Abstract
In recent years, online education in China has made considerable achievements. But there are also some problems: the teaching quality of online education is unsatisfactory; students’ online learning effects are frustrating, and students’ autonomous learning ability is poor. Based on analysis, teachers’ literacy and Internet technology are important factors restricting the online teaching reform, and online teaching easily falls into the dilemma of “shallow learning.” Digital twins can effectively realize the intelligent interconnection and interaction of the physical world and the information world, optimize the remote teaching process, and provide high-quality remote learning experience for learners. Based on this, the technology is used to the teaching of space geometry to help students understand it and improve their performance. First, the principle and advantages of digital twins are expounded. Second, the platform system based on digital twins is constructed. Then, the corresponding digital model is drawn by using the drawing function of MATLAB software, and the system based on virtual reality (VR) is established. Finally, the students of four classes of the same major are selected as the research subjects to test the teaching effect of advanced mathematics on the digital platform. The results show that students’ scores in the traditional classrooms are form 2.5 to 5.5 and their average score is 4.049, while the scores of the students in the digital twin classrooms are between 5.5 and 9.5 and their average score goes up to 7.986. This shows that students’ performance in the digital twin classrooms is 97.2%, higher than that in the traditional classrooms. A fully digitized spatial geometric model is implemented by using digital twins, and it can help students understand the mathematical theory of spatial analytic geometry, and their learning effect is greatly improved. This study provides a new direction for the application of new technologies in mathematics teaching.
1. Introduction
In the section of “spatial analytic geometry” of advanced mathematics, a large number of spatial graphics are required. If the lecturer just draws some graphs on the blackboard, it is difficult for students to understand them due to the poor intuitiveness of the graphics when some complex spatial geometric graphics are involved, affecting the teaching effect.
A digital twin is a simulation technology that applies multiple technologies to many disciplines, including a variety of physical quantities and scales. It applies physical models, various kinds of sensors, and the previous model to map the physical model image into the virtual space to construct a digital model. Thus, the whole manufacturing cycle of digital equipment which fully corresponds to the physical model and reflects the characteristics of the physical model is obtained. The concept of digital twins has been separated from the traditional realistic environment, and it is a digital platform system composed of one or more interconnected and cooperative system modules [1–3].
The application of emerging computer technology is studied by many scholars in China and foreign countries. Qi and Tao (2018) sorted out the big data of the manufacturing industry by using digital twins, including their concepts and applications in product design, production planning, manufacturing and predictive maintenance, and the application fields to new industries. On this basis, they compared the similarities and differences between big data and digital twins [4]. Zhuang et al. (2018) proposed a framework of intelligent production management and control methods for complex product assembly workshops based on digital twins, and three core technologies are established: real-time acquisition and management of physical data in assembly workshops, the use of digital twins to construct relevant digital models for product assembly, and the use of big data and digital twins for auxiliary work [5]. Lv (2019) proposed a comprehensive technology according to the relevant achievements to realize the human-computer interaction of the Internet of Things (IoT) naturally and intelligently [6]. Skobelev et al. (2020) established an intelligent information physics system based on digital twins to manage agriculture and proposed a calculation method of plant growth period prediction and yield prediction. And then a “tube” model of parameter change in each stage of plants is established. A method for calculating yield prediction is also introduced, as well as the method for calculating the start and end dates of each stage [7]. Lopez et al. (2020) developed a hybrid soft sensor to monitor and predict the evolution of cellulosic ethanol fermentation. This combination of real-time data and the high-fidelity kinetic model is realized by digital twins [8]. Chen et al. (2020) established a evaluation model for teachers’ ability and a data acquisition model for teachers’ professional ability based on machine learning and digital twins. They also fused the data collected by the two models, and the fusion includes data cleaning and integration, data screening, and clustering strategy screening [9]. Wu et al. proposed a new method called “RegARD.” First, RegARD is used to detect the symmetry reflected by buildings to constrain rotation and reduce degrees of freedom. Second, the nonlinear optimization equation and advanced optimization algorithm are used to solve the quadratic optimization [10]. In short, digital twins are mainly applied to mold manufacturing in various intelligent manufacturing environments, or to the evaluation of the teaching level of lecturers. The studies on the application of digital twins to subject teaching, especially to mathematics teaching, are few, which is also the innovation of this article. The analysis method of the mathematical theory of spatial analytic geometry based on digital twins is studied. This provides a reference for the application of emerging computer technology to mathematics teaching.
