Haptic interaction with virtual interface to learn strength of materials

This work presents results of a learning experience where students of Solid Mechanics course from a Civil Engineering program at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, used a haptic device coupled with a virtual application to study strength of materials. This study is one of the outcomes of a collaboration between a Brazilian and a Portuguese Universities, where emerging technologies together with peer collaboration are adopted as complementary tools to the experimental activities. An assessment of these activities as promoters of knowledge gain was performed using pre- and post-tests. There is a statistically significant improvement in the average results which is an indication that this technology enhanced experiment combined with a good learning strategy, might be efficient as promoters of students' performance.