Vicher: A virtual reality based educational module for chemical reaction engineering

Virtual reality has the potential to be a powerful new tool in engineering education by bringing experience-based learning to all students, addressing the needs of students with alternate learning styles, and providing enhanced impact to educational presentations. As with any new tool, we must first learn how, when, and where to apply it before it becomes useful. This article describes Vicher, the first known application of virtual reality to chemical engineering education, and some of what has been discovered about virtual reality as an educational tool during Vicher's development. Vicher currently consists of two programs-Vicher I and Vicher II-which deal with the topics of catalyst deactivation and nonisothermal effects in chemical reaction engineering, respectively. Between the two programs, Vicher currently simulates five different engineering areas plus support facilities. Future plans include extensive student testing, program expansion and refinement, and the development of additional virtual reality based educational modules. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

[1]  O. Levenspiel.  Chemical Reaction Engineering , 1972 .

[2]  John T. Bell,et al.  Recent developments in virtual reality based education , 1996 .

[3]  J. Stice.  Using Kolb's Learning Cycle to Improve Student Learning. , 1987 .

[4]  Ivan E. Sutherland,et al.  The Ultimate Display , 1965 .

[5]  Stanley M. Walas,et al.  Chemical Process Equipment : Selection and Design , 1988 .

[6]  Charles G Hill,et al.  Introduction to Chemical Engineering Kinetics & Reactor Design , 1977 .

[7]  W. S. Gleason.  Deactivation of catalysts , 1984 .

[8]  John T. Bell,et al.  Low Cost Virtual Reality and its Application to Chemical Engineering - Part One , 1995 .

[9]  D. Kolb.  Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development , 1983 .

[10]  H. Scott Fogler,et al.  Strategies for Creative Problem Solving , 1994 .

[11]  H. S. Fogler,et al.  Interactive computer modules for undergraduate chemical engineering instruction , 1992, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium 1992 Digest.

[12]  H. Scott Fogler,et al.  Interactive computer modules for undergraduate chemical engineering instruction , 1992 .

[13]  E. Dale.  Audio-visual methods in teaching , 1946 .

[14]  G. Lawrence.  People types and tiger stripes: A practical guide to learning styles , 1979 .

[15]  R. Felder,et al.  Learning and Teaching Styles in Engineering Education. , 1988 .

[16]  Edgar Dale,et al.  Audio-Visual Methods , 1947 .

[17]  Casey Casey Larijani.  The Virtual Reality Primer , 1993 .

[18]  Ken Pimentel,et al.  Virtual reality - through the new looking glass , 1993 .

[19]  Bernie Roehl,et al.  Virtual reality creations: explore, manipulate, and create virtual worlds on your PC , 1993 .

[20]  Charles N. Satterfield,et al.  Heterogeneous catalysis in industrial practice , 1991 .

[21]  Linda Jacobson.  Garage Virtual Reality , 1993 .