Examining the Spatial Skills of High School Engineering Students: Considering the Role of Both In-School and Out-of-School Experiences

• In Event: 69.020 - Research About Underrepresented Groups in Engineering and Computer Science Education

Abstract

Spatial visualization skills are a key factor behind individuals’ success in engineering and other STEM fields. While previous studies have identified the importance of out-of-school experiences, such as playing with Legos at early ages, much less attention has been paid to the potentially critical role of in-school experiences. Using a sample of high school students enrolled in an engineering course, we examine how students’ math and science course-taking may increase their spatial visualization skills, with an eye towards understanding whether the role of such in-school experiences may be as important as the out-of-school experiences previously identified in the literature. Additionally our study considers how gender differences in such skills may (or may not) be explained by both types of experiences.

Authors

• Anita Patrick, The University of Texas at Austin

• Catherine C. Riegle-Crumb, The University of Texas

• Jenny Buontempo, University of Texas-Austin

• Menglu Peng, The University of Texas - Austin