The theory of electromagnetism, encapsulated in four equations, is at the core of Electrical Engineering. When James Clerk Maxwell first published his article ``A dynamical theory of the electromagnetic field" in 1865, physicists found it difficult to grasp because the equations were complicated, while mathematicians found it hard to understand because they were described in physical terms. Students nowadays still encounter difficulty grasping the concepts pertaining to electromagnetism, such as the electric force as an invisible force that is acting at a distance, or how electromagnetic radiation propagates through physical space. Scientists take for granted that electric and magnetic fields are abstractions; however, education and learning requires that those new to the field build intuition and learn how to manipulate these abstract concepts to produce new knowledge. Allowing students to visualize electromagnetism concepts in a three dimensional space and manipulate them in a game-like environment gives students an opportunity to have hands-on experience with objects that are usually left for equations. This is key to building strong theoretical foundations and the ability to apply it to new knowledge.

Prof. Ilie is leading the development of the Virtual Reality Laboratory at ECE Illinois, that constitutes a disruptive and vastly influential platform for teaching and learning, in an immersive, realistic and, most importantly, interactive 3-dimensional environment. The current VR experiences are designed to cover topics for an electromagnetism class, and they provide the means for learning through exploration. The VR platform allow instructors to design and visualize objects in a virtual space, representing both physical objects (like charged particles and materials) and abstract objects like fields, lines of force, etc.

Learners can interact with and manipulable objects, and the VR platform simulates how those objects would change in reaction. This way, learners build knowledge in a natural, intuitive, and fun manner, which leads to a constructivist way of learning, in the sense that students are allowed to construct their own knowledge from meaningful experiences. The joy of exploration and discovery through Virtual Reality experiences acts as a very powerful motivator for learning. With carefully designed learning scenes each devoted to a set of concepts, the VR Laboratory guides students to develop both rigor and problem-solving skills, thus empowering them to become independent learners.

Explore the Lab

Explore the Lab
Team

Team
Become a Developer

Become a Developer