Multimedia Learning and Engineering Students Spatial Ability

A new multimedia environment engineering graphics is running through today, has been established step by step. An important factor that has been taken into consideration and that has influenced dynamic changes of engineering graphics is spatial ability. The introduction of 3D CAD systems has given additional importance to the necessity of highly developed sense of spatial reasoning. Engineering graphics courses therefore have embraced both, the advantages of CAD system recent possibilities and the recommendations based on research results of spatial ability. The first- year students at University of Rijeka Faculty of Engineering, Croatia were tested on spatial ability before and after one semester of engineering graphics course tuition. Two available classical tests, Mental Rotation Test (MRT) and Guay-Lippa Test (VVT), were utilised for the assessment at mechanical engineering, naval architecture and electrical engineering studies both, undergraduate university and professional. The improvement of student spatial ability has been investigated and analysed after tuition performed in multimedia environment. The comparison of detected spatial ability for different studies has been made, and the relationship between initial student spatial ability and engineering graphics course total accomplishment, has been examined. The students with higher initial spatial ability found electrical engineering study both, university and professional appropriate and attractive compared with the studies of mechanical engineering and naval architecture. The gain in scores for the tests administered after in relation to the tests before accomplished engineering graphics course is obvious for all studies and confirmed the development of student spatial ability.