Using Interactive Multimedia Technologies to Improve Student Understanding of Spatially-dependent Engineering Concepts

Interactive multimedia provides a unique avenue for the communication of engineering concepts. Although most engineering materials today are paperbased, more and more educators are examining ways to implement publisher-generated materials or custom, self-developed digital utilities into their curricula. It is vital that engineering educators continue to integrate digital tools into their classrooms because they provide unique avenues for active student learning opportunities and describe engineering content in a way that is not possible with traditional methods. This contribution discusses the importance of spatial ability in engineering curricula and describes an interactive multimedia application that was designed to better communicate spatially based materials science and engineering concepts to students.