An Interview with one BCIT Instructor who is transforming his teaching practice with the use of 3D Modeling

Brian Proulx, Instructor for the Aircraft Gas Turbine Technician Program, is currently working with BCIT’s Learning and Teaching Centre to develop curriculum and tutorials for the PT6 Engine using 3D Modeling. To highlight the work that Brian is doing and to gain a better understanding of how he believes 3D innovations are transforming the way he teaches, Technical Advisor Amanda Coolidge, sat down with Brian to have a conversation about the pedagogical influences and experiences as related to the development of 3D Models in Aeropsace training.


AC: Brian, why was there a need to develop 3D models of the PT6 engine for your program?

BP: Jet engines have very complicated assembly and disassembly procedures and they have many unique mechanical interactions between parts because of the high quality engineering involved. Trying to teach students these processes, concepts, and arrangements is very difficult and often the students go through the program and leave without really learning what they need to know. Students go through the motions-they can often appear to have been successful but they don’t really understand. They are going out to work not understanding and not knowing at the level they should be and that is where the need to do something better [arose]- a desire to find another way to teach these concepts.

There is limited time [to teach] and we’ve got the cost of the engine and the tools and the damage done by the inexperienced students. We are doing a general mechanic in 16 months with limited time on each topic, we have got time constraints to develop this complete understanding of what they are doing. That is the issue. It really is a 10 year process to get to be a journeyman and you are trying to teach them how to be good and entry level within 16 months. We have [also] problems with the demos [in the workshop]. There are too many people crowded around in too small of an area.

In the past a lot of students came to us with high mechanical backgrounds because in the past, all of the students had access to hand tools and a number of cheap machines they could work on, so they came with a fairly high level of mechanical understanding. Today many students have never seen a wrench and don’t know what a wrench is- zero mechanical understanding and background. Out of that you are constantly looking for a better way to do things.

One of the big issues is, of course, the 3 dimensional levels of understanding and the requirement that mechanics have a high aptitude and a really strong understanding of 3D inter relation of parts and also a high level of skill with working visually in your mind. That is something that is hard [for a student] to develop; that 3d intelligence.

AC: Why did you choose to model and develop curriculum around the PT6 engine?

BP: The PT6 has been selected as an ideal training engine because it is the most popular turbo prop engine in the world, cheap in comparison to other jet engines, it’s available, and it is the right size. So the PT6 is ideal because of market issues- it is at the right level for students- it was built to be user friendly originally, because it was designed for the average mechanic.

Processes are somewhat complex, sequence of tasks,a nd you need to understand why the sequence is that way- the sequence and process if you can do a little more work with 3D animation, and pictures, and the model- it helps them understand the process, otherwise the process is very hard – otherwise you are memorizing as opposed to understanding the steps of the process.
AC: Why is this a possible solution?

What really intrigued me about it [3D modelling] is the ability to show 3 dimensional views of the engine. One of the major issues is the 3D visualization that a mechanic must have as they work on a machine. Often times you are assembling a machine and you close your eyes and you see the engine in your head, not everybody can do that, and we need to help people to do that. Of course with the 3KO model, that is done for you.

What the [3D model] does for the students is it develops the 3D images in their brain, now that they have those images in their brain, they can start to work on them and they can see, they can go from the 2D on the paper and the somewhat 2D in the shop, and they can go into the 3 dimensional world. What we are trying to work on, in mechanics, is a 3D intelligence, a visualization because you have to be able to visualize all of this stuff in your head while you are working.

I will tell you a real challenge. Computer addiction is horrendous, [students are] on email and on Facebook and surfing around and doing all sorts of stuff. I really notice it in my students.

AC: Why do you think the 3D model is a good idea then?

BP: Well because that this media. We are going where they are going, they are so much better versed at it. They are comfortable with it. There is no sense in me producing something in the textbook that they won’t read.

AC: Is the 3D model a benefit in their learning?
BP: A big benefit, you know the fact that you can come back to it, you can repeat it as many times as you want, it’s readily accessible, you get a front row seat on the demonstrations, the fact that we can do all of the 3D for them, from a learning point of view, it is a huge benefit. And the fact that it is a media that they are extremely comfortable with, compared to the previous students.
The 3D model of the PT6 Engine is currently in development and is schedule to be completed in September of 2009. The project is in collaboration with NGRAIN. For more information on the project or other 3D modelling initiatives in the Learning and Teaching Centre, contact Amanda Coolidge (Amanda_Coolidge@bcit.ca)