Board # 32 : Work in Progress: A Study of Augmented Reality for the Development of Spatial Reasoning Ability

Abstract

His research considered various user interfaces for humancomputer interaction among users with a wide range of technology skills. Bell later completed a post doc at UC Berkeley focused on teaching programming to non-computer science majors, and the development of spatial reasoning abilities for engineering students. Bell has worked at Michigan State University since 1995. His work focused on the development of K-12 teacher abilities to use technology for teaching and learning. His recent research has focused on distance learning and collaboration through telepresence. One key aspect of this work is the study of embodied content for learning and collaboration. Embodied content includes collaborative textual environments as well as augmented/mixed reality. Other research includes idea-centered teaching and learning.Mr. Timothy J. Hinds, Michigan State University TIMOTHY J. HINDS is the Academic Director of the Michigan State University College of Engineering CoRe (Cornerstone Engineering and Residential) Experience program and a Senior Academic Specialist in the Department of Engineering Undergraduate Studies. His current teaching and management responsibilities include development, delivery and administration of first-year courses in engineering design and modeling. He has also taught courses in machine design, manufacturing processes, mechanics, computational tools and international product design as well as graduate-level courses in engineering innovation and technology management. He has conducted research in the areas of environmentally-responsible manufacturing, globally-distributed engineering teaming and early engineering education development and has over 30 years of combined academic and industrial management experience. He received his BSME and MSME degrees from Michigan Technological University.

A Study of an Augmented Reality App for the Development of Spatial Reasoning Ability

“…Given the relatively small sample size and the large variation between sections, as well as the known problems in the app, this finding suggests that something important is happening in support of females who have been reported to do more poorly on spatial reasoning assessments [19]. It is also consistent with the finding of [15] that augmented reality overcame the disparity for females found in a conventional classroom setting alone.…”

“…Augmented reality offers the possibility of the illusion of physical representation in a digital space [12]. Bell, et al [15] argue that augmented reality makes possible "a closer integration between the 3-D object and the abstractions that are a part of engineering manipulation." Doing so offered "the ability to create interactions that would be harder to create with physical objects."…”

Using Digital Sketching and Augmented Reality Mobile Apps to Improve Spatial Visualization in a Freshmen Engineering Course

“…Users can also rotate the objects along major axes. Of particular interest, the data suggest that the app overcomes the advantage found by males over females in a traditional class alone focused on spatial reasoning [9]. Figure 2 shows a screenshot of the user interface for the Spartan AR app.…”

A Study of Augmented Reality for the Development of Spatial Reasoning Ability

“…AR has been implemented using multiple means of integrating the display device with the physical experience of the user. [13] describes integration by means of a fixed monitor, a head-mounted device, and a handheld device.…”

“…Bell, et al, [13] applied the "gulf of execution" and "gulf of evaluation" [14], [15] to understand the significance of applying AR to these kinds of interactions. They reasoned that increasing the "feeling of directness" (i.e., reducing the gap) for understanding the digital representation (the gulf of evaluation) and increasing the "feeling of directness" for instructing the digital representation what to do (the gulf of execution) would increase the realism of the simulation and thus increase focus on mental rotation of the objects, unencumbered by distractions of the interface or the artificiality of controlling a computer rather than working with physical objects.…”