An exploratory study of students approaches to generating, maintaining and communicating visual-mental images

The ability to synthesise and manipulate graphical information is a core cognitive aptitude. Visual-mental images are crucial to problem solving and design processes. The ability to manipulate and communicate perceptual and conceptual information graphically often leads to creative discovery and aids mental synthesis. Graphical education in Ireland supports the development of these ‘concept driven competencies’ through the study of plane and descriptive geometry and through engagement with design problems 1.