The use of virtual reality technology in teaching environmental engineering

The Open University (OU) provides aDiploma in Pollution Control as part ofits undergraduate degree programme.The courses that make up the Diplomaare presented in distance learning formatusing the OU’s supported open learningsystem that has been developed overseveral decades. Teaching environmentalengineering by distance learning presentsseveral challenges in terms of ensuringthat students gain an appreciation ofthe technology in action and receive themotivation and support more readilyavailable to students taught in a campussetting. The OU has developed a multimediaresources DVD to help meet thesechallenges for students undertaking anenvironmental impact assessment project.The DVD contains virtual reality views ofthe proposed site, maps of the region,supporting technical data, interviewswith experts and advice from a virtualtutor. A survey of students using the DVDfound that the overwhelming majorityfound the DVD to be “very useful” or“useful”. Understandably, the materialthat is essential for completing the projectreceived the highest rating, but thebackground material was still consideredto be useful by most students. Similarresources could benefit all students inmany areas of engineering and technology.