Proposal of methodology for learning of standard mechanical elements using augmented reality

Learning and teaching procedures need to evolve, considering the high technological profile most students have. Today´s university students are steeped in a culture of technology and new devices such as smartphones, PDAs and laptops. These have found a place in students´ lives as an important tool for studying. The use of these devices is widely used and seen when entering a first-year class, and most students work or take notes with them. This paper describes a physical interface (augmented book) based on augmented reality technology for learning standard mechanical elements. This book was included in the curriculum of an engineering graphics subject in a Mechanical Engineering Degree of a Spanish University. A validation study of didactic material was carried out by Twenty-five students that used this augmented book for studying the representation and designation of standard mechanical elements. A control group consisting of twenty-two students used traditional class notes with static images to study the same contents. We have analyzed the results through an evaluation test and a usability survey. The results show that the experimental group students enjoyed studying through the use of AR technology and even obtained better results in a contents evaluation test.