Nowadays, various new computer technologies emerge one after another. Here, digital twins are studied and used to improve the traditional teaching method of advanced mathematics, and the digital twin podium system is constructed, making the digital model of the teaching model and providing an overall spatial map. The standardized teaching process is proposed. The study makes a prominent contribution to applying digital twins to the teaching of solid geometry in colleges and universities. First, the principle and advantages of digital twins are expounded and the platform based on digital twins is constructed. Second, the corresponding digital model is drawn by the drawing function of MATLAB software, and the system under virtual reality (VR) is constructed. Finally, the learning effect of advanced mathematics on digital twin platform is tested. The results show that the teaching effect is greatly improved, and the students’ ability to understand spatial analytic geometry is also enhanced. The innovation is that the teaching mode and the teaching classroom of space geometry are constructed based on digital twins. The practicability and effectiveness of the teaching mode proposed are proved by examples.
2. Construction of the Teaching System of the Spatial Analytic Geometry Theory
2.1. Internet of Things (IoT)
IoT is born at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in 1999. It is a new information service architecture based on Internet and identification technology and communication technology [11]. The objective of establishing this architecture is to enable the information technology infrastructure to provide safe and reliable “goods” information through the Internet and create an intelligent environment to identify and determine “goods,” promoting the information exchange within the supply chain. IoT develops rapidly and brings changes to human life and going deep into all aspects of human life, causing a series of technical ethics problems, security problems, and legal problems that need to be solved urgently [12]. IoT is usually deployed in four layers to the consumer side: the device domain, the network domain, the data domain, and the application domain, which gives the device the means to intelligently perceive the surrounding environment, automatically assemble connection and deployment strategies, solve the problems in data centralization, provide users with some help, and give the device simple processing ability. With the arrival of the second decade of the 21st century, various traditional information technologies begin to combine with IoT to create new means to serve human society [13]. IoT architecture and its application fields are shown in Figures 1 and 2, respectively.
2.2. Digital Twins Podium
2.2.1. Digital Twins
All companies are actively promoting digital transformation to trigger the core value of the industrial Internet. A large number of “physical entities” are merging with “digital virtual institutions,” which is commonly known as “digital twins.” In 2002, Professor Dr. Michael Grieves of the University of Michigan put forward the concept of digital twins for the first time in an article. In the Technical White Paper in 2013, the U.S. military called the digital thread [14] and the digital twins as an important force to change the future war situation. The U.S. military believes that using this physical level data can create a set of digital projections corresponding to the physical object of the physical space in the virtual information space, and this projection includes various equipment modules, which are dynamically linked together and always coordinated in the whole life cycle of products.
Since then, the application field of digital twins is expanding, and a series of applications such as analog simulation, virtual assembly, and 3D printing are developed. After 2014, AI is applied to various industrial products and equipment that have not been used before with the continuous development of IoT and AI (artificial intelligence), and the application of digital twins is also applied to complete production and service links. Moreover, digital twins no longer only refer to the technology applied in the product design stage but are fully extended to the whole production process and external service links. However, digital twins are only proposed rather than applied a few years ago because computer technology is not developed [15].
Digital twins run through different stages of the life cycle of products, which perform the same function as PLM (product lifecycle management) [16]. In other words, digital twins really apply the original route of product lifecycle management to the whole production process. Digital twins take the product as fundamental and add various other modules in each period of the whole life cycle to meet different needs. Figure 3 shows the operation process of digital twins.
2.2.2. Application Field of Digital Twins
Application of digital twins to the design stage: digital twins are applied to making digital models to simulate and test the performance of their manufactured products. The main functions of the technology applied at this stage are as follows: (a) digital model design: the computer-aided design (CAD) drawing software is used to construct a digital model that meets the predetermined requirements, accurately expressing the real physical parameter performance of the product and constructing a visual model in digital form so that a large number of technical means can be used to verify and adjust the accuracy of the original model; (b) simulation: a large number of reproducible and variable parameter simulation model tests are used to test the performance of the constructed product model under various actual conditions, achieving the purpose of the performance test in the design link [17].
