Student Reaction to an Interactive Compact Disk on Engineering Graphics

In the Fall semester of 1996, the freshman engineering graphics class, with an enrollment of 170, was introduced to the Beta version of an interactive multimedia computer compact disk (CD) entitled "Graphics Interactive."  It was assigned, in addition to a conventional textbook, as required review material for the class.  The CD assisted in visualizing the principles of orthogonal projection and sectioning in engineering drawing, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, the geometric relationships involved in descriptive geometry, and other engineering graphics topics.  The CD presented classical engineering graphics topics using a combination of animation, audio description, and interactive exercises.  At the end of this first semester, a student survey was taken to assess student reaction to the CD.  Results of the survey indicate that the new presentation media was extremely well received and helped with the understanding of the course material.