EnViSIONSEnViSIONSIncorporating Spatial Incorporating Spatial

Visualization Curriculum Visualization Curriculum across the United Statesacross the United States

By: Norma Veurink (norma@mtu.edu)By: Norma Veurink (norma@mtu.edu)AJ Hamlin (ahamlin@mtu.edu)AJ Hamlin (ahamlin@mtu.edu)

Sheryl Sorby (sheryl@mtu.edu)Sheryl Sorby (sheryl@mtu.edu)Michigan Technological UniversityMichigan Technological University

For: For: Conference on Research and Training in Conference on Research and Training in Spatial IntelligenceSpatial Intelligence

Chicago, IllinoisChicago, IllinoisJune, 2008June, 2008

EnViSIONSEnViSIONS

Enhancing Visualization Skills – Enhancing Visualization Skills – Improving Options aNd SuccessImproving Options aNd Success

Based on prior spatial visualization Based on prior spatial visualization research, the Michigan Tech Project and the research, the Michigan Tech Project and the VIZ project at Penn State-ErieVIZ project at Penn State-Erie

Designed to remove barriers to success in Designed to remove barriers to success in engineering – particularly for womenengineering – particularly for women

Creating a partnership of seven universities Creating a partnership of seven universities to integrate spatial visualization into a to integrate spatial visualization into a variety of curriculavariety of curricula

Michigan Tech ProjectMichigan Tech Project

Spatial skills of incoming engineering Spatial skills of incoming engineering students are assessed using the Purdue students are assessed using the Purdue Spatial Visualization Test: Rotations (PSVT:R)Spatial Visualization Test: Rotations (PSVT:R)

20% of students score below 60% on PSVT:R20% of students score below 60% on PSVT:R– 20% of students who take test are female20% of students who take test are female– 40% of students who “fail” test are female40% of students who “fail” test are female

Students scoring below 60% on PSVT:R are Students scoring below 60% on PSVT:R are encouraged to take a spatial visualization encouraged to take a spatial visualization coursecourse

Michigan Tech CourseMichigan Tech Course

Uses lecture, a workbook and software to teach:Uses lecture, a workbook and software to teach:1.1. Isometric sketchingIsometric sketching

2.2. Orthographic projection – normal surfacesOrthographic projection – normal surfaces

3.3. Orthographic projection – inclined and single curved surfaces Orthographic projection – inclined and single curved surfaces (not included in workbook/software)(not included in workbook/software)

4.4. Flat PatternsFlat Patterns

5.5. Rotation of objects about a single axisRotation of objects about a single axis

6.6. Rotation of objects about two or more axesRotation of objects about two or more axes

7.7. Object reflections and symmetryObject reflections and symmetry

8.8. Cutting planes and cross sectionsCutting planes and cross sections

9.9. Surfaces and solids of revolutionSurfaces and solids of revolution

10.10. Combining solidsCombining solids

Michigan Tech ProjectMichigan Tech Project

Students who chose to take the spatial Students who chose to take the spatial visualization course were found to havevisualization course were found to have

– Higher retention ratesHigher retention rates– Higher grades in other graphics coursesHigher grades in other graphics courses– Higher grades in calculus coursesHigher grades in calculus courses– Higher overall GPAsHigher overall GPAs– Increased ability and confidence in learning Increased ability and confidence in learning

solid modeling solid modeling

than those who chose not to take the than those who chose not to take the course.course.

Penn State-Erie ProjectPenn State-Erie Project

Holliday-Darr and Blasko foundHolliday-Darr and Blasko found– Low grades and retention rates were Low grades and retention rates were

related to scores on tests of spatial abilityrelated to scores on tests of spatial ability– Incoming spatial skills predicted a Incoming spatial skills predicted a

measurable amount of a student’s overall measurable amount of a student’s overall performance performance

Created the VIZ websiteCreated the VIZ website– http://viz.bd.psu.edu/viz/http://viz.bd.psu.edu/viz/

