Work in Progress: Expanding Learning Opportunities in STEM Courses: The Potential of Haptic VR Laboratories for Students with and Without Visual Impairment

The green transition increases the demand for STEM graduates, but high dropout rates and challenges for visually impaired students in laboratory courses hinder their participation. Haptic virtual reality (VR) labs, using haptic data gloves, offer an accessible alternative. Limited research exists on their structure, design, and integration, as well as their impact on learning outcomes. The “CrossLab” project aims to develop digital laboratories combining resources from multiple universities. Virtual labs for fluid dynamics are being developed in Unreal Engine 5.0, linked to haptic VR gloves. Surveys, experiments, and evaluations will assess the experiences and knowledge acquisition of visually impaired and non-impaired students. Preliminary findings suggest haptic VR labs compensate for impairments and improve learning outcomes. While they cannot replace all learning objectives, they allow impaired students to participate and gain expertise. The integration of haptic VR labs enhances learning in STEM subjects and improves accessibility. With multisensory experiences, students comprehend complex concepts and processes. The multisensory learning theory supports this approach, indicating that the brain develops optimally in such environments. Haptic VR labs create a realistic and immersive learning environment for impaired and non-visually impaired students, by combining visual, auditory, and haptic information. By fostering a comprehensive understanding, students enhance their abilities to tackle engineering challenges. This technology enriches and expands laboratory training in STEM subjects for all students. Future research will develop and utilize VR and haptic VR labs for various practicals, further improving learning outcomes and accessibility.