Touching the invisible: learning electromagnetism in virtual worlds

Purpose Engineering education, particularly in complex fields like electromagnetism, faces a significant challenge in conveying multiphysics systems. Traditional methods fall short in building deep, intuitive understanding. The purpose of this paper is to address this “cognitive interface challenge” by presenting a novel conceptual framework for creating human-centric, interactive learning environments to bridge this gap. Design/methodology/approach This paper details a methodology of interdisciplinary knowledge transfer. The proposed conceptual framework is derived from a multi-year analysis of best practices in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations sector, which has already developed mature solutions for navigating complex three-dimensional digital twins. Findings The primary contribution is a formal four-stage methodological framework for developing human-centric virtual environments. This model moves beyond traditional tools to create interactive systems based on defined cognitive goals and proven interactive design paradigms, providing a new, robust method for the computation and mathematics community. Research limitations/implications As a conceptual paper, the primary implication is the need for empirical validation of the proposed four-stage framework. Future research should focus on implementing and testing the framework’s effectiveness against traditional methods in controlled educational and professional settings. Practical implications The framework provides a practical method for educators and engineers to design immersive virtual environments. This allows students and professionals to interact directly with complex simulations (e.g. electromagnetic fields), fostering a deeper, more intuitive understanding than traditional methods. Social implications By fostering deeper understanding and more active student participation, this approach can help democratize complex scientific knowledge. This study makes invisible phenomena more accessible, leading to a more technically literate and engaged generation of engineers and scientists. Originality/value This paper’s originality lies in its interdisciplinary transfer of a proven methodology from the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations sector to computational electromagnetism. This paper provides a novel, structured framework that enables users to “touch the invisible,” offering a new paradigm for interacting with complex data.