Does Cad Improve Spatial Visualization Ability?

This paper presents a study conducted collaboratively at a two-year community college and a four-year university. Technical drawing skills are fundamental to engineering technology students. It is generally believed that spatial visualization abilities affect a student’s performance in graphics courses. Do factors, such as training, age, and gender, contribute to spatial visualization abilities? Do computer-aided design (CAD) courses improve spatial visualization abilities? This study investigates these factors through the Purdue Spatial Visualization Test – Rotation. The statistical results, obtained from two different student populations representing two-year and four-year institutions, are compared. The results from the two-year college also supplement numerous studies done at other four-year universities.