INTEGRATING 3D MODELING INTO TECHNICAL DRAWING EDUCATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPATIAL THINKING
Keywords:
engineering graphics, technical drawing education, 3D modelling, spatial thinking, CAD-based learningAbstract
The development of spatial thinking is a key objective in engineering education and technical drawing instruction. Traditional 2D teaching approaches often limit students’ ability to correctly interpret complex geometric relationships. This paper explores the integration of 3D modelling tools into technical drawing courses as a method for enhancing spatial visualization skills. A structured teaching methodology based on parametric modelling and the generation of 2D drawings from 3D models is presented. The results indicate that the use of 3D modelling significantly improves students’ understanding of technical representations and supports the learning process in engineering graphics.
Downloads
References
Bertoline, G. R., & Wiebe, E. N. (2007). Fundamentals
of Graphics Communication, available at:
http://www.mhhe.com/bertoline. Accessed: 2026-02-26.
Sorby, S. A. (2009). Educational Research and
Methods: Assessment of a Course for the Development of
D Spatial Skills, available at:
http://www.edgj.org/index.php/EDGJ/article/view/25.
Accessed: 2026-02-26.
Contero, M., et al. (2005). Looking for the "Correct"
Way to Teach Technical Drawing, available at:
http://www.computer.org/graphics-applications/contero.
Accessed: 2026-02-26.
Gardner, H. (2011). Frames of Mind: The Theory of
Multiple Intelligences, available at:
http://www.multipleintelligences.org/spatial-thinking.
Accessed: 2026-02-26.
Maier, P. H. (1996). Spatial Geometry and Spatial
Ability, available at: http://www.ph
freiburg.de/math/maier/spatial. Accessed: 2026-02-26.
Ferguson, E. S. (1994). Engineering and the Mind's
Eye, available at:
http://mitpress.mit.edu/books/engineering-and-minds
eye. Accessed: 2026-02-26.
Eastman, C., et al. (2011). BIM Handbook: A Guide to
Building Information Modeling, available at:
http://www.wiley.com/en-us/BIM+Handbook. Accessed:
-02-26.
Norton, R. L. (2011). Design of Machinery Principles,
available at: http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/norton
machinery. Accessed: 2026-02-26.
Groover, M. P. (2020). Fundamentals of Modern
Manufacturing, available at:
http://www.wiley.com/groover-manufacturing. Accessed:
-02-26.
Pheasant, S., & Haslegrave, C. M. (2016).
Bodyspace: Anthropometry, Ergonomics and the Design
of Work, available at: http://www.crcpress.com/pheasant
bodyspace. Accessed: 2026-02-26.
Hamad, M. M. (2017). AutoCAD 2018 3D Modeling,
available at: http://www.merclearning.com/autocad-3d.
Accessed: 2026-02-26.
Lieu, D. K., & Sorby, S. A. (2008). Visualization,
Modeling, and Graphics for Engineering Design,
available at:
http://www.cengage.com/highered/visualization.
Accessed: 2026-02-26.
Mohler, J. L. (2008). The Impact of 3D modeling on
Visual-Spatial Ability, available at:
http://purl.lib.purdue.edu/publications/mohler2008.
Accessed: 2026-02-26.
ISO. (2017). ISO 128: Technical product
documentation — General principles of representation,
available at: http://www.iso.org/standard/iso-128.
Accessed: 2026-02-26.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
