Is Condensed Better? Comparison of a Condensed Spatial Training Course to a Semester-long Version

Abstract

Norma Veurink is a Senior Lecturer in the Engineering Fundamentals Department at Michigan Technological University where she teaches introductory engineering courses and a spatial visualization course designed for engineering students with poorly developed spatial visualization skills. Ms. Veurink manages several summer programs that introduce middle and high school students to engineering. She is active in the Engineering Design Graphics Division of ASEE. Is Condensed Better? Comparison of a Condensed Spatial Training Course to a Semester-long Version AbstractThis research paper presents a study on the impact of offering a remedial spatial training course over a condensed time frame. In this paper spatial skill development will be compared for students taking a traditional semester-long spatial training course with students taking the course over the first half of a semester. Grades in the training course and spatial test scores will be compared to determine student spatial development as a result of the course. Student attitudes about the timing of the course were surveyed at the end of the course to determine if they preferred a full-or half-semester offering of the course. Determining if a condensed version of a spatial training course is equivalent or better than a longer version may give institutions offering remedial spatial training courses more options for offering the training to their students.

International Comparative Pilot Study of Spatial Skill Development in Engineering Students through Autonomous Augmented Reality-Based Training

“…Therefore, there is a statistically significant difference between the spatial ability of the groups following the experiment. These findings are generally consistent with the results of similar training and research [16,76,80,81].…”

“…The results show that the control groups also have higher posttest than pretest scores, however this difference is not significant. The difference is the result of the well-documented phenomenon of test recall [80]. Put simply, during a post-test, individuals become familiarized with the task required of them, and consequently, they are able to submit answers faster.…”

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Spatial Visualization Skills Training at Texas State University to Enhance STEM Students' Academic Success

“…Besides, the FtF training took 6 instead of 10 weeks and it was effective. In some ways, it goes in line with the results in [25] where a twice a week training for half of the semester was found equivalent or superior to a 10-14 week training.…”