Educational Transformation through Virtual Reality: Improving Understanding of the Integration of Chemical and Biochemical Processes in Tequila Production
Academic Article in Scopus
Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising tool in engineering education, enabling simulation of complex industrial processes within immersive digital environments. This paper examines the application of VR in chemical and bioprocess engineering, using unit operations in tequila production processes as a case study.A VR-based simulation was developed to replicate a tequila production facility, allowing students to explore each unit operation in a guided, interactive format. The simulation aimed to replicate realistic industrial conditions, providing students with access to environments typically inaccessible in academic infrastructures.The study was conducted with third-year students, enrolled in a Biotechnology Engineering program. Two control and two experimental groups were formed to evaluate VR-based simulation implementation. Knowledge and satisfaction tests were assessed at the end of the course for each group. Within the virtual environment groups, students were required to calculate key parameters related to fermentation and distillation processes, including temperature, inoculum and substrate concentrations, fermentation time, and the volume of fermented must for distillation.This task-based approach facilitated the contextual application of theoretical concepts. Preliminary findings indicated that students exposed to VR simulation demonstrated increased motivation, engagement, and conceptual understanding compared to those instructed through traditional methods.The immersive experience enabled experiential learning by allowing students to manipulate variables in a controlled setting, thereby reinforcing their comprehension of process kinetics and the impact of operational decisions on product outcomes. These results suggest that VR-based academic activities can enhance the development of professional competencies in chemical and bioprocess engineering education, providing a scalable strategy to improve learning outcomes in courses involving complex process systems with an improved academic experience.
