Virtual Reality Laboratory as a Factor in Increasing Engineering Students’ Motivation

Abstract

Globally, young people have a decline in interest in obtaining engineering specialties. Therefore, it is necessary to create a learning environment that will motivate students to learn engineering professions. It is necessary to use all possible resources, as well as stimulate and encourage the creativity of both teachers and students. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to create a method for increasing motivation based on the use of new tools and approaches in training future engineers. Since virtual reality technologies allow a deeper understanding of real processes’ essence, demonstrate the main steps of the process and possible critical situations use of these technologies are very relevant. We put forward the assumption that the process of developing educational content itself can be used as an incentive motivating force in the educational process. We have developed virtual reality laboratory, with the help of which students are able to study the work of stands used in vehicle repair. They can master structure and operation principles of the balancing machine, study and practice of the technological process of balancing vehicle tires and disks. In order to maximize usage of students’ and teachers’ creative, it was proposed to attract computer students to develop the content of a virtual reality laboratory for the study of vehicle repair processes. A survey conducted among students showed that this approach allows to get a higher motivation level compared to the use of traditional teaching.