Application of digital twins to the manufacturing stage: digital twins are used for simulation, which can significantly shorten the time required for offline products, and are very effective for product quality assurance and reduce production costs. The technology used in the production stage requires high coordination of various production modules. The virtual production line is built with computer technology to achieve the integration of production modules and processes, and finally realize the simulation of the production process. Before product production, the simulation of the whole production process and products with different performance can be realized. Finally, the prediction of the production process and possible product problems is achieved, shortening the time of offline products [18].
Application of digital twins to the service stage: due to the rapid development of IoT and the popularity of various industrial sensors, many products that do not use intelligent production can use a large number of sensors in the production process to obtain a large number of parameters and performance parameters, ensuring the accuracy of the production process and the stability of product performance parameters, and finally improving product performance and increasing user’s satisfaction. The application of digital twins to the service stage includes the following functions: (a) it gives early warnings in the remote monitoring and production mechanical performance; various installed sensors and production system monitoring means are used to build a visual remote monitoring system and carry out regular data maintenance and data analysis to analyze the hidden dangers of production equipment, component modular and hierarchical orderly production system; deep learning and other technologies are used to predict the trend, optimizing the production equipment maintenance plan and parts procurement plan according to the above results and reducing the loss caused by machine failure; (b) optimize customers’ production indicators: equipment manufacturers can use big data for analysis and establish equipment parameter adjustment models for different actual environments to help their customers adjust equipment parameters, improving the product quality and production efficiency of downstream product manufacturers; and (c) product use feedback: real-time analysis can be carried out by using the monitoring data of the equipment to understand the real needs of downstream customers [19].
2.2.3. Digital Twins Podium
The digital twins platform is a teaching system that connects real teaching and data teaching space through the network. The relationship between virtual and reality is mapped, coordinated, and interactive one by one. That is, the digital twins podium includes virtual learning feature analysis technology and teaching space interaction technology, and they are used to improve the teaching effect and give students better learning conditions. The application of virtual learning feature analysis technology is to teach students according to their aptitude, make the lecturer’s teaching plan match the specific situation of students, and pay attention to the interaction between teachers and students, realizing the accurate management of the classroom and the high efficiency of teaching. The interactive technology of teaching space refers to the use of various technical means to construct a network space containing all elements corresponding to the actual teaching space and can realize the visualization of this space, ensure real-time interaction, and construct a virtual teaching space [20, 21]. Figure 4 shows the specific system of the digital twins podium.
The digital twins podium includes four layers: the data support layer, the modeling computation simulation layer, the function layer, and the immersive experience layer. Table 1 shows the structure of four layers of digital twins podiums.
2.3. Graphics of Spatial Analytic Geometry
2.3.1. Drawing Software
Matlab is the abbreviation of Matrix Laboratory [22, 23]. It is made by American commercial companies. This software is mainly used for mathematical analysis. Its functions include algorithm development, data analysis, computer language numerical simulation, and human-computer interaction. Its function of drawing functions/data images is used in the study.
2.3.2. Drawing with Matlab Drawing Function
The Mesh grid function in Matlab is used to draw spatial geometry. First, the equation of spatial graphics is provided, and it can be in the form of the parametric equation, polar coordinate equation, general equation, spherical coordinate equation, cylindrical coordinate equation, and so on. Then, the number of grids needed to draw the graphics is determined, and plot3, surf, and mesh are used to draw the spatial geometry. Matlab has a function view that can observe spatial geometry from different angles. The view (0, 0) can be set as the front view, view (90,0) as a side view, view (0,90) as top view, and (x, y, z) point as an observation point. When spatial geometry is drawn, the outside of the surface can be set to a transparent state. The alpha function in the software can achieve this effect. H in alpah (h) is the transparency and it is between 0 and 1, where 0 is the fully transparent state and 1 bit is the fully opaque state.
