Technology-enhanced learning in construction education using mobile context-aware augmented reality visual simulation

Traditional instruction and information delivery methods, as well as memorization are still largely considered the cornerstones of STEM education. Meanwhile, a growing number of students exhibits strong tendency toward technology-based student-centered learning. It is thus imperative that if instructors do not keep up with the pace of technology, soon they will not be able to properly teach students how to effectively work in collaborative and invigorating settings. This paper reports on the findings of an ongoing research that aims at incorporating mobile context-aware visual simulation into STEM education. So far, the authors have used construction and civil engineering as a test bed and developed a mobile augmented reality (AR) visualization platform that allows students to: (1) enhance the contents of their textbooks with computer-generated virtual multimedia and graphics, and (2) interact with context-aware simulated animations. The developed methods have been successfully tested in classroom-scale experiments using real student populations.