PERC 2013 Abstract Detail Page
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| Abstract Title: | Improving Student Success through Spatial Skills Intervention |
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| Abstract: | Dr. Sheryl Sorby has been conducting research in the area of engineering education and her primary focus of research is on improving the 3-D spatial visualization skills of engineering students. The ability to visualize in three dimensions is a cognitive skill that has been shown to be important for success in engineering and other technological fields. For engineering, the ability to mentally rotate 3-D objects is especially important. Unfortunately, of all the cognitive skills, 3-D rotation abilities exhibit robust gender differences, favoring males. The assessment of 3-D spatial skills and associated gender differences has been a topic of educational research for nearly a century; however, a great deal of the previous work has been aimed at merely identifying differences. Dr. Sorby has been conducting research aimed at identifying practical methods for improving 3-D spatial skills, especially for women engineering students. This presentation details the significant findings obtained over the past several years through this research and identifies strategies that appear to be effective in developing 3-D spatial skills and in contributing to student success. |
| Abstract Type: | Symposium Talk |
| Targeted Session: | Influences of Spatial/Visual Abilities on the Learning Process |
Author/Organizer Information | |
| Primary Contact: |
Sheryl Sorby The Ohio State University |
