Interactive Environment for Teaching Descriptive Geometry

Abstract

A computer assisted environment in Descriptive Geometry is specified and developed. The program includes an interactive tool which permits the user the direct manipulation of the objects present in Descriptive Geometry. The environment developed has an object oriented architecture (OO), entirely developed in C++ and in a graphic library OpenGL. This way, the support to direct manipulation and to a non ambiguous representation is obtained. The environment was conceived as a set of sections that perform each of the requested functionalities. Each module can easily be put in a parametric form, allowing its application in teaching other similar areas of subject. In this work, the use of the computer shows how it becomes possible that all the cycle of teaching/learning Descriptive Geometry can be more effective; the student can obtain knowledge as fast as he wants and can become aware of some situations that in a ordinary classroom e would not be able to see. This way, we tried to contribute to something as “Knowledge is no inertly received, but actively built!”