Mechanix: A Sketch-Based Tutoring and Grading System for Free-Body Diagrams

fundamental engineering concepts through a course in statics. Statics problems usually require the student to draw planar truss and other free-body diagrams (FBDs). In civil and mechanical engineering, visual and spatial thoughts are essential for the correct absorption of fundamental concepts. By relying on visual aids as opposed to only using the verbal channel of acquiring knowledge, the cognitive load becomes lighter and learning becomes more effective (Sweller 1994). Furthermore, learners should actively engage in the process in order to reach the highest levels of comprehension. The task of freehand sketching encourages and demands that learners are actively constructing their knowledge. In the civil and mechanical engineering domain, sketched planar truss and other free-body diagrams are particularly helpful to the understanding of statics concepts. This type of “forced active processing” ensures attention to visual information and helps learners attend to key elements of the visual system (Kozma 1994). A planar truss diagram is simply a two-dimensional representation of a structure that is constructed from physical beams and joints. Joints, also referred to as nodes, are located at the intersection of two or more beams and are the location where external forces may act upon the object. Articles