Importance of spatial visualization skills in Hungary and Turkey

The goal of this paper is to review research results and compare spatial abilities of prospective elementary mathematics teachers from Hungary and Turkey. The tests in a way that it contained the important components of the spatial ability (imaginary manipulation of the object, projection description and projection reading, reconstruction, transparency of the structure) were used; such as Mental Cutting Test, Purdue Spatial Visualization Test and Heinrich Spatial Visualization Test. By right of the curriculum of the two countries it can be said that for teaching the spatial geometry small time has left in both countries. The results of the survey verify that many students have problems with imagining a spatial figure and therefore to solve the spatial geometry exercises. As a future study, it is being planned to make special interactive worksheets to develop of spatial ability. Keywords: Spatial ability, Mathematics education, Spatial test

A Comparison between the Spatial Intelligence of the Freshman Engineering Students of Sharif University of Technology and Debrecen University

The goal of this paper is to compare freshman engineering students' spatial abilities (Spatial Intelligence) at two universities: Sharif University in Tehran and Debrecen University of Hungary, focusing on both their final mathematical exam performance and their gender so as to ascertain whether the students differ significantly in terms of their spatial abilities and/or their problem solving methods. The tests used to measure spatial intelligence performance and mental rotation was the Purdue Spatial Visualization Test (PSVT Branoff). The test results have been statistically evaluated and conclusions formulated. The results show that there was no significant difference between Iranian and Hungarian freshman engineering students in the performance of mental rotation tasks. However, a general gender difference in spatial ability performance was evident among the Hungarian students but not among the Iranians. The results also shed light on spatial rotation problem-solving methods that appear to be largely specific to females

Engineering students’ spatial abilities in Budapest and Debrecen

The goal of this paper is to provide the level of first-year engineering students’ spatial abilities. We made our comparative survey at the Szent István University Budapest and University of Debrecen, Faculty of Engineering among first-year students of architecture. We made the survey among those students, who were successful in Descriptive Geometry I and II. We were looking for the answer for the question whether which part of the firstyear architecture students’ spatial ability and spatial geometrical knowledge is incomplete, and whether the students of two universities have sufficient differences between their spatial ability. The test results have been statistically evaluated and conclusions formulated. Keywords: Spatial ability, Descriptive Geometry education MSC: 51N0

Spatial Ability, Descriptive Geometry and Dynamic Geometry Systems

Dynamic Geometry Systems allow new opportunities for the teaching of geometry and descriptive geometry. These systems make possible to create dynamic drawings quickly and flexibly. In the University of Debrecen Faculty of Engineering we executed a controlgrouped developing research for two years, one of them was at Descriptive geometry with participating first year full-time Mechanical engineer students and the other one was at Technical representation practice, in two-two practical groups, for trying out a teaching-learning strategy. We taught one of the groups with the help of Dynamic Geometry System, the other one traditionally, with the paper-and- pencil method. In this paper, I report on our experiences of this course

Spatial ability of engineering students

We made the survey in September 2004 and 2006 in the University of Debrecen, Faculty of Technical Engineering among first year engineering students. In the beginning of the semester on the first week we examined with a test whether the students have sufficient differences between their spatial ability, their fundamental knowledge on descriptive geometry, since it is essential for the students to look at projections and to make operations with them and also to see the bodies with their mind’s eye. We prepared the test in a way that it contained the important components of the spatial ability

Gender differences in spatial visualization skills of engineering students

Spatial visualization skills are very essential in engineering studies. This study investigated the effects of gender in important component of spatial skills among engineering students. A total of 126 first-year engineering students (68 female, 58 male) completed different spatial visualization tests. In order to analyze the obtained data, means, standard deviations and independent samples t-test were used

Technical mathematics in the University of Debrecen

The presented course book has been written for the lectures and seminars of the subject Mathematics I, which is in the syllabus of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Debrecen. The book has an unusual approach to the curriculum in mathematics. Although the topics follow the usual thematic of the subject, the aim is not the teaching of mathematical concepts and tools, but the demonstration of their application in different engineering and economic fields, where the students will meet them. In this paper, we report on our experiences of this teaching method and on the application of the book