Enhancing the learning effect of virtual reality 3D modeling: a new model of learner’s design collaboration and a comparison of its field system usability

• Published in: Universal access in the information society Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 429 - 440
• Main Authors: Huang, Hsinfu, Lin, Chiaying, Cai, Dengchuan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.08.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Collaboration; Colleges & universities; Computer Communication Networks; Computer Science; Computers and Society; Design; Design education; Design engineering; Industrial design; Information Storage and Retrieval; Information Systems Applications (incl.Internet); IT in Business; Learning; Long Paper; Modelling; Students; Three dimensional models; Usability; User Interfaces and Human Computer Interaction; Virtual reality; Field system usability; Virtual reality modeling practice field (VRMPF); 3D modeling learning; Virtual reality technology; Design collaboration model
• ISSN: 1615-5289; 1615-5297
• DOI: 10.1007/s10209-020-00750-7

Knowledge of 3D modeling design is crucial for industrial designers. Therefore, 3D modeling learning is a crucial subject in industrial design education. In this study, a 3D modeling practice field based on virtual reality (VR) technology was constructed to modify the traditional 3D modeling learning model. Students can learn 3D modeling under a new VR design collaboration framework and complete design goals. This new design collaboration model includes the concept of a learning community. The learning experience of learners in the VR field was explored through this new design collaboration model. A total of 60 college students from the Department of Industrial Design were invited to participate in VR modeling learning experience experiment. The field system usability of traditional 3D modeling and VR 3D modeling was investigated using the system usability scale. In addition, designs produced using the two aforementioned fields were evaluated and compared. The results indicated that the system usability of the VR modeling practice field (VRMPF) was significantly superior to that of the traditional modeling learning field ( p  < 0.01). The learners were more creative and motivated in the VRMPF and emphasized that through the new design collaboration model, they could effectively learn 3D modeling in VR. VR technology brings different learning experiences to the 3D modeling learning process. This study also proposes a 3D modeling design collaboration model in the VR field.