Leveraging the Power of Digital Immersive Technologies to Enhance Engineering Education and Learning

Immersive technologies have steadily been adopted into many aspects of modern human civilization, including education, due to the capabilities of these technologies to enhance the teaching and learning process. In the proposed research, the immersion concept description within multimedia learning will be investigated, from both a technology and an engineering perspective, thereby representing digital transformation within the tertiary sector and, in particular, within South East Technological University (SETU), as reflected in its strategy and vision. The concepts of developing creative mini-workshops (training sessions) for undergraduate students to explore the possibility of providing deep learning opportunities within the technical disciplines will be detailed in this article, through the use of a cognitive-affective model of immersive learning. It is envisaged that the findings from this study might support the development of institutional policies for digital teaching and learning, including blended and mixed reality modes of learning. Additionally, it is envisaged that it will support the development of an innovative toolkit, consisting of interactive resources, which can be adapted to support learning and enhance technology-enabled practice education. By way of example, these initial resources would help students and educators prepare for avionic experiments through the use of immersive technology. This would allow students to optimize their learning through virtual practice in immersive environments and simulation-based learning. Ultimately, such an approach to teaching and learning should enhance the learning experience for students who, upon graduation, should be better prepared for such innovative practice and application within the workplace.