VIRTUAL AND REMOTE LABORATORIES FOR ENHANCED FOOD SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING EDUCATION

Laboratory-based courses are a vital part of food, agricultural, natural resources, and human (FANH) sciences curricula because they help students connect theories to applications and build both practical skills and conceptual knowledge. Studies show that laboratory activities enhance students' conceptual understanding and improve cognitive growth. However, many students struggle to gain access to laboratory facilities and physical experiments for a variety of reasons, including shrinking financial resources and scarcity of expensive laboratory equipment at many universities. Further, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many institutions were forced to switch to virtual classes and halt in-person laboratory activities. In this project, we will design, develop, and deploy low-cost yet user-friendly paired virtual and remote laboratories (VR-Labs) for undergraduate and graduate-level food science and engineering courses, and we will assess the effectiveness of the VR-Labs on student learning. We aim to develop web-based virtual laboratories (VL) and remote laboratories (RL) for food science and engineering related topics. The project will bring together educators and scientists from five institutions (i.e., Washington State University, Cornell University, Cal Poly Pomona, The Ohio State University and Rutgers University) with complementary experience in the teaching of food science, food engineering, and food packaging and processing technology courses. The team members also complement each other with expertise in the areas of component design and fabrication, computer simulation, student learning pedagogy, instructional design and effective delivery techniques. The development of virtual and remote laboratories (VR-Labs) will provide a promising solution to support education in the FANH sciences and provide equal access to all, including students in online degree programs and students with physical disabilities that prevent them from accessing laboratory buildings. Virtual laboratories (VL) will be built using commonly used software programs on personal computers that will allow users to perform experiments in simulated lab environments. We will utilize the latest educational tools, such as computer animation, simulation, student learning management system, and student discussion forums in VL. The VR-Labs will advance the students mastery of theoretical and practical knowledge in the areas of food science and engineering. We will develop low-cost, take-home kits that replicate laboratory equipment using inexpensive scale models. We will employ simple devices and sensor technologies that will facilitate the development of low-cost experimental take-home kits for use in the RL. A variety of tools, including 3D printers and CNC machine will be utilized to fabricate parts for the laboratory kits. Each of the eight paired online modules and take-home kits will be implemented, at least by two of the ten participating institutions across the nation, namely Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, Chapman University, Cal State-LA, Illinois Institute of Technology, Michigan State University, North Carolina State University, University of Georgia Athens, University of Florida Gainesville, University of Wisconsin - Stout, and San Jose State University. A comprehensive evaluation plan will assess the effectiveness of the VR-Lab exercises in order to improve the course curriculum and instruction; to attract, recruit, and retain qualified and diverse students; and to prepare graduates with the knowledge and skills to meet the demands of the workplace. The project outcomes will be disseminated to a large national audience of stakeholders and policymakers. We will disseminate information related to VR-Lab exercises to peers in academia through journal publications, professional conference presentations, and share major findings on social media. Our project outcomes will also promote access to education for traditionally under-represented groups and improve the education quality of FANH sciences programs in 1862 and 1890 institutions by implementing VR-Lab modules at these institutions. The VR-Lab is a form of assistive technology that has potential to help reduce educational inequalities and promote access to learning for all, regardless of location, disability, or social status. The VR-Labs are ideally suited for Gen-Z learners. For conventional on-campus education programs in FANH sciences across the nation, our VL will be flexible and cost effective for combination with physical experiments in hybrid or mixed-reality laboratories. Our RL can supplement existing campus laboratory experiments and can also help students gain hands-on experience while conducting their laboratory experiments away from campus settings. Ultimately, this practice of utilizing VR-Labs will promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education by providing teaching and learning tools with greater accessibility and at lower cost to all tertiary educational institutions in the United States.