1. EnViSIONS Incorporating Spatial Visualization Curriculum across the United States By: Norma Veurink (norma@mtu.edu) AJ Hamlin (ahamlin@mtu.edu) Sheryl Sorby (sheryl@mtu.edu) Michigan Technological University For: Conference on Research and Training in Spatial Intelligence Chicago, Illinois June, 2008

2. EnViSIONS Enhancing Visualization Skills – Improving Options aNd Success Enhancing Visualization Skills – Improving Options aNd Success Based on prior spatial visualization research, the Michigan Tech Project and the VIZ project at Penn State-Erie Based on prior spatial visualization research, the Michigan Tech Project and the VIZ project at Penn State-Erie Designed to remove barriers to success in engineering – particularly for women Designed to remove barriers to success in engineering – particularly for women Creating a partnership of seven universities to integrate spatial visualization into a variety of curricula Creating a partnership of seven universities to integrate spatial visualization into a variety of curricula

3. Michigan Tech Project Spatial skills of incoming engineering students are assessed using the Purdue Spatial Visualization Test: Rotations (PSVT:R) Spatial skills of incoming engineering students are assessed using the Purdue Spatial Visualization Test: Rotations (PSVT:R) 20% of students score below 60% on PSVT:R 20% of students score below 60% on PSVT:R –20% of students who take test are female –40% of students who “fail” test are female Students scoring below 60% on PSVT:R are encouraged to take a spatial visualization course Students scoring below 60% on PSVT:R are encouraged to take a spatial visualization course

4. Michigan Tech Course Uses lecture, a workbook and software to teach: 1.Isometric sketching 2.Orthographic projection – normal surfaces 3.Orthographic projection – inclined and single curved surfaces (not included in workbook/software) 4.Flat Patterns 5.Rotation of objects about a single axis 6.Rotation of objects about two or more axes 7.Object reflections and symmetry 8.Cutting planes and cross sections 9.Surfaces and solids of revolution 10.Combining solids

5. Michigan Tech Project Students who chose to take the spatial visualization course were found to have –Higher retention rates –Higher grades in other graphics courses –Higher grades in calculus courses –Higher overall GPAs –Increased ability and confidence in learning solid modeling than those who chose not to take the course.

6. Penn State-Erie Project Holliday-Darr and Blasko found Holliday-Darr and Blasko found –Low grades and retention rates were related to scores on tests of spatial ability –Incoming spatial skills predicted a measurable amount of a student’s overall performance Created the VIZ website Created the VIZ website –http://viz.bd.psu.edu/viz/

7. Viz website

8. EnViSIONS Partners Arizona State University – Polytechnic Arizona State University – Polytechnic Michigan Tech Michigan Tech Penn State – Erie Penn State – Erie Purdue University Purdue University Virginia State University Virginia State University Virginia Tech Virginia Tech University of Iowa University of Iowa

9. College-level Implementations University of Iowa University of Iowa –Offered a seven-session (1.5 hour each) pilot training course to engineering students who scored below 60% on the PSVT:R –Covered six spatial visualization modules Michigan Tech Michigan Tech –Incorporated the VIZ website into the existing course –Modified the order of topics in one of three sections offered

10. College-level Implementations Pennsylvania State University - Erie Pennsylvania State University - Erie –Encouraged engineering technology students who did poorly on a spatial visualization screening to enroll in an optional one-credit course Purdue University Purdue University –Implemented four of the spatial visualization modules in an education course taken by Technology Education majors Course focuses on methods to teach design and communication technology in middle and high school Course focuses on methods to teach design and communication technology in middle and high school

11. College-level Implementations Virginia State University Virginia State University –Incorporated spatial visualization into an existing graphics course taken by Industrial Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology and Manufacturing Engineering students – course was half CAD – half spatial visualization Virginia Tech Virginia Tech –offered an optional 1-credit course targeting first year engineering and engineering-bound (University Studies) students who did poorly on a spatial visualization diagnostic

12. Table 1: Envisions Implementations For College Students The VIZ website was used in all courses above except at Virginia State. At Purdue, the use of the site was encouraged.

13. High School-level Implementations Arizona State University Arizona State University –Offered in “Introduction to Engineering” Project Lead the Way Course at Red Mountain High School –Most students in grades 11-12 –Covered all spatial visualization modules Pennsylvania State University - Erie Pennsylvania State University - Erie –Minority College Experience (MCE) and Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Programs –Summer before their senior year of high school –Covered three spatial visualization modules

14. High School-level Implementations Purdue University Purdue University –Academic Boot Camp, 5 week summer transition program for incoming freshmen –ABC students are registered to study in College of Engineering College of Engineering College of Technology College of Technology College of Science College of Science –Organized by Purdue's Minority Engineering Program –Cover four spatial visualization modules

15. Table 2: Envisions Implementations For High School Students The VIZ website was used in Penn State-Erie MCE-WISE University#of Students% FemaleWorkbook Modules Covered Arizona State PLTW 2914%All Penn State-Erie MCE-WISE 1782%3 Purdue ABC To be offered Summer 2008 4

16. Project Evaluation Pre- & post-tests Pre- & post-tests Student and Instructor evaluations Student and Instructor evaluations – quality of the module – too simple or too advanced – how beneficial are different aspects of the module (i.e. software activities, classroom instruction, working with others) Universities may compare retention rates, overall GPAs, and follow-on course grades Universities may compare retention rates, overall GPAs, and follow-on course grades

