Background 

Greenville Technical College in partnership with Clemson University submits this proposal to develop a high-impact, hands-on virtual reality model of the aircraft inspection and maintenance process for curriculum application in the basic science and technology courses of the aircraft maintenance technology curriculum. This use of virtual reality technology will enable educators to create and students to experience the complex aircraft maintenance environment in an educational classroom, a setting where it has not yet been successfully created using traditional multimedia-based technologies.

The successful completion of this proposed effort will fill a state and national need for well-prepared students entering the aircraft maintenance industry, and will lead to a better understanding of the use of virtual reality as a pedagogical tool to improve the instructional process.  Although primarily focused on improving the learning experience in aircraft maintenance technology, the results have the potential to impact a wide range of SME&T areas.  This project will directly impact 350 pre-college students, 1200 high-school students, over 500 industry employees, 10 college faculty and 80 pre-college teachers by accomplishing its objectives.