Spatial visualization ability among engineering students in Malaysia

Abstract

A spatial visualization ability is very important in engineering field and it is positively correlated with achievement in engineering disciplines. Therefore, this research was carried out to identify the spatial visualization ability by engineering students in Malaysia. Given that first-year engineering students enter the academic field of engineering with a variety of backgrounds and experiences, and thus, varying degrees of spatial visualization ability development. It required for additional attention and effort in some students to get a better result in their study. Sometimes standard instruction and coursework at the introductory level of engineering graphics is not enough. Students on this lower end of visualization skill development need to close the gap between the level of their skills in this area and the level skills of their peers ( Piburn et al, 2002; Fennema & Sherman, 1977). Since spatial visualization ability skills are essential for success in engineering and other technical fields of study, it is important to develop visualization ability during the developmental years of students. Therefore, this research will lead us to achieve the following research objective, to access the engineering students? spatial visualization ability in Malaysia according to year of study and according to gender. This research is using descriptive statistics to find the central tendency especially mean value, frequency and percentage of the data. The finding spatial visualization ability of engineering student at in Malaysia is to be at moderately high. This is based on the achievement of the proficiency testing of each aspect of visualization test involved in this study. Thus, suitable teaching approach should be taking into consideration in order to provide the right technique to enhance students' spatial visualization ability.