This research investigated Computer Aided Design (CAD)
education in the interior design. program focusing on
educators' opinions about creativity aspects including
computer application, teaching materials and teaching
methods as well as other trends in CAD education. A
questionnaire was sent to one hundred eighty-two members of
the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC).
A frequency distribution was used on 69 usable
returned surveys to describe the sample characteristics and
to determine the teaching materials and support. Means and
T-tests were employed to examine if a significant
difference of opinions toward CAD integration existed
between designers based on creativity, teaching materials,
and teaching approaches.
Findings indicate that educators are thinking
positively regarding the creativity aspects of teaching
CAD. There was no significant difference between IBM
educators and Apple Macintosh educators in terms of opinions concerning creativity and teaching approaches and
also no significant difference in the educators who are
using more flexible teaching approaches and the educators
who are using more rigid teaching approaches in terms of
creativity. Educators thought CAD courses are most helpful
for students' future careers. Educators remarked that
their college, department, and other faculties are
generally very supportive. Overall the educators had fewer
than 4 years of experience in teaching CAD. One or two CAD
educators were teaching in each interior design program.
IBM personal computer, AutoCAD software, instructor
prepared tutorials were the most used teaching materials.
next to an author's name indicates that all files or directories associated with their ETD are accessible from the Virginia Tech campus network only.
![[VT]](http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/images/ETD-db/restricted.gif)
