Thinking Spatially is the ability to look around, through, behind and between the images we see every day and process those images in a way that gives us a deeper understanding of what we are seeing. Research has confirmed that development of this ability can significantly improve students’ performance in math and science. It takes practice to develop these skills. Strengthening this ability provides students with new ways to think critically and creatively during all their learning experiences.

      Prior to starting the project students and their teachers participate in an evaluation of their spatial thinking skills. Another class participates in the same evaluation to serve as a control group. Evaluation at the end of the year using the same evaluation tool helps determine the validity of the project as a teaching tool. Changes in the level of understanding related to thinking spatially are analyzed against changes in students standardized test results to see the correlation.

      Many adults find it difficult to perform tasks that require thinking spatially. Following the assembly instructions for a piece of furniture requires ability to visualize a Three Dimensional object from Two Dimensional drawings and written instructions. As technical skills become a more integral part of work in our changing economy, it becomes more important for teaching and learning in our schools to support student’s ability to learn to think spatially.

      So what does this mean for folks trying to improve student performance and close the achievement gap? Why is it that the teaching and learning in most of our school classrooms is not leading to success? A missing link to the ability to develop critical and creative thinkers is student experiences that build spatial thinking skills and broaden students’ experiences. Success requires a new approach. See the complete National Academy of Sciences report Learning to Think Spatially

   Additional references:

  • Parolini, L., Sorby, S., & Hungwe, K. (2005)
    “Developing 3-D Spatial Skills for K-12 Students”
  • Newcombe, N. S. (2005)
    • “The Case for Spatial Literacy”
    Chronicle of Higher Education
  • National Academy of Sciences Committee on the Support for Thinking Spatially (2005)
    • Learning to Think Spatially: GIS as a Support System in the K-12 Curriculu
    National Academies Press
  • Liben, L. S. (2005)
    • “Education for Spatial Thinking”
    Handbook of Child Psychology, Chapter 6