Work in progress - development of tools to improve the spatial ability of engineering students

Towle, Erick; Mann, Julie; Kinsey, Brad L.

doi:10.1109/fie.2005.1612080

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…Most of the recent studies on face-to-face design education highlight the potentialities of VR technologies to improve perception in education and training applications [4,20,24].…”

Section: Potentialities Of Vr In Mechanical Product Design Teachingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benchmarking of virtual reality performance in mechanics education

Mengoni

Germani

Peruzzini

2011

Int J Interact Des Manuf

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The paper explores the potentialities of virtual reality (VR) to improve the learning process of mechanical product design. It is focused on the definition of a proper experimental VR-based set-up whose performance matches mechanical design learning purposes, such as assemblability and tolerances prescription. The method consists of two main activities: VR technologies benchmarking based on sensory feedback and evaluation of how VR tools impact on learning curves. In order to quantify the performance of the technology, an experimental protocol is defined and an testing plan is set. Evaluation parameters are divided into performance and usability metrics to distinguish between the cognitive and technical aspects of the learning process. The experimental VR-based set up is tested on students in mechanical engineering through the application of the protocol.

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“…Most of the recent studies on face-to-face design education highlight the potentialities of VR technologies to improve perception in education and training applications [4,20,24].…”

Section: Potentialities Of Vr In Mechanical Product Design Teachingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benchmarking of virtual reality performance in mechanics education

Mengoni

Germani

Peruzzini

2011

Int J Interact Des Manuf

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“…It is a well-established finding in the psychology literature that individuals are interested and motivated to learn more about topics for which they already have some knowledge [16]. A significant aspect of this research project is the development of training tools which will be used to improve the student's spatial ability and her/his self efficacy related to spatial tasks [17]. Bandura [18] hypothesized that self efficacy affects choice of activities (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Self Efficacy and Spatial Ability of Engineering Students from Multiple Disciplines

Towle

Mann

Kinsey

et al.

Proceedings Frontiers in Education 35th Annual Conference

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Spatial ability, such as the ability to correctly visualize three dimensional objects when they are represented in two dimensions (such as in ComputerAided Design (CAD) software or in a detailed part drawing), is an essential skill for engineers. Research has shown that spatial ability is positively correlated with retention and performance of students within other disciplines which rely on spatial ability, (e.g. chemistry). However, whether spatial ability affects the retention of students in engineering has been disputed in the literature. Furthermore, research has not yet been conducted which assesses the relationship between self efficacy, that is the student's confidence, with respect to spatial skills and retention. In this paper, results of both spatial ability, using a subset of the Purdue Spatial Visualization Test: Rotations (PSVT:R), and self efficacy, using a developed test for this research, will be presented for over 200 students from five different engineering disciplines. Statistically significant differences were found for gender, type of CAD training, class standing and whether or not the student is declared or undeclared in engineering with respect to self efficacy and/or spatial ability.

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“…This process will be repeated over the next few years to assure that the results are consistent and to increase the sample size for some analyses. Furthermore, students with poor spatial ability skills will be identified for potential spatial ability training 16 . These training exercises will be administered to both engineering and undeclared students to determine if retention can be affected through such efforts.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect Of Spatial Ability On The Retention Of Students In A College Of Engineering And Physical Science

Kinsey¹,

Towle²,

Hwang³

et al.

2006 Annual Conference &Amp; Exposition Proceedings

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Spatial ability has been shown to be positively correlated with retention and achievement in science disciplines such as chemistry and physics. However, whether such a correlation exists for engineering has been disputed in the literature. To provide further data to answer this question, portions of the Purdue Spatial Visualization Test (PSVT) were administered to freshman engineering and undeclared students from a College of Engineering and Physical Science (CEPS). In addition, a self efficacy test, which was developed to assess the self confidence of students related to spatial tasks, was also administered. The data analysis showed that those students who remained in CEPS from their freshman to sophomore year (either change majors within CEPS or stayed in the same major) performed better on the PSVT than those students who changed colleges or withdrew from the university. For the self efficacy measure, a similar effect was found; however, this effect was small and not reliable. If evaluating only engineering students, the data analysis did not find such an effect for either spatial ability or self efficacy. Thus, the importance of spatial ability with respect to the retention of undeclared students in STEM disciplines, but not engineering students alone, was clearly found. Additional data analysis also showed that freshman and senior students from various engineering disciplines had equivalent spatial ability and self efficacy.

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Work in progress - development of tools to improve the spatial ability of engineering students

Cited by 8 publications

References 1 publication

Benchmarking of virtual reality performance in mechanics education

Benchmarking of virtual reality performance in mechanics education

Assessing the Self Efficacy and Spatial Ability of Engineering Students from Multiple Disciplines

The Effect Of Spatial Ability On The Retention Of Students In A College Of Engineering And Physical Science

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