Viz websiteViz website

EnViSIONS PartnersEnViSIONS Partners

Arizona State University – PolytechnicArizona State University – Polytechnic Michigan TechMichigan Tech Penn State – EriePenn State – Erie Purdue UniversityPurdue University Virginia State UniversityVirginia State University Virginia TechVirginia Tech University of IowaUniversity of Iowa

College-level College-level ImplementationsImplementations

University of IowaUniversity of Iowa– Offered a seven-session (1.5 hour each) pilot Offered a seven-session (1.5 hour each) pilot

training course to engineering students who training course to engineering students who scored below 60% on the PSVT:Rscored below 60% on the PSVT:R

– Covered six spatial visualization modulesCovered six spatial visualization modules Michigan TechMichigan Tech

– Incorporated the VIZ website into the existing Incorporated the VIZ website into the existing coursecourse

– Modified the order of topics in one of three Modified the order of topics in one of three sections offered sections offered

College-level College-level ImplementationsImplementations

Pennsylvania State University - EriePennsylvania State University - Erie– Encouraged engineering technology students Encouraged engineering technology students

who did poorly on a spatial visualization who did poorly on a spatial visualization screening to enroll in an optional one-credit screening to enroll in an optional one-credit coursecourse

Purdue UniversityPurdue University– Implemented four of the spatial visualization Implemented four of the spatial visualization

modules in an education course taken by modules in an education course taken by Technology Education majors Technology Education majors

Course focuses on methods to teach design and Course focuses on methods to teach design and communication technology in middle and high communication technology in middle and high schoolschool

College-level College-level ImplementationsImplementations

Virginia State UniversityVirginia State University– Incorporated spatial visualization into an Incorporated spatial visualization into an

existing graphics course taken by existing graphics course taken by Industrial Industrial Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology and Manufacturing Engineering Technology and Manufacturing Engineering students – course was half CAD – half spatial students – course was half CAD – half spatial visualization visualization

Virginia TechVirginia Tech– offered an optional 1-credit course targeting offered an optional 1-credit course targeting

first year engineering and engineering-bound first year engineering and engineering-bound (University Studies) students who did poorly (University Studies) students who did poorly on a spatial visualization diagnosticon a spatial visualization diagnostic

University #of Students

% Female Type of Student Workbook Modules Covered

Michigan Tech 42 48% Engineering All Penn State-Erie 11 27% Engineering

technology All

Purdue 14 7% Technology education

4

University of Iowa 7 71% Engineering 6 Virginia State 9 22% Engineering

technology All

Virginia Tech 11 36% Engineering & engineering bound

All

Table 1: Envisions Table 1: Envisions Implementations For College Implementations For College StudentsStudents

The VIZ website was used in all courses above except at Virginia State. At Purdue, the use of the site was encouraged.

High School-level High School-level ImplementationsImplementations

Arizona State University Arizona State University – Offered in “Introduction to Engineering” Project Offered in “Introduction to Engineering” Project

Lead the Way Course at Red Mountain High Lead the Way Course at Red Mountain High SchoolSchool

– Most students in grades 11-12Most students in grades 11-12– Covered all spatial visualization modulesCovered all spatial visualization modules

Pennsylvania State University - EriePennsylvania State University - Erie– Minority College Experience (MCE) and Women Minority College Experience (MCE) and Women

in Science and Engineering (WISE) Programsin Science and Engineering (WISE) Programs– Summer before their senior year of high schoolSummer before their senior year of high school– Covered three spatial visualization modulesCovered three spatial visualization modules

High School-level High School-level ImplementationsImplementations

Purdue UniversityPurdue University– Academic Boot Camp, 5 week summer Academic Boot Camp, 5 week summer

transition program for incoming freshmen transition program for incoming freshmen – ABC students are registered to study inABC students are registered to study in

College of EngineeringCollege of Engineering College of TechnologyCollege of Technology College of ScienceCollege of Science

– Organized by Purdue's Minority Engineering Organized by Purdue's Minority Engineering ProgramProgram

– Cover four spatial visualization modulesCover four spatial visualization modules

Table 2: Envisions Table 2: Envisions Implementations For High School Implementations For High School StudentsStudents

