Testing the Level of Creativity and Spatial Imagination in the SketchUp Program Using a Modified Urban Test of Creative Thinking

Abstract

The authors focus on innovating the research tool Urban’s Test of Creativity to enhance the evaluation and efficiency of the educational process. This paper presents the possibility of measuring creativity and spatial imagination in the SketchUp virtual environment. Teachers and HR professionals in modern companies require an overview of the key competencies of students and graduates, essential for the transformation towards Industry 5.0. The authors utilize the proven concept of Urban’s Test, modify it into a digital format, and integrate new elements that assess spatial visualization and functional creativity. Teachers and HR professionals gain an efficient tool that is easy to evaluate, time-efficient, and requires minimal infrastructure. The modified research tool is suitable for conducting action research and allows for comparing respondents’ results using quantitative methods. This pilot study aimed to validate the modified test and its properties. A total of one hundred respondents, divided into five groups based on age and education (approximately 10 to 25 years old), were tested. The results confirmed that the concept of Urban’s Test of Creativity can be successfully adapted for commonly available 3D modeling environments. Moreover, it was confirmed that within the target group, the level of spatial visualization improves gradually with age.