Interactive and Contact Education Technology for Laboratory Work With Haptic Gloves in a Virtual Environment

Abstract

Interactive technologies identify the key positions of the education sector in the near future. The application of haptic interfaces and immersive approach in education dictated by the need to improve the efficiency of the educational process. The article describes the developed interactive and contact education technology of laboratory works with the use of haptic gloves in virtual environment (hereinafter – ICET), as well as the prototype of the haptic glove. The data demonstrating the high efficiency of educational material assimilation by students as compared to the traditional approach presented. The aim of the article is to present and analyses the results of experimental research on the use of ICET by secondary school students during laboratory work in chemistry classes and on changes in the role of the teacher because of integrating immersive technologies into the educational process. Based on the findings, the authors justify the necessity of using ICET in teaching sessions. The authors conclude that it is necessary to complement classical educational methods with immersive technologies in order to improve the quality of education in modern conditions. The conducted research made it possible to obtain the results of practical experience in the implementation of training sessions in a virtual environment, taking into account the use of tactile devices for interaction with the simulation environment. Assessment of the level of residual knowledge of students shows the effectiveness of the integration of contact technologies with the virtual environment and proves the prospects for the development of tactile interfaces in education.