Learning Environments for Automation Technology

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Learning Environments forAutomation Technology

• Willi Bruns, Volker Brauer
• A View of the European Educational Multimedia
  Project BREVIE

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BREVIE Objectives / Context

• Development Evaluation of a Learning
  Environment for Vocational Training
• Concept Bridging Reality and Virtuality through
  a Graspable UI
• Part of the European EMTF
• Project Time 1.1.1998 - 31.3.2000

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BREVIE Consortium

• Co-ordinator artec, University of Bremen
• Industry Festo (DE), Superscape (UK), Virtual
  Presence (UK)
• Educational Stockport College (UK), Friese Poort
  (NL), Escola Superior (PT), Berufsschule Holter
  Feld (DE)
• Evaluator ETH Zurich (CH)

More Information...

• Prof. Bruns, artec bruns_at_artec.uni-bremen.de

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Situation in Industrial Training

• High Degree of Automation in Manufacturing
• Training on the Job
• Expensive
• Safety Risks
• Stress
• Different Training Concept Required

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Standard Approach

• Using Models
• HardwareConstruction Kits
• SoftwareSimulators and CBT

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Conventional Learning Situation

• Traditional Teaching
• Classroom, Chalk Talk
• Teacher as Instructor
• Student as Consumer
• Practical Sessions in Laboratories
• Construction Kits
• CBT in Computer Rooms
• Simulation, Technical Drawings

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Conventional Learning Situation

• Problems
• Inadequate Student/Teacher Roles
• Difficulties in Handling Technology
• Little or no Links between Learning Media, esp.
  between Real and Abstract Models

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Pedagogical Concepts in an Improved Learning
Situation

• Student-centred Learning
• Learning in Teams
• Action-oriented Learning
• Explorative Learning
• Teacher as Resource Provider
• Integration of different Media

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BREVIEs Learning Environment

• Subject of Learning Pneumatics
• Environment Consists of

Hardware Construction Kit Pneumatics
Simulator Virtual Construction
Kit Multimedia Library
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Media Integration through Augmented Reality
Real World
Virtual Model
Simulation Drawing
Object Manager and Object Database
Viewing Editing
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BREVIE Users in Action
Open Environment Multiple Users Multiple Media
Access Abstract Thinking Practical
Acting Adequate Roles Easy to Use
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BREVIE Evaluation

• 12 Prototypes at 4 European Test-Sites
• 96 Students and 5 Teachers
• 4 Groups á 6 Students with different Learning
  Media
• 16 Hours Courses in basic Pneumatics
• Evaluation of Learning Effectivenessand
  Usability (ISO 9241)

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BREVIE Evaluation Design
Courses Exercises Videotaping UsabilityQuestio
nnaire
Test of Previous Knowledge Building Comparable
Groups
Knowledge Test Practical Test
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BREVIE EvaluationFirst Results

• Prototypes with limited Functionality
• Learning Effectiveness was best when Real
  Components were used
• High Motivation
• The Media Integration did not stress
• Usability rating was good/satisfactory

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BREVIE Outlook

• Transfering the Prototype
• into a real Product
• CLEAR - Constructive Learning
• Environment
• Further Research and Development in DERIVE
• Distributed Learning Environment

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DERIVE