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Work in Progress: Exploring Reliability of the Tactile Mental Cutting Test in Assessing Spatial Abilities Among Native American Children

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Conference

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Publication Date

June 22, 2025

Start Date

June 22, 2025

End Date

August 15, 2025

Conference Session

ERM WIP V: Assessing & Developing Competencies in Engineering Education

Tagged Division

Educational Research and Methods Division (ERM)

Tagged Topic

Diversity

Page Count

8

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/57493

Paper Authors

biography

Sujata Basnet Utah State University

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Sujata Basnet is a PhD student in Department of Engineering education at Utah State University. She received her master degree in Water Engineering from Asian Institute of Technology(AIT),Thailand. Her research interest lie in exploring spatial ability development and assessment, particularly through tools like the Tactile Mental Cutting Test (TMCT), and understanding its intersections with gender, socio-economic status, and underrepresented groups such as Native American children in STEM education.

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biography

Wade H Goodridge Utah State University Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0002-5811-7629

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Wade Goodridge is a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering Education at Utah State University. His research lies in spatial thinking and ability, curriculum development, and professional development in K-16 engineering teaching.

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biography

Daniel Kane Utah State University Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0002-0220-9962

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Daniel Kane is a third-year Ph.D. student in the department of engineering education at Utah State University. His research interests include spatial ability, accessibility for students with disabilities, artificial intelligence in education, and enhancing electric vehicle charging system infrastructure. Daniel has contributed significantly to the development of the Tactile Mental Cutting Test (TMCT) which is a significant advancement in assessing spatial ability for blind and low-vision populations. His research has helped inform teaching methods and develop strategies for improving STEM education accessibility. Currently, he is studying how AI tools are utilized by students across USU’s colleges to optimize their educational value. Daniel has also served as president of the ASEE student chapter at USU where he initiated outreach activities at local K-12 schools and promoted student engagement in research.

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Abstract

Spatial ability is one of the vital cognitive skills that is linked to success in education and different fields, especially in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) field. The term refers to the mental capability of visualizing and manipulating objects around you in space, which is vital in solving engineering problems and the resulting learning outcomes. Despite their importance, spatial assessment tools application to a variety of underrepresented populations, such as Native American students, remains limited. Several different instruments such as Mental Cutting Test (MCT), Mental Rotation Test (MRT), Purdue Spatial Visualization Test: Rotations (PSVT: R), Differential Aptitude Test are developed to measure spatial ability. Each instrument has been used for quite some time and research has been published establishing the instrument’s validity and reliability. A newer tactile spatial ability instrument, the TMCT, has recently been developed and applied as an accessible instrument for assessing spatial ability in blind and low vision populations. This instrument’s incorporation of a tactile component sets it apart from others. The TMCT was modified from the MCT(CEEB,1939). Research has shown it to be a valid and reliable instrument. Recent work has been conducted to expand the use of this instrument into other demographics. This study investigates initial reliability research for the application of the Tactile Mental Cutting Test (TMCT) for Native American elementary age students. Reliability estimates are reported for the two subtests of the TMCT. Preliminary findings indicate that TMCT exhibits good reliability with the Native American students sampled and that more sampling is needed. The TMCT's demonstrated reliability emphasizes its importance in spatial evaluations. Future study should investigate the TMCT's broader applicability and impact on educational achievements in Indigenous populations, enhancing the discussion of equitable assessment techniques in STEM education.

Basnet, S., & Goodridge, W. H., & Kane, D. (2025, June), Work in Progress: Exploring Reliability of the Tactile Mental Cutting Test in Assessing Spatial Abilities Among Native American Children Paper presented at 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Montreal, Quebec, Canada . https://peer.asee.org/57493

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