Transforming the Future of Furniture Woodworking Instruction Through VR-Enhanced Distance Teaching During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, distance teaching became the main solution, including for the furniture woodworking course at National Taipei University of Technology in Taipei, Taiwan, which relied on video and online software. However, this posed challenges for maintaining teaching quality and achieving objectives in technical practice courses. To address this, this study introduced remote technical guidance using VR in technical practice courses. This method combined distance-teaching and live dual-teacher broadcasts, allowing students to participate in real-time online discussions. During these broadcasts, instructors used VR to demonstrate operations on a virtual platform, explaining as they went along. Students could observe from the operator's perspective, gaining insights into furniture production processes. They also engaged in group interactions, assuming roles like technical operators, thereby mastering key furniture production concepts. This innovative teaching approach offered a solution that combined remote technical guidance with VR. It provided immediate teaching enhancements and problem-solving solutions in the post-COVID-19 era.