Effects of mobile augmented reality (MAR) towards students’ visualization skills when learning orthographic projection

Abstract

Recent study shows an increasing interest towards the implementation of augmented reality in teaching and learning. Majority of the studies in this area focuses on how this technology could impact students' performance and various skills including visualization skills. Hence, the purpose of this study was to examine the differences in students' visualization skills after utilizing Mobile Augmented Reality (MAR) and conventional learning in orthographic projection classroom. This study involved 60 students and was conducted in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia: 30 students in experimental group used MAR; 30 students in control group used conventional learning. In this study, mental rotation skills were measured using Purdue Spatial Visualization Test of Rotation (PSVT:R) due to its importance to ensure students understanding in orthographic projection. Results from this study showed a significant difference between students in both group where students in experimental group displayed a significantly higher level of visualization skills in terms of mental rotation skills compared to students in control group. At the end of their study, respondents were given a set of questionnaires to obtain their feedback on the use of MAR. Based on students' positive feedback on MAR, the result proved that it can be an effective spatial visualization tool. MAR is also practical to be used in classrooms since it has low production cost.