USE OF DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES OF VISUALIZATIONS IN THE TRAINING OF ENGINEERING SPECIALISTS: NEEDS VERSUS APPROACHES

The quality of engineering education is closely related to the development of spatial skills of students and the ability to create and read the drawings. Visualization improves the efficiency of the information; as for visualization of geometric tasks of graphical subjects, it helps students faster comprehend complex spatial problems and solve the given exercises.The given article describes the study of the methodology of teaching graphical subjects from the point of view of methods of representations of education materials, the degree of inspiration and engagement of students in learning activities. The research was conducted in Latvia, Lithuania, Spain, Germany and Poland within the project "Contemporary Approach to the Development of Spatial Comprehension through Augmented Reality Content" (SPACAR).

CONTEMPORARY NEEDS OF MEDIA LEARNING MATERIALS FOR FUTURE Z-ENGINEERS

Modern students are digital natives: from an early age, they are used the Internet, social networks and mobile systems. Due to the specific brain structure of Generation Z students, the use of traditional teaching tools makes the learning process not effective. Also, an insufficient number of lecture hours in curricula requires from students more independent work. This article presents the experience of creating interactive teaching materials designed to study and master the skills of graphical engineering subjects. Educators of technical universities from five countries took part in the development of the material. These interactive teaching tools are created with the aim of improving the quality of engineering education, the rapid and effective presentation of educational material, which will contribute to the understanding of difficult topics.

TRIGGERING THE STUDENTS' POSITIVE ATTITUDE FOR THE STUDIES OF ENGINEERING GRAPHICS COURSES THROUGH THE AUGMENTED REALITY CONTENT

Contemporary researches show that triggering interest can enhance students’ thinking skills, creativity, joy of learning and improved performance. The digital technologies can be beneficial for students’ learning engagement and motivation. The digital context helps students to keep positivity in education process that allows to activate attention, memory, and makes learning skills better. Augmented Reality is one of technologies that lets you interact with the real world and virtual objects at the same time. Augmented Reality application enables faster comprehension of complex spatial problems and relationships, which makes it useful during the learning process of engineering graphic courses. In this paper the application of AR technologies in RTU engineering courses is described. The results of this approach will be useful for vocational school teachers, college and university teachers in the successful integration of AR technologies in the teaching process

The Visualizations Methods of Geometrical Forms in teaching of Civil Engineering Students

Development of spatial representation (the ability to imagine three-dimensional objects using flat pictures or drawings), skills of the intuitive decision of spatial problems and more meaningful use of CAD software are essential for qualified education of students. Visualization of geometric problems helps students to understand and to solve the given geometric tasks. The paper describes types of visualization of geometrical objects from graphic exercises of compulsory subject “Civil EngineeringGraphics”. This course is specified for Civil engineering undergraduate 2nd year students of Riga Technical university.Performance of a breadboard model, creation of the given model using ArchiCAD and using augmented reality (AR) software are included in the course "Civil Engineering Graphics” assignments. The examples of the tasks of 3D modeling in learning process are presented in this article. AR application allows faster understanding of complicated spatial problems and relationships and was used to entertain the students during the studies. Before mentioned approach was enabled to develop spatial skills of students, facilitate the students to obtain more practical experience in solving graphic exercises and was supposed enhance the quality of graphic education.

Manual Drawing in Modern Engineering Education

«Is the Manual drawing is still used in engineering education nowadays?» - actual question which often meets at students’ forums. The proper estimation of computer technologies is very important when computers are to be implemented in the educational process. Otherwise, if not implemented properly, the quality of students' education may be seriously imperiled. In this paper we, propose how and to which extent the computerization of education process should be carried out and a necessity of the manual drawings’ use for study of compulsory subject “Civil Engineering” for Civil engineering undergraduate 2nd year students of Riga Technical university is considered. Definition of ratio of manual drawings and drawings with CAD software use, as a part of curricula, is a prominent aspect of quality of educational process and motivation of modern students

Problems in Ensuring Continuity of Graphical Skills between Education Levels

Core curriculum in mathematics in general upper secondary education includes an extensive insight in geometry. Authors of the article conclude that the initial level of geometrical and graphical background necessary for engineering graphics studies at the university does not correspond to learning outcomes set in the core curriculum of upper secondary education. Therefore, in order to save contact hours and to exclude repetition of matters to be taught at school, authors are offering a number of measures to improve the organization of teaching process and teaching methodology in engineering graphics

The Analysis of Pedagogical Approches in Descriptive Geometry Teaching

This article reports on a research concerning the use of interactive whiteboard (IWB) technology in the teaching of subject “Descriptive Geometry and Engineering Graphics”. Its primary aim was to throw detailed light on the potential of IWB technology for supporting the Engineering Graphics learning process. This article focuses specifically on the comparison of different pedagogical resource of subject “Descriptive Geometry and Engineering Graphics” teaching. The research was carried out at a Riga Technical University (RTU) in the first study semester of 2007. The three separate students groups were taken for presented research. Results of the research presented in this paper give possibility to make conclusions that the use of IWB with slideware improves quality of teaching in engineering area

The Analysis of Pedagogical Approches in Descriptive Geometry Teaching

This article reports on a research concerning the use of interactive whiteboard (IWB) technology in the teaching of subject “Descriptive Geometry and Engineering Graphics”. Its primary aim was to throw detailed light on the potential of IWB technology for supporting the Engineering Graphics learning process. This article focuses specifically on the comparison of different pedagogical resource of subject “Descriptive Geometry and Engineering Graphics” teaching. The research was carried out at a Riga Technical University (RTU) in the first study semester of 2007. The three separate students groups were taken for presented research. Results of the research presented in this paper give possibility to make conclusions that the use of IWB with slideware improves quality of teaching in engineering area

Transition from ESKD to ISO EN

The article focuses on the issue of ISO and EU standards adapted in Latvia and corresponding to ESKD 3rd group standards in terms of contents. These standards deal with regulations on technical drawings making the basis of the subject of “Engineering Graphics”. The article provides a historic insight on the development of Latvian standardisation institutions, their tasks and organisational structure. Also, the article analyses the situation in the area of publishing study literature developed according to Latvian standards

Application and Efficiency Assessment of E-Learning Software

The network information technologies enable to construct a global educational space. It is very important, that it have to be friendly for all participants of educational process and open for all layers of the world population without dependence from a nationality, social status, language of dialogue, place of residing. In given article the example of е-learning (the Blackboard (BB) system) using for study of compulsory subject “Descriptive Geometry and Engineering Graphics” for extramural department students of the Riga Technical university (RTU) is presented. The general structure of materials placed in environment of BB include: theoretical material, performance of training exercises, and performance of the test. Results of research presented in this paper give possibility to make conclusions on efficiency of use of similar systems in mas-tering of a subject of Descriptive Geometry and Engineering Graphics