The biggest predictor of success in STEM is spatial reasoning.
Spatial thinking is fundamental to problem solving in a variety of contexts: in life spaces, physical spaces, and intellectual spaces.
Findings from the Project Talent research project revealed that students with high spatial reasoning were more likely to choose STEM careers than students with lower scores, even after accounting for the fact that they often had higher verbal and mathematical scores.
This study measured spatial reasoning skills of approximately 400,000 people for over 50 years from their high school years and into their adult life.
This study measured spatial reasoning skills of approximately 400,000 people for over 50 years from their high school years and into their adult life.
Wai, J., Lubinski, D. and Benbow, C.P., 2009. Spatial ability for STEM domains: Aligning over 50 years of cumulative psychological knowledge solidifies its importance. Journal of Educational Psychology, 101(4), p.817.
STEM -OECD - spatial reasoning
http://www.oecd.org/officialdocu…/publicdisplaydocumentpdf/…
http://www.oecd.org/officialdocu…/publicdisplaydocumentpdf/…
Spatial skills are not innate and can be improved with training.
Spatial reasoning skills:
Visualisation and imageryLocation, arrangement, orientation, and structure
Visual and graphical arrays
Maps and timelines
Sequencing
Translating (encoding) features and properties
• distinguishing figures from ground;
• pattern recognition - both outline shapes and internal configurations;
• evaluating size;
• discerning texture;
• colour evaluation
• determining other features / properties.
•
Representation of static features and properties
• determining orientation
• determining location,
• assessing distance,
• comparing size, colour, shape, texture, location, direction and other features/ properties
• distinguishing figures from ground;
• pattern recognition - both outline shapes and internal configurations;
• evaluating size;
• discerning texture;
• colour evaluation
• determining other features / properties.
•
Representation of static features and properties
• determining orientation
• determining location,
• assessing distance,
• comparing size, colour, shape, texture, location, direction and other features/ properties
Representation of dynamic features and properties
• direction of movement,
• behaviour of motion,
• speed or acceleration, and
• intersection or collision.
• direction of movement,
• behaviour of motion,
• speed or acceleration, and
• intersection or collision.
Spatial transformations
• changing perspective such as changing your frame of reference,
• changing orientation such as mental rotation,
• transforming shapes,
• changing size,
• moving wholes,
• reconfiguring parts.
• zooming in or out,
• enacting, and
• panning.
• changing perspective such as changing your frame of reference,
• changing orientation such as mental rotation,
• transforming shapes,
• changing size,
• moving wholes,
• reconfiguring parts.
• zooming in or out,
• enacting, and
• panning.
Just a very few ideas
Learning spatial thinking in Early Years
Learning spatial thinking in Early Years
Mathematics : explore butterfly symmetry using felt shapes and mirror images
Science : playing with egg parachutes
Technology : draw a map of hide and seek in the playground and make a model of it
Science : playing with egg parachutes
Technology : draw a map of hide and seek in the playground and make a model of it
Learning spatial thinking in Primary Years
Maths : make tangram letters using tangram shapes
Science : noticing and recording observations of insects – size and colour of wings, how the wings are folded
Technology : 3D printing software – mental rotation
Science : noticing and recording observations of insects – size and colour of wings, how the wings are folded
Technology : 3D printing software – mental rotation
Learning spatial thinking in Secondary Years
Maths : Tessellations: these help students to develop slides, flips, and rotations. Use an Isometric Drawing Tool
Science : rotate augmented molecules or use molecular kits to construct 3D models of molecules,
Technology : designing an interface for reading data in real time
Science : rotate augmented molecules or use molecular kits to construct 3D models of molecules,
Technology : designing an interface for reading data in real time
