Teaching for CAD Expertise

Ivan Chester

TEACHING FOR CAD EXPERTISE

Ivan ChesterCentre for Learning Research

Mt Gravatt CampusGriffith University

Brisbane, Queensland 4111, Australia

Teaching for CAD Expertise

Ivan Chester

The current instruction

• Commands based• Didactic• Largely ignores strategic knowledge but

acknowledges that expertise is dependent on strategic knowledge

• Based largely on research in 2D

Teaching for CAD Expertise

Ivan Chester

The problem

• Current software 3D and parametric• Lack of understanding of expertise in 3D CAD• Limited conceptualisation of strategic knowledge• How to teach for expertise• Assumptions about the relationship between

CAD and spatial ability

Teaching for CAD Expertise

Ivan Chester

Research with CAD Experts

• Difficulty in identifying true experts• Knowledge elicitation techniques

• Outcome - Reconceptualisation of 3D CAD expertise

1. Declarative command knowledge

2. Specific procedural command knowledge

3. Strategic (metacognitive) knowledge

Teaching for CAD Expertise

Ivan Chester

Strategic CAD Knowledge

• Parsing• Predicting• Analysing• Choosing algorithms• Checking/monitoring• Reviewing

Teaching for CAD Expertise

Ivan Chester

Elements of the intervention• Concurrent command & strategy training

• Improving spatial ability• Visualisation• Sketching• Manipulation (on-screen)

• Metacognition• Expert modelling• Scaffolding• Group problem solving• Self explanation

Teaching for CAD Expertise

Ivan Chester

Empirical Study• Methodology

• Subjects• Data collection

• Prior experience (questionnaire)• Conclusion of intervention (Week 7 - video

capture)• Post treatment (Week 14 – exam and self

explanation)

Teaching for CAD Expertise

Ivan Chester

Results• Immediate post-intervention

• No difference planning time, working time or successful models

• Difference in expert strategy use (p=0.000)• Relationship with prior experience

• Prior computer experience – lower working time• Prior 2D CAD instruction – lower expert strategies• Lower prior experience – higher expert strategy use

• Post-treatment• No difference – embedding and post instruction of

strategic knowledge both effective

Teaching for CAD Expertise

Ivan Chester

Expertise examples

Teaching for CAD Expertise

Ivan Chester

Scaffolding