The VIZ website was used in Penn State-Erie MCE-WISE

University #of Students % Female Workbook Modules Covered

Arizona State PLTW

29 14% All

Penn State-Erie MCE-WISE

17 82% 3

PurdueABC

To be offered Summer 20084

Project EvaluationProject Evaluation Pre- & post-testsPre- & post-tests Student and Instructor evaluationsStudent and Instructor evaluations

– quality of the modulequality of the module– too simple or too advancedtoo simple or too advanced– how beneficial are different aspects of the how beneficial are different aspects of the module (i.e. software activities, classroom module (i.e. software activities, classroom instruction, working with others)instruction, working with others)

Universities may compare retention rates, Universities may compare retention rates, overall GPAs, and follow-on course gradesoverall GPAs, and follow-on course grades

Pre- and Post-TestsPre- and Post-Tests

Purdue Spatial Purdue Spatial Visualization: Visualization: Rotations (PSVT:R)Rotations (PSVT:R)

LappanLappan

Mental Cutting Test Mental Cutting Test (MCT)(MCT)

University Pre-Test

Post-Test

% Gain

Michigan Tech

53% 78% 25%p<0.0005

Penn State-Erie

45% 61% 16%p<0.005

Virginia State

46% 67% 21%p<0.025

Virginia Tech

59% 76% 16%p<0.005

Arizona State PLTW

81% 79% -1%p<0.3

PSVT:RPSVT:R Results For Schools Results For Schools Covering All ModulesCovering All Modules

Arizona State – Arizona State – PLTWPLTW

High pre- and post-High pre- and post-test scorestest scoresMaintained levelMaintained level

All other schoolsAll other schoolsPre-test scores Pre-test scores ranged from 45-59%ranged from 45-59%Gains ranged from Gains ranged from 16-25%16-25%Gains were Gains were significantsignificant

Table 3: Purdue Spatial Visualization Test: Rotations

University Pre-Test

Post-Test

% Gain

Michigan Tech

60% 79% 19%p<0.0005

Penn State-Erie

34% 54% 20%p<0.05

Virginia State

40% 67% 27%p<0.01

Virginia Tech

51% 79% 28%p<0.001

Arizona State PLTW

71% 80% 9%p<0.05

Lappan Lappan Pre- and Post-Test Results Pre- and Post-Test Results For Schools Covering All ModulesFor Schools Covering All Modules

All schoolsAll schoolsPre-test scores Pre-test scores

ranged from 34-71%ranged from 34-71%Gains ranged from 9-Gains ranged from 9-

28%28%Gains were significantGains were significant

Table 4: Lappan

University Pre-Test

Post-Test

% Gain

Michigan Tech

50% 76% 26%p<0.0005

Penn State-Erie

33% 50% 16%p<0.05

Virginia State

46% 53% 8%p<0.3

Virginia Tech

49% 74% 25%p<0.01

Arizona State PLTW

46% 64% 18%p<0.001

Mental Cutting Test Mental Cutting Test Pre- and Post-Pre- and Post-Test Results For Schools Covering Test Results For Schools Covering All ModulesAll ModulesAll schoolsAll schools

Pre-test scores Pre-test scores ranged from 33-50%ranged from 33-50%

Gains ranged from 8-Gains ranged from 8-26%26%

Gains were significant Gains were significant except at Virginia except at Virginia StateState

Table 5: Mental Cutting Test

Test IowaPSVT Pre 48%

Post 72%

Gain 25%p<0.00

5Lappan Pre 59%

Post 69%

Gain 10% p>0.4

MCT Pre 34%

Post 60%

Gain 26%p<0.05

Pre- and Post-Test Results For Pre- and Post-Test Results For IowaIowa

University of IowaUniversity of IowaCovered 6 modules: Covered 6 modules:

isometrics, orthographics, isometrics, orthographics, rotations, reflections & rotations, reflections & symmetry, cutting planes & symmetry, cutting planes & cross-sectionscross-sections

Gains observed for all Gains observed for all teststestsStatistically significant Statistically significant for PSVT and MCTfor PSVT and MCT

