effectiveness of learning materials implementation for spatial thinking ability in geographic information systems (GIS) course

Geography education is realized in learning that combines the study of physical and human geography in a spatial context. GIS Learning in universities is directed to be able to equip students in the use of spatial information which must be accompanied by the ability to manage it cognitively. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of Spatial Thinking Ability learning materials development. The model used in this research and development study was the Dick & Carey model. Field trial was carried out by experimental research using a Quasi Experiment model. The trial design was Post-test Only, Non-Equivalent Control Group Design. The trial was carried out on sixth-semester undergraduate students at Muhammadiyah Surakarta who had taken a GIS course with as many as 41 students. The activity took place in March 2018. In this study, some students were given treatment in spatial thinking ability learning. The result shows a U value of 56 and a W value of 209. When converted to a Z value, the value is -3.943. Sig value or P-Value of 0.000 <0.05.

Geospatial Physicalization in Geography Education

A novel method to create a physicalization of Digital Earth resulted a new type of analogue and tactile geographic information system (GIS). The model was tested by students in Australia, who shared insights into how the model supported their learning about the concept of “overlay” while providing an interesting and engaging learning platform. Observations suggest the model promoted collaborative learning, and provided a bridge between paper maps and digital GIS. This study offers insight into preferences of school children for physicalization models in geography education and contributes to an understanding of children's spatial thinking and understanding of the overlay concept.

Spatial Thinking as a Path Towards Computational Thinking

Considering what we know about computational thinking, how much of this cognitive domain hangs on one's ability to think spatially? Is spatial thinking a hidden foundational property for developing strong computational thinking skills? If coding is the new literacy for 21st century thinking, educators must diversify their methodology of instruction. Mathematics must not be the only pathway to computational thinking, computer science, and coding. This book chapter opens up new insight into spatial reasoning, showing it as a new viable method to give students the computational thinking skills necessary to thrive in STEM fields. Finally, this chapter presents concepts found in shape grammars as a methodology used to teach students how to approach art and design computationally. With shape, grammars we find computational thinking at the center of creative activities.

Phonological Processing, Visuospatial Skills, and Pattern Understanding in Chinese Developmental Dyscalculia

A number of previous studies have identified cognitive deficits in developmental dyscalculia (DD). Yet, most of these studies were in alphabetic languages, whereas few of them examined Chinese DD. Here, we conducted a study aiming to determine the cognitive factors associated with DD in Chinese children. Five candidate cognitive factors of DD—phonological retrieval, phonological awareness, visual–spatial attention, spatial thinking, and pattern understanding—were studied in the present study. A total of 904 Chinese children aged between 8 and 11 years participated in this study. From the sample, 97 children were identified with DD through tests of arithmetic ability, and 93 age and IQ–matched typically developing children were selected as controls. Logistic regression analysis revealed that phonological retrieval, pattern understanding, visual–spatial attention, and phonological awareness significantly predicted DD, whereas spatial thinking failed to do so. Results of logistic relative weights analysis showed that all five factors explained statistically significant amounts of variance in arithmetic scores. Phonological retrieval had the most influence on DD, followed by pattern understanding, visual–spatial attention, phonological awareness, and spatial thinking. These findings have important clinical implications for diagnosis and intervention of Chinese DD.

Children’s graphic representation as a language and its role in preschool education under a whole-child approach

The objective of the present study is to analyze the drawings of the space by children as a representation system involving spatial thinking and higher mental functions such as memory and imagination. Our analysis is based on the historical-cultural theory on human development and on studies about the relation between spatial thinking and the graphic representation of space. Drawing is a language, the first written production by children and is characterized by elements associated with the cognition, culture, motor development and affectivity. Three elements were considered in our analysis: a) the creation of graphic equivalents; b) volume translation; c) perspective. We understand that the topological and projective notions must be based on the development of higher mental functions that mobilize the creation activity, such as memory and imagination, since such these functions constitute instruments to access systematized knowledge.

A new structural model for measuring spatial intelligence

Introduction. The task of studying the structure and dynamics of spatial thinking of schoolchildren and students is relevant for general and educational psychology and private teaching methods. The research goal of the article is to theoretically substantiate, develop and test a structural model for measuring the spatial intelligence of students and schoolchildren.Materials and Methods. On the basis of a comparative analysis of the content of the definition of "spatial intelligence" in domestic and foreign educational psychology (I.S. Yakimanskaya, H. Gardner), a structural model and a rapid test for measuring the spatial intelligence of students and schoolchildren have been developed. The Structural Equation Modeling methodology was used to validate the developed express test. The research sample consisted of 688 schoolchildren from Novosibirsk at the age from 10 to 15 years.Results. The model for measuring the spatial intelligence of students and schoolchildren is developed by correlating the components of spatial intelligence: spatial knowledge, spatial abilities, spatial skills, with the corresponding cognitive processes: perception of space, spatial representation (thinking), spatial imagination. Based on the classification of intelligence tests into three separate categories: spatial perception, spatial visualization, mental rotation from intelligence subtests (R. Amthauer, M.C. Linn, A.C. Petersen, M. Sjölinder), a rapid test was constructed. The reliability (validity) of the express test was confirmed using structural equation modeling by the method of confirmatory factor analysis of models consisting of 15 indicators and one factor (spatial intelligence) or three factors (spatial knowledge, spatial abilities and spatial skills).Discussion and Conclusions. The theoretical significance of the developed structural model is that it reveals the mechanisms of the natural development of spatial intelligence, depending on the degree of formation of its substructures. The practical significance of the obtained result lies in the development of methodological foundations for screening diagnostics of the spatial intelligence of schoolchildren and is due to the high importance of spatial thinking for solving educational problems.