It is generally accepted that the ability to visualize is an important tool for engineers and technologists especially in engineering graphics. Enhancing the spatial visualization abilities of engineering students has long been a focus of engineering graphics educators. Over the years a variety of test and procedures have been developed to…

During the 1998-1999 academic year, a survey was conducted to look at current trends and issues in the profession of graphics education (Clark & Scales, 1999). The survey solicited information from the membership of the Engineering Design Graphics Division of the American Society for Engineering Education related to their view of future areas of…

Three-dimensional spatial skills have been shown to be critical to success in engineering and other technological fields. Well-developed 3D spatial skills are particularly important for success in engineering graphics courses. Further, 3D spatial skills of women lag significantly behind those of their male counterparts, which could hinder their…

This paper outlines past and present issues related to product data management (PDM) technologies and their implementation within organization. Included are the results from interviews with representatives from ten companies regarding their implementation processes related to PDM and PLM technologies. Results from these interviews are detailed in…

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…

Summarizes literature in engineering design related to constraint-based modeling. (Author/KHR)

Examines changes in engineering and technical graphics education through an historical perspective. Focuses on educators' view of fundamental philosophical beliefs and how the philosophical change in what and how we teach can affect the future of the profession. Discusses the need for establishing an educational philosophy. (Author/KHR)

Examines how constraint-based 3D modeling can be used as a vehicle for rethinking instructional approaches to engineering design graphics. Focuses on moving from a mode of instruction based on the crafting by students and assessment by instructors of static 2D drawings and 3D models. Suggests that the new approach is better aligned with…

Describes a study that looked at assessment areas and practices in engineering/technical graphics education. The study focused on the particular assessment practices that should be used in grading introductory courses. Outcomes include a listing of major assessment categories with content objectives that experts feel should be addressed in the…

Describes the first-year Introduction to Design course at Iowa State University which incorporates design for manufacturing and concurrent engineering principles into the curriculum. Autodesk Inventor was used as the primary CAD tool for parametric solid modeling. Test results show that student spatial visualization skills were dramatically…

Describes the development of a test designed to allow meaningful and widespread computerized testing of various spatial factors. Examines the differences between traditional paper and pencil and computerized versions of the same test. Compares an interactive test designed to measure a working memory factor to the computerized version of…

Compares results of Successive Perception Test I (SPT) for the study population of freshman engineering students to their results on the group-administered Purdue Spatial Visualization Test: Visualization of Rotations (PSVT) and the individually administered Haptic Visual Discrimination Test (HVDT). Concludes that either visual and haptic…

Summarizes the digital engineering design process using software widely available for the educational setting. Points out that newer technology used in the field is not used in engineering graphics education. (DDR)

Proposes a real-time collaborative framework for geometric modeling. Assessment results show that the collaborative environment was useful in design education. (MM)

Introduces rapid prototyping which creates virtual models through a variety of automated material additive processes. Relates experiences using JP System 5 in freshman and sophomore engineering design graphics courses. Analyzes strengths and limitations of the JP System 5 and discusses how to use it effectively. (Contains 15 references.)…