Longitudinal study of the impact of requiring training for students with initially weak spatial skills

Authors

Norma L. Veurink, Michigan Technological University
Sheryl A. Sorby, The Ohio State University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-4-2019

Abstract

© 2017, © 2017 SEFI. Three-dimensional spatial skills are a cognitive ability that have been shown to predict success in engineering. Michigan Tech has been offering a course to help students improve their 3-D spatial skills for more than two decades. In previous studies, students who failed a rotations test and enrolled in the course performed better on a number of measures when compared to those who failed the rotations test and did not enrol in the course. A valid criticism of these studies was that the two groups were self-selected. Beginning in 2009, the spatial skills course became a requirement for students who initially failed the rotations test. This paper reports on the results from a longitudinal study conducted to determine the impact of the spatial skills course when no self-selection is involved.

Publication Title

European Journal of Engineering Education

Recommended Citation

Veurink, N., & Sorby, S. (2019). Longitudinal study of the impact of requiring training for students with initially weak spatial skills. European Journal of Engineering Education, 44(1-2), 153-163. http://doi.org/10.1080/03043797.2017.1390547
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/9215