Work in progress - collaborative learning for Packaging Design using KM and VR

The purposes of this research were to develop online collaborative learning with the application of knowledge management and virtual reality technology for the course in packaging design in order to find solutions to the issues of insufficient time spent for instruction in classroom, resulting in lack of proper practice, and paper waste for the design, resulting in high cost. The sampling group for this study was composed of 30 third year undergraduate students studying at the Department of Printing and Packaging Technology, Faculty of Industrial Education and Technology, King Mongkut´s University of Technology Thonburi. The students were divided into groups of 2-3 persons. Each member in the same group, when logged in, would enter their own working space and could see their pieces of work, which they were doing, at the same time in 3 dimension format. Each member in the same group could help one another to design the assigned packaging. They could control their packaging design by using mouse and keyboard. They could also discuss via chatting system or microphone. Their records for activity participation would be made automatically, for example, their date and time of logging in, and transcripts of their conversation. The test at the moment reveals that learners who participated in online collaborative learning showed more interest and enthusiasm in learning. Moreover, learners had more time to practice outside classroom and reduced a large waste of paper.