Design and Development of Augmented Reality Engineering Expeditions - Innovations in Online Engineering Education

This paper presents a framework for the design of augmented reality expeditions in engineering education settings to motivate student learning of engineering fundamentals and careers. The impact of social distancing has been significant for students of all ages and there is a great need for additional and creative online learning resources. The engineering field has an opportunity to not only motivate and support student learning, but to do so by featuring the very innovative nature of engineering as a tool to develop those experiences. A case study regarding the development of NASA-themed aeronautics virtual tours and virtual field trips highlights the capabilities of various software technologies and offers design considerations. The three developed virtual expeditions serve as an opportunity to engage and educate high school and university students. A research plan to collect student feedback on these experiences is also presented.