Comparative effects of 2D and 3D methods of graphics in autocad on interest of national diploma students in engineering graphics in south-west Nigeria

This study determined comparative effects of 2D and 3D methods of graphics in AutoCAD on National Diploma students’ interest in engineering graphics. The study was a pretest, posttest, non-equivalent control group quasi-experiment which involved groups of students in their intact classes assigned to treatment groups. Two research questions and three hypotheses, tested at 0.05 level of significance, guided the study. The sample size was 227 ND I mechanical engineering students in the polytechnics in the south-west geo-political zone of Nigeria. The instrument used for data collection was Engineering Graphics Interest Inventory. Mean, standard deviation and ANCOVA were used to analyze the data collected. The study found AutoCAD 3D method more effective in improving students’ interest in engineering graphics than AutoCAD 2D method but the effect was not found statistically significant. There was no significant influence of gender on students’ interest in engineering graphics. The study found no significant interaction effect of treatment and gender on interest of National Diploma students in engineering graphics. Hence, irrespective of nature of gender, learners will record improved interest in engineering graphics when AutoCAD 3D method is employed for teaching.Keywords: AutoCAD techniques, National Diploma Students, Engineering Graphics, Computer-Aided Design (CAD