Exploring Experiential Learning Techniques to Foster Visualization and Imagination Skills among Mechanical Engineering Students during the Teaching of Jigs and Fixture Concepts

Jigs and fixtures are essential tools for modern manufacturing and machining processes. They contribute to precision, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and safety in various industries, ultimately impacting the quality and competitiveness of products in the market. This course improves the visualization, imagination and drawing skill of the students which are helpful to them to draw their ideas clearly and rapidly, to read the drawing drawn by others and to create successful design. Manufacturing process course includes Jigs and fixture topic in this topic it is expected to imagine, visualize and develop the engineering drawing as per given requirements which includes orthographic projections in which imagining 3D objects are required to convert in 2D drawing. The students of second year mechanical engineering find this task difficult due to no prior basic knowledge, poor imagination and visualization skill. These skills are improved by experiential learning. Hence the attainment of the course learning outcome related to these topics is recorded low. To overcome this problem, a experiential learning approach implemented along with classroom teaching in order to enhance the, visualization, imagination and technical drawing skill of second year engineering students. In this article, the author has presented the efforts taken to improve the visualization, imagination and drawing skill through active engagement of students for learning in the classroom and outside of classroom. Due to systematic implementation of experiential learning, student’s engagement towards learning, attainment of the course outcomes (COs) and overall exam result of the course have been improved.