Laboratory instruction is a major component of the engineering and technology undergraduate curricula. Traditional laboratory instruction is hampered by several factors including limited access to resources by students and high laboratory maintenance cost. A photorealistic 3D computer-simulated laboratory for undergraduate instruction in…

Describes the development of a test designed to allow meaningful and widespread computerized testing of various spatial factors. Examines the differences between traditional paper and pencil and computerized versions of the same test. Compares an interactive test designed to measure a working memory factor to the computerized version of…

Compares results of Successive Perception Test I (SPT) for the study population of freshman engineering students to their results on the group-administered Purdue Spatial Visualization Test: Visualization of Rotations (PSVT) and the individually administered Haptic Visual Discrimination Test (HVDT). Concludes that either visual and haptic…

Examines the reactions of freshman engineering graphics students to an interactive multimedia computer compact disk. The disk is used in conjunction with a textbook and a student survey is used to assess reactions to the material. Results indicate that the material helped in understanding the course material. (DDR)

Proposes a real-time collaborative framework for geometric modeling. Assessment results show that the collaborative environment was useful in design education. (MM)

Summarizes the digital engineering design process using software widely available for the educational setting. Points out that newer technology used in the field is not used in engineering graphics education. (DDR)

Described is a computer algorithm for obtaining the coordinates of vertices, chord factors, and dihedral angles for plotting orthographic and axonometric projections, and for tabulating chord lengths and dihedral angles. (Author)

Reports on a study to determine whether the presence of coordinate axes in a test of spatial-visualization ability affects scores and response times on a mental-rotations task for students enrolled in undergraduate introductory graphic communications classes. Based on Pavios's dual-coding theory. Contains 36 references. (DDR)

Presents the results of statistical analyses and interpretations of data obtained from students in two engineering fundamentals courses on an attitudinal survey. Indicates positive and significant improvement in student attitudes toward their own drawing abilities and the importance of drawing in their lives and careers. (CW)