Multiview Drawing Instruction: A Two Location Experiment

Several methods have been developed, presented, and discussed at recent ASEE and EDGD conferences on the topic of computer-based multiview drawing instruction. While small-scale and localized testing of these instruments and methods has been undertaken, no larger-scale or multi-location experiments have been attempted. This paper describes an experiment that was carried out at two different university campuses with engineering and non-engineering students in an effort to validate the efficacy of these tools in comparison with more traditional methods of orthographic drawing instruction. Students at each location were assigned to one of four groups and asked to use either one of two computer-based instructional tools, a mixture of computer and manual methods, or an entirely manual method of multiview drawing instruction. Through the use of pre-test/post-test data and survey information, student scores and perceptions were analyzed for useful quantitative and qualitative results. The results have implications for foundational instruction, self-study, and remediation of students in engineering graphics and other fields where spatial skills are important.