Ticketed event: $15.00
Sketching is a crucial skill in engineering, yet sketching education has continued to take a smaller role in engineering curriculum since the transition to Computer-Aided Design (CAD). There is a critical need for an educational solution that can both teach sketching effectively and provide the necessary human-like feedback without additional burden to or expertise needed by the engineering instructor. Using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), a sketch-recognition-based tutoring system allows students to sketch just as they would with pencil and paper while also providing iterative, real-time, and personalized feedback on their sketching ability. Sketchtivity is a tutoring system for teaching engineering students the critical skill of freehand sketching.
This workshop is an exhibition of Sketchtivity focusing on understanding and experiencing the tool through three lenses: (1) Educational impacts - classroom implementation and empirical learning outcomes, (2) Software functionality - how the software identifies, processes, and evaluates freehand sketches to provide meaningful feedback, and (3) Software experience - freehand sketching lessons followed by an opportunity to practice on Sketchtivity*. Sketchtivity sets a model for providing feedback on skills that previously have required more hands-on, qualitative instruction. This workshop presents a unique format that allows researchers to see the impacts of this tool through analysis and first-hand experience.
*Attendees are invited to bring their own tablets with pens—these are the ideal tools to experience the software to its fullest. After the workshop, attendees will still be granted access to the software to continue to explore its different features and practice their sketching skills.
Tracy Hammond is a Professor of Computer Science & Engineering and the Director of the Institute for Engineering Education and Innovation at Texas A&M University. She is the project and design lead for Sketchtivity.
Dr. Linsey is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech. She implemented and evaluated the initial version of Sketchtivity at GT.
Vimal Viswanathan is an associate professor of mechanical engineering at San Jose State University. His research interests include engineering design, design of assistive devices, additive manufacturing, and engineering education.
Blake Williford is a postdoctoral computer scientist at Texas A&M. He leads design and development on Sketchtivity and is passionate about educational technology.
Dr. Krishnamurphy is an Assistant Professor at TAMU.