The purpose of  this project is to develop computer-based instructional modules for Statics and Mechanics of Materials, two core engineering courses. The materials will focus on topics involving 3D geometry and will include interaction and collaborative systems. The project includes a detailed iterative assessment, to be carried out by the LITE lab. In the first semester of the project (fall 2005) we carried out a qualitative analysis of student processing of 3D models in an effort to inform system development. Students were required to work in dyads in solving specific problems while using an assortment of physical and virtual models for assistance. One of the most fundamental results was the finding that student success was dependent on students’ ability to decompose 3D problems into component parts based on each of the three dimensions. An abstract, based on this result was accepted for the American Association for Engineering Education Meeting, which allowed us to submit a draft paper for the second round.

The project is funded by the National Science Foundation's Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement program, and build's on a previous project sponsored by the U.S. department of education. One of the results of the previous project is the MecMovies web site.