The effects of different three-dimensional animated visual displays in computer-based multimedia on learners with different spatial abilities

This article reports on the study that has been conducted to elucidate the effect of three-dimensional visual displays with different realistic levels in the computer-based multimedia learning of the topic entitled orthographic drawing. Two different modes of courseware, namely the three-dimensional animated visual with solid colour (3DS) at high realistic level and the three-dimensional animated visual with wireframe (3DF) at moderate realistic level were systematically designed and developed. The study was based on the quasi-experimental 2×2 factorial design with the 3DS and 3DF display modes as independent variables, the mean scores of achievement for the orthographic drawing as the dependent variables and the students´ spatial abilities as a moderating variable. The ANCOVA procedure revealed that students exposed to the 3DF display mode obtained significantly higher mean achievement scores compared to the students exposed to the 3DS display mode. A significant finding of this study showed that the positive effect of three-dimensional animated visuals towards learning depends on relevant visual cues contained in the visual display.