Research Status and Trends of the Application of Digital Teaching Tools in Mechanical Engineering Teaching

Abstract

The application of digital teaching tools in mechanical engineering teaching is becoming increasingly widespread, and the research status and evolutionary trends of these tools have become a focus of attention in the interdisciplinary field of educational technology and mechanical engineering. Current research exhibits multidisciplinary distribution characteristics, concentrating on directions such as mechanical design, manufacturing processes, and electromechanical control, with hotspots covering virtual simulation, three-dimensional modeling platforms, and learning analytics systems. Typical tools are classified into four categories—modeling, analysis, simulation, and collaboration—each with differentiated teaching adaptability. Existing studies mainly adopt the paradigm of system development and effect verification, but they have limitations in sample representativeness, longitudinal tracking, and measurement of mediating variables. The core mechanisms of digital tools supporting mechanical teaching consist of tool interaction design guided by cognitive load theory, concept visualization driven by geometry and physics engines, and teaching feedback models supported by learning behavior data. Future evolutionary trends manifest as the integration of intelligent tools with adaptive learning environments, the reconstruction of immersive scenarios driven by extended reality technologies, and the collaborative construction of cross-platform toolchains and mechanical knowledge graphs. A systematic review of the above content can provide a reference framework for research and development in this field.