Physical modelling of interior space as a predictor of student engagement
What is it about?
Students studying interior design need to formalize their ideas through a visual simulation technique. Therefore, students must be able to do it by drawing, using a physical or computerized model. The latter technique mostly becomes a handicap for first-year students. The authors have created a physical modeling system for simulating interior space for this project. To make sure that the modeling tool is functional to support student engagement the authors have tested it in comparison with the computer modeling. The result shows that in the students using physical modeling some dimensions of engagement were significantly different compared to that in response to the use of manual drawing. However, students who can use computerized modeling responded significantly differently to the use of physical modeling only in one of its student engagements.
Why is it important?
This project not only has introduced a new system of interior space modeling but also has tested its effect on student engagement by comparing its function to first-year students and later-year students.