Table 7: Pre- and Post-tests for Iowa

Test PurduePSVT Pre 67%

Post 80%

Gain 13%P<0.05

Lappan Pre 63%

Post 75%

Gain 14%p<0.1

MCT Pre 59%

Post 60%

Gain 1%p>0.4

Pre- and Post-Test Results For Pre- and Post-Test Results For PurduePurdue

Purdue UniversityPurdue UniversityCompleted 4 modules: Completed 4 modules:

Isometrics, orthographics, and Isometrics, orthographics, and rotationsrotations

PSVTPSVT – Gain is significant – Gain is significantLappan Lappan – Gain not – Gain not

statistically significantstatistically significantMCTMCT

Did not cover this Did not cover this materialmaterial

No observed gainNo observed gainTraining did not transfer Training did not transfer

to mental cutting taskto mental cutting task

Table 6: Pre- and Post-tests for Purdue

TestMCE/WISE

Subset of PSVT

Pre 54%

Post 60%

Gain 6%p<0.3

Lappan Pre

Post

Gain

MCT Pre

Post

Gain

Pre- and Post-Test Results For Pre- and Post-Test Results For PSUE PSUE MCE-WISEMCE-WISE

Penn State-Erie MCE-WISEPenn State-Erie MCE-WISECovered 3 modules: Covered 3 modules:

isometrics, orthographics, rotationsisometrics, orthographics, rotations

Program began before Program began before common assessments were common assessments were chosenchosen

Gain observed for subset of Gain observed for subset of PSVT, not statistically PSVT, not statistically significantsignificant

Pre- and Post-tested on Pre- and Post-tested on Mental Rotation Test on VIZ, Mental Rotation Test on VIZ, gain was significantgain was significant

Table 8: Pre- and Post-tests for PSUE – MCE/WISE

Summary of Pre- and Post-Summary of Pre- and Post-Test ResultsTest Results

Spatial Skills improvedSpatial Skills improvedStatistically significant gains are observed at Statistically significant gains are observed at

partnering schools covering all modules partnering schools covering all modulesEven when only a portion* of the material is Even when only a portion* of the material is

covered, statistically significant gains are covered, statistically significant gains are observedobserved

* Minimum of 3 modules including: * Minimum of 3 modules including: •IsometricsIsometrics•OrthographicsOrthographics•Rotations about a Single AxisRotations about a Single Axis

ConclusionsConclusions

Demonstrated that the successful Michigan Tech Demonstrated that the successful Michigan Tech and Penn State-Erie (VIZ) projects can be and Penn State-Erie (VIZ) projects can be successfully integrated at other universitiessuccessfully integrated at other universities– Offered a variety of spatial training at the high Offered a variety of spatial training at the high

school and university levels school and university levels – Training is successful in increasing spatial skillsTraining is successful in increasing spatial skills

Project Goal: Increase awareness on a national Project Goal: Increase awareness on a national scale regarding the importance of spatial scale regarding the importance of spatial visualization skills to participation, success and visualization skills to participation, success and retention of women in STEM fieldsretention of women in STEM fields

Future DirectionsFuture Directions

Continue dissemination of spatial Continue dissemination of spatial visualization materials at both the visualization materials at both the university and pre-college levelsuniversity and pre-college levels

– Pursue funding opportunitiesPursue funding opportunities– Host workshop at 2009 annual ASEE Host workshop at 2009 annual ASEE

conferenceconference

Interested?Interested?– Please Contact Us!Please Contact Us!

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

National Science Foundation (Grant HRD-National Science Foundation (Grant HRD-0714197)0714197)

Jon Duff, Arizona State UniversityJon Duff, Arizona State University

Linda Boyle & Chris Peterson Brus, U of IowaLinda Boyle & Chris Peterson Brus, U of Iowa

Dawn Blasko & Kathy Holliday-Darr, Penn State-Dawn Blasko & Kathy Holliday-Darr, Penn State-ErieErie

Kara Harris, LaVerne Abe Harris, Mary Sadowski, Kara Harris, LaVerne Abe Harris, Mary Sadowski, PurduePurdue

Nancy Study, Virginia StateNancy Study, Virginia State

Jean Kampe and Mara Knott, Virginia TechJean Kampe and Mara Knott, Virginia Tech

Questions?Questions?