^{This project was developed as part of “fuels – Future Learning Spaces” in 2023 .}

The idea of the virtual learning space was to implement a real-life experiment in the basic physics practical course at the Department of Physics at TU Darmstadt in virtual reality (VR) and to be able to simulate it in its entirety and carry it out collaboratively.

The VR software DREAM was used for the realisation. The digital assets for the test setup were created using the 3D graphics software Blender and modified in the Unity engine.

Remarkably, the development process did not require the use of programming languages. Blender enables the creation of 3D objects and scenes, while Unity – the platform behind the DREAM app – supports the loading of asset bundles at runtime, but does not allow scripts for security reasons. The software behaves similarly to a content management system (CMS) for VR content. This makes it possible to design VR learning spaces without any programming knowledge.

The basic physics practical course was chosen as the thematic focus of this learning room. As part of this practical course, experiments are made available from various physics subjects for students to carry out. These subjects include electricity, nuclear physics, mechanics, optics and thermodynamics.

The learning room focusses on experiment ‘E6’ – the induction experiment – from electricity theory. The experiment deals with phenomena caused by static or moving electric charges and the resulting electric and magnetic fields. The aim of the induction experiment is to study the cause and effect of magnetic fields. Different types of magnetism – including dia-, para- and ferromagnetism – as well as the magnetic field of a long coil are investigated. Special emphasis is placed on the flow law, induction and Lenz's rule. These concepts form the basis for understanding the general properties of magnetic fields.

In comparison to many other experiments, the induction experiment not only requires the use of technical devices, but also the active handling of physical objects. One example of this is the interaction of an iron or brass core with a coil. This physical manipulation can change the magnetic field, allowing students to gain a practical understanding of the theoretical concepts.

Another central component of the experiment is the explanation and investigation of Maxwell's equations. These integral equations are particularly challenging for many students in their first and second semesters due to a lack of previous mathematical knowledge.

For this combination, the VR learning room offers an experimental and pragmatic approach to the basic equations. Simple, real-life setups are designed to enable students to understand and learn the behaviour of the equations.

The VR realisation of the learning space therefore offers the opportunity to teach complex physical concepts in an interactive and practice-oriented way. In particular, the induction experiment in the field of electricity is an ideal example of how virtual learning spaces can complement and deepen traditional practicals. The combination of theoretical content and practical experiments in an immersive digital environment promotes students' understanding in the long term.

The learning space was created and evaluated as part of Thilo Petri's master's thesis.

#Size --> Spaces
#Tag --> at home
#Technology --> VR
#Didactic --> collaboration, simulation
Learn more about the fuels taxonomy

AG Serious Game TU Darmstadt – Dr.-Ing. (habil.) Stefan Göbel
Markus Weber / Project Manager fuels – E-Learning Group – TU Darmstadt