| Recent technologies have caused an increase in knowledge that is expanding at an exponential rate. Institutions of higher learning are being asked to convey more information without increasing instruction time. Teachers, instructors, and professors are being asked to teach several subject disciplines in one setting. A typical engineering graphics design class requires computer skills, descriptive geometry, drawing techniques, communication skills, perspective and visualization skills.;As institutions of higher education increase the pressure on the faculty to conduct research, the educators find themselves with a most impossible task: How to teach more material, to more students, in less time? We must find ways to deliver the material in forms that are easier to understand and require less time to convey the concepts.;The essence of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness solid modeling tutorials have on the development of three-dimensional spatial visualization skills. Hypothesis One states that no significant difference in visualization skills would occur between subject/groups who were taught three-dimensional solid modeling and those subject/groups who were taught using only traditional two-dimensional techniques.;Hypothesis Two states that there will be no significant difference between the pretest and posttest results for sections who received the treatment of solid modeling tutorials, regardless of the time frame in which the treatment was administered.;Data were collected from three groups of students using three measuring instruments. The data rejected the supposition that visualization skills can not be substantially improved by using solid modeling tutorials. To the contrary, the data demonstrated that student visualization skills can be improved and once solid modeling becomes a way of thinking, the student becomes much more proficient regarding spatial visualization. The data further exhibited that all groups that received treatment using solid modeling tutorials improved significantly, but that the time of treatment was not a significant factor.;Recent studies have recognized that industrial executives believe that engineering-technology graduates are not adequately prepared in the area of visualization skills. Educators must find ways to increase this facet of their education and do so in an efficient manner. |