17. Pre- and Post-Tests Purdue Spatial Visualization: Rotations (PSVT:R) Purdue Spatial Visualization: Rotations (PSVT:R) Lappan Lappan Mental Cutting Test (MCT) Mental Cutting Test (MCT)

18. UniversityPre- 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:R Results For Schools Covering All Modules Arizona State – PLTW Arizona State – PLTW High pre- and post-test scores High pre- and post-test scores Maintained level Maintained level All other schools All other schools Pre-test scores ranged from 45-59% Pre-test scores ranged from 45-59% Gains ranged from 16- 25% Gains ranged from 16- 25% Gains were significant Gains were significant Table 3: Purdue Spatial Visualization Test: Rotations

19. UniversityPre- 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 Pre- and Post-Test Results For Schools Covering All Modules All schools All schools Pre-test scores ranged from 34-71% Pre-test scores ranged from 34-71% Gains ranged from 9- 28% Gains ranged from 9- 28% Gains were significant Gains were significant Table 4: Lappan

20. UniversityPre- 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 Pre- and Post-Test Results For Schools Covering All Modules All schools All schools Pre-test scores ranged from 33-50% Pre-test scores ranged from 33-50% Gains ranged from 8- 26% Gains ranged from 8- 26% Gains were significant except at Virginia State Gains were significant except at Virginia State Table 5: Mental Cutting Test

21. TestIowa PSVTPre48% Post72% Gain 25% p<0.005 LappanPre59% Post69% Gain 10% p>0.4 MCTPre34% Post60% Gain 26% p<0.05 Pre- and Post-Test Results For Iowa University of Iowa University of Iowa Covered 6 modules: Covered 6 modules: isometrics, orthographics, rotations, reflections & symmetry, cutting planes & cross-sections Gains observed for all tests Gains observed for all tests Statistically significant for PSVT and MCT Statistically significant for PSVT and MCT Table 7: Pre- and Post- tests for Iowa

22. TestPurdue PSVTPre67% Post80% Gain13% P<0.05 LappanPre63% Post75% Gain 14% p<0.1 MCTPre59% Post60% Gain 1% p>0.4 Pre- and Post-Test Results For Purdue Purdue University Purdue University Completed 4 modules: Isometrics, orthographics, and rotations Completed 4 modules: Isometrics, orthographics, and rotations PSVT – Gain is significant PSVT – Gain is significant Lappan – Gain not statistically significant Lappan – Gain not statistically significant MCT MCT Did not cover this material Did not cover this material No observed gain No observed gain Training did not transfer to mental cutting task Training did not transfer to mental cutting task Table 6: Pre- and Post- tests for Purdue

23. Test MCE/ WISE Subset of PSVT Pre54% Post60% Gain 6% p<0.3 LappanPre Post Gain MCTPre Post Gain Pre- and Post-Test Results For PSUE MCE- WISE Penn State-Erie MCE-WISE Penn State-Erie MCE-WISE Covered 3 modules: Covered 3 modules: isometrics, orthographics, rotations Program began before common assessments were chosen Program began before common assessments were chosen Gain observed for subset of PSVT, not statistically significant Gain observed for subset of PSVT, not statistically significant Pre- and Post-tested on Mental Rotation Test on VIZ, gain was significant Pre- and Post-tested on Mental Rotation Test on VIZ, gain was significant Table 8: Pre- and Post-tests for PSUE – MCE/WISE

24. Summary of Pre- and Post-Test Results Spatial Skills improved Spatial Skills improved Statistically significant gains are observed at partnering schools covering all modules Statistically significant gains are observed at partnering schools covering all modules Even when only a portion* of the material is covered, statistically significant gains are observed Even when only a portion* of the material is covered, statistically significant gains are observed * Minimum of 3 modules including: Isometrics Isometrics Orthographics Orthographics Rotations about a Single Axis Rotations about a Single Axis

25. Conclusions Conclusions Demonstrated that the successful Michigan Tech and Penn State-Erie (VIZ) projects can be successfully integrated at other universities Demonstrated that the successful Michigan Tech and Penn State-Erie (VIZ) projects can be successfully integrated at other universities –Offered a variety of spatial training at the high school and university levels –Training is successful in increasing spatial skills Project Goal: Increase awareness on a national scale regarding the importance of spatial visualization skills to participation, success and retention of women in STEM fields Project Goal: Increase awareness on a national scale regarding the importance of spatial visualization skills to participation, success and retention of women in STEM fields

26. Future Directions Continue dissemination of spatial visualization materials at both the university and pre-college levels –Pursue funding opportunities –Host workshop at 2009 annual ASEE conference Interested? Interested? –Please Contact Us!

27. Acknowledgements National Science Foundation (Grant HRD-0714197) Jon Duff, Arizona State University Linda Boyle & Chris Peterson Brus, U of Iowa Dawn Blasko & Kathy Holliday-Darr, Penn State-Erie Kara Harris, LaVerne Abe Harris, Mary Sadowski, Purdue Nancy Study, Virginia State Jean Kampe and Mara Knott, Virginia Tech

28. Questions?