Spatial thinking and
STEM education
Spatial thinking refers to a series of cognitive skills that allow us to mentally visualize and manipulate 3-D object(s) and relationships. Spatial thinking skills have been linked to success in many STEM fields. However, spatial skills are also a malleable skill which can improve with training (Uttal et al., 2013). Therefore, by incorporating spatial thinking research into education, we can 1) Help students improve their spatial thinking skills, which could lead to increased success in STEM; and 2) Identify the strategies that could help students overcome their difficulties with spatially complex STEM concepts.
Success in STEM is not dependent on one’s spatial thinking ability, but improving one’s spatial thinking skills can improve STEM success.
Improving spatial thinking skills can lead to improved STEM performance.
Multiple studies have shown that some form of spatial skills training can improve STEM performance and knowledge. Spatial skills training can be introduced at any level of education and in many different ways. From specific spatial training exercises and sessions, to incorporating over-arching strategies to one’s teaching, creating specific spatial-focused projects or activities, or completely spatializing a curriculum and utilizing spatial thinking research at multiple levels.
Figure from Uttal et al., 2013.
Created materials: CogSketch worksheets
CogSketch is a sketching software with a built-in virtual tutor (developed at Northwestern). I created a series of introductory geoscience worksheets that utilize CogSketch. The aim of these worksheets are to teach commonly difficult geoscience concepts using techniques from spatial thinking research to help students better understand the spatial aspects of the concepts and, in turn, the concept as a whole.
More information about the worksheets and a related pilot study are provided in Garnier et al., 2017.
Worksheets can be downloaded from the SERC website.
Want to add spatial thinking research into your curriculum? Here are some of my favorite resources:
Science and Education Resource Center (SERC) website. Large collection of geoscience materials that incorporate many research-based strategies, not just spatial thinking.
How I help spatialize STEM curriculums
If you are interested in implementing spatial thinking research into your K-12 or higher education curriculum, I can help in the following ways:
Administer spatial thinking assessments, compare data to math/science standards, and provide recommendations based on your results.
Spatialize your STEM curriculum. This can vary from recommending specific strategies, creating activities or projects, running a teacher workshop, or fully spatializing the