Safety first - Virtual Reality Training in the E-Trade

The "DINA-Elektro" project aims to improve students' understanding of systems and processes in the fields of energy and building technology and to provide them with the necessary technical skills. This initiative responds to the evolving requirements for over-the-job training in electro-handwerk that are brought on by the digitization of work- and business processes, as well as the rising complexity and digital interconnectivity in the fields of electronics, energy systems, and building technology. It is intended to develop cutting-edge teaching and learning strategies that are based on action-oriented pedagogy and integrate the idea of microlearning in conjunction with digital media.

The incorporation of a Virtual Reality (VR) learning application into this project was a critical aspect. This application is used as a micro-learning unit for the aforementioned training direction in existing courses that have been updated and modernised.

The trainees will be able to work in a virtual WBS-70 construction site. It is your responsibility to properly install an electric heater in accordance with the five security rules. You can use a variety of virtual tools that have been designed in collaboration with experts to be both realistic and functional. There is no set timetable, and instructors can move and interact as they see fit. Despite this freedom, they will be presented with realistic consequences for their decisions, which will lead to productive and exploratory learning. Ausbilder*innen can follow the scenario and provide assistance if needed via a viewer's view in the browser.

VR technology enables a risk-free and interactive learning environment. For example, when the trainees touch a tension source with their hands, they receive visual, auditory, and haptic feedback to alert them to the potential danger. This application allows you to make mistakes that would be dangerous in real life and hence could not be trained in real-world conditions. Only after all steps have been completed correctly and the voltage has been restored can the trainees test the electroherd and conclude the scenario. Following that, an automated analysis with improvement suggestions is performed.

In coming years, VR will be used exclusively in courses with 12-15 students learning at the same time. It is possible for the docent to gain insight into the perspectives of the students by using an online interface. Overall, the "DinA-Elektro" project represents a significant advancement in the field of electrical education by utilising cutting-edge technology to better prepare aspiring professionals for the demands of our digitalized world.

The common project with the Elektrobildungs- und Technologiezentrum e. V. (EBZ) "Safety First" won the Saxon Digital Award 2022 in the category Society for our VR learning application, which teaches prospective electronics technicians how to install electric cookers in a safe environment. - YouTube link