV up to about 40 and the ma up to 30. Higher power settings give better signal to noise values. ma should not exceed the overload set point of 40, and the product of KV and ma should not exceed the overload set point of 1.7 kva. Doing so will shut down the X-ray generator immediately. Interactive Simulation of Engineering Experiments Inspired by Game-Design 20

21 Select the Scan tab Fill in the Scan parameters (2-q range), step size and dwell time. Press Scan. The shutter opens automatically at the start of the scan. You can Export the data to Excel by right clicking the plot. Interactive Simulation of Engineering Experiments Inspired by Game-Design 21

22 Simulted B19 phase of NiTiCu shape memory alloy Sample of Results X-ray diffraction simulated pattern of the B19 phase of NiTiCu shape memory alloy. Inspired by Game-Design 22

23 Include in your report Equation for x-ray diffraction Wavelength and other parameters used The excel graph (with the {khl} identified) Information of the samples used Interactive Simulation of Engineering Experiments Inspired by Game-Design 23

24 Measure of Success (Initial Assessment) We test the students before and after they run the lab, and compare Treatment Group to a comparison group. For the Brass Lab, the treatment group performed better on the post-lab test than the comparison group. For the X-ray lab, the treatment group showed gains from the pre-lab test to the post-lab test while the comparison group did not. Inspired by Game-Design 24

25 Groups reached so far We have reached a very large number of individuals: Within our university and at Louisiana State University At community colleges (e.g. Muskegon, MI) At middle and high schools (currently at a 50 mile radius) Wide dissemination of modules to many other institutions nationally and internationally (we receive requests via ). For example: Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan; Texas State Technical Center Waco, Texas; Bristol CC, MA; Universidad Nacional de Colombia; Highers Colleges of Technology, UAE; Tafresh University, Iran; Risø, Denmark. Interactive Simulation of Engineering Experiments Inspired by Game-Design 25

26 Conclusions Virtual Lab: o Saves time and resources o Requires less effort Beneficial because: Simulation by Emiliya Ikonomova o A mistake made in this Virtual Lab costs nothing o It is effective reaches a large number of students o Reduces dependency on instructors (It allows the student to independently learn and follow through the steps of an activity) o Promotes learning Inspired by Game-Design 26

27 What Next? Scanning Electron Microscope This essential characterization tool was already requested by several groups around the World. All our developed modules are available at no cost at: Click on the Downloads button. Inspired by Game-Design 27

28 Acknowledgements Many other people contributed to this project at our campus, around the US, and abroad. They include: At WMU: Richard M. Wood, Instruction Specialist for the "Real Experiments" Videos; Abraham Barouch, Virtual Laboratory Learning Experience Assessment; John Mackenzie, Photographer and Producer of Videos; and students Shabnam Abdolrahmani, Ahmad Ashraf Ahmad Mahir, Noor Aishah Ahmad Fuad, and Peter Holvestat. At LSU: Marwa Hassan. In Brazil: Luis Fernando Soares Inspired by Game-Design 28

29 Thank you for your kind attention Interactive Simulation of Engineering Experiments Inspired by Game-Design 29