2.4. Virtual Reality Technology and Teaching Equipment
2.4.1. VR (Virtual Reality) Technology
VR is first proposed in the United States around 1980. It is a comprehensive technology integrating computer technology, sensor technology, human psychology, and physiology. It simulates the external environment by using a computer simulation system. The main simulation objects include the environment, skills, sensing equipment, and perception and provide users with multi-information, three-dimensional dynamic, and interactive simulation experience. So far, it has been combined with IoT [24, 25].
VR has three main characteristics: immersion, interactivity, and imagination. Immersion means that the simulated environment created by the computer is very similar to reality, which makes the user think the scene is real, and then carry out real interactive activities in this environment. Interactivity means that users can manipulate and respond to objects in the virtual world. For example, in the virtual world, users can perceive objects with their hands and eyes. Eyes can perceive the shape of objects, and hands can perceive the weight of objects and can process objects independently. Mobile imagination means that the virtual world broadens people’s imagination in the real world. It can not only imagine the real existence of the real world but also imagine the existence or nonexistence of the real world. The application of this technology can greatly improve the students’ research on the theoretical analysis methods of spatial analytic geometry and mathematics.
2.4.2. Student Learning Equipment
During the teaching of the theoretical analysis of spatial analytic geometry and mathematics, students need to use HTC VIVE wearable equipment with two handles and a VR helmet, as shown in Figure 5. HTC VIVE is developed using a unity development engine and network communication technology based on Network View.
The built-in system of HTC VIVE is developed with a unity engine. Computer configuration for development: GTX2080 for the graphics card, Intel i7-7300 for CPU, HDMI 1.4 for video output, windows 10 for the operating system, and C#.
2.5. Mixed Teaching and Management Platform
This platform enables the learning and practice resources in the teaching process to be allocated according to the teaching needs, and the language points and skill points in the current learning resources are fragmented. It is convenient for teachers to use in the classroom and students to study independently after class [26–28]. Figure 6 shows the modules contained in the teaching platform, and Table 2 shows the overview of the functions of the platform.
2.6. Analysis of the Teaching Process of Spatial Analytic Geometry
Figure 7 shows the overall flow chart.
Figure 7 shows the online immersion teaching system based on digital twins, which includes three parts: (1) teaching data collection and management based on hybrid platform; (2) teaching data analysis and modeling based on multidimensional analysis; and (3) online immersive teaching experience based on augmented reality technology.
Figure 8 shows the data acquisition and management.
Figure 8 shows the teaching data acquisition and management on the hybrid platform using image acquisition and recognition technology. Multiple technologies are used to collect students’ features during online learning, and image data acquisition is completed by camera and facial expression, as well as their limb behavior recognition. Here, students are required to open the camera in Tencent Classroom, and mobile phones take the photos of students regularly in front of the camera. The convolutional neural network (CNN) in deep learning is used to recognize the facial expressions and behaviors of students, and then classify them.
Figure 9 shows the application data based on precision teaching and management.
Figure 9 shows the analysis and modeling of teaching data, and the teaching process and materials can be visualized in multiple dimensions. The teaching materials include electronic teaching materials, electronic lesson plans, and courseware.
Figure 10 shows the teaching experience of the augmented reality technology.
Figure 10 shows the online immersive teaching experience based on augmented reality technology, which mainly includes the interaction and integration of real and virtual teaching space. The digital virtual scene is constructed by using big data and artificial intelligence. In terms of integration and innovation, a variety of technologies are used, including 3D modeling, big data modeling, big data simulation, big data visualization, and virtual reality technology.
Digital twins are used to build a digital twins platform, and the augmented reality technology is used to assist in teaching so that students can learn the theory of analytic geometry and mathematics in three-dimensional space in the virtual reality environment. The teaching process of this system includes (a) a hybrid platform is used for teaching data collection and management, and multiplatform and multisource data are used for data collection; (b) the system is used for accurate teaching data management, the teaching through multidimensional, dynamic, and visual process, and teaching material collection and teaching process; and (c) the constructed system is used for teaching on the VR digital twins platform, and the digital virtual system constructed by the interactive system of reality and virtual teaching space is used for teaching [29, 30].
2.7. Matlab Program Procedures
Matlab is used to construct the surface, and the program diagram is shown in Table 3.
3. Design of the Teaching Platform
3.1. Case Analysis
The students in four classes of the same major of a university are randomly selected to investigate the effect of the teaching program. The teaching program based on digital twins is not carried out on the students in two classes, and the numbers of students in these two classes is 29 and 30, respectively, named group A and group B. The students in other two classes are taught by using the teaching program based on digital twins. The numbers of students in these two classes is 31 and 28, respectively, called group C and group D. A week later, some exercises with a certain difficulty are used for in-class test, and there are 10 questions, of which 7 are conventional questions, 2 are difficult questions, and 1 is highly difficult questions. The scores of the four classes are shown in Table 4.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Through the Matlab virtual graphics of the teaching system as shown in Figure 11 above, it is found that the effect of the graphics is good, the spatial curve can be observed from different directions, and the grid lines can depict the spatial quantitative relationship, which shows that the Matlab software is effective in describing the spatial three-dimensional geometry and can be observed from multiple angles, which helps students understand the mathematical theory easily.
3.2. Comparison of the Teaching Effect
Figure 12 shows the statistical data of each student’s performance in the four classes. Figure 13 shows the comparison of the teaching effects of the traditional classroom and the digital twin classroom.
(a)
(b)
(c)
Figure 12 shows that the four classes A, B, C, and D are taught in different classrooms. Classes A and B are in traditional classrooms, and classes C and D are in digital twin classrooms. The figure shows that there are differences in the scores of each student. The scores of the students in Classes A and B are from 2.5 to 5.5, and those of the students in Classes C and D are between 5.5 and 9.5. Obviously, the scores of each student in Classes C and D are higher than those in other two classes. This shows that the teaching mode based on digital twins can significantly improve the performance of each student in the class. The average scores of the four classes are counted, as shown in Figure 12(e). The average scores of Classes A and B are 4.045 and 4.053 and those of Classes C and D are 7.861 and 8.111. The average score of the students in Classes C and D is 7.986, which is 97.2% higher than that of the students in Classes A and B, indicating that the use of digital twins in mathematics teaching can significantly improve the students’ performance and enhance the teaching effect.
Figure 13 shows that the average score of the students in the digital twin classrooms is higher than that of the students in the traditional classroom. The average number of correct answers in the two classes in the conventional classroom is 7.4 and 7.6, respectively, while the average number of correct answers is more than 8 for the teaching mode with digital twins platform; the average score of the students on the digital twins platform is more than that in the conventional classroom; the difference between medium and high difficulty questions is not great because medium and high difficulty questions are based on a complete understanding of knowledge and related to personal talents and conditions, so they have little impact. This test shows that the mathematics class with a digital twins podium is beneficial to students’ understanding and can significantly accelerate students’ understanding of new concepts of spatial analytic geometry.
4. Conclusion
Digital twins can effectively realize the intelligent interconnection and interaction of the physical world and the information world and optimize the remote teaching process. With the rapid development of computer and Internet technology, “big data + AI” becomes a new driving force, thinking mode and problem-solving method in modern society, and it is also used in the subject teaching nowadays. Theoretical analysis and teaching method of analytical geometry and mathematics are introduced based on digital twins. First, the principles of IoT and digital twins are expounded; second, the related digital twins platform system is constructed; furthermore, the corresponding digital model is drawn by using the drawing function of Matlab software, and it is brought into the classroom for teaching analysis by using virtual reality technology; finally, the effect of digital twins teaching of spatial analytic geometry mathematics is evaluated and tested. The results show that the digital spatial geometric model can be made by using digital twins, which is conducive to analysis and calculation, and the use of virtual reality technology can help students understand the mathematical theory of spatial analytic geometry and improve the teaching effect. This research provides a new direction for the application of new technology in mathematics teaching.
There are still some shortcomings in the work. For example, the system has high requirements for hardware, and the application of the theories and the implementation of the models need certain software and programming language, which will be the direction for the follow-up research. In future, a simple mobile terminal teaching system will be developed and the teaching process will be optimized, making the model more simple. And “big data + AI” will be used to explore a more efficient teaching mode.
Data Availability
The data used to support the findings of this study are included within the article.
Conflicts of Interest
The author declares no conflicts of interest.