The Use of Animated Visual Aids in the Education of Undergraduate Engineering Students

Abstract The current work-in-progress (WIP) study explores the explores the use of animated visual aids which have been integral to education since their introduction in the classroom. Nevertheless, it is challenging to create visual aids for complex subjects and concept, particularly in the field of engineering. In materials science and engineering, the student's understanding is heavily reliant on their capacity to envision a material's microstructure. Therefore, the primary objective of this research is to support teaching in the area of materials science and engineering. Furthermore, the existing visual aids available on the market are designed to enrich education but lack consideration for their suitability in a classroom setting. The purpose of developing these visual aids tailored to materials-related topics is to assist students in understanding the subject matter within the classroom. The advantage of this project is that the individuals involved are currently working in the field of education, such as professors, students, and technical coordinators. This aids in gaining multiple perspectives on the design process, which is very useful when creating something for a wide variety of users. The visual aids are developed using the modeling and animation software "Blender". Blender was selected due to its versatility and flexibility in animation techniques, as well as its ability to be learnt quickly and effectively. The process of developing these visual aids begins with the initial concept, in which the professor directs the students with a storyboard as to the direction the animation should take. Students are then taught the techniques necessary to create the models necessary to animate the desired visual aid. The ease of use of the software is crucial as it is utilized by undergraduate students who have previously taken materials science courses to create the necessary visual aids for the class. This provides a unique opportunity for students to help with the education of their peers as well as gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered as the visual aids are developed. Furthermore, it also provides students with a multidisciplinary skill set that will be valuable for future employment. The visual aids are still in development therefore there is no available data on the effectiveness of the visual aids at this time. However, the visual aids are scheduled to be launched in the near future. Upon launching, the newly developed visual aids will be evaluated by comparing them to the existing visual aids to serve as a standard for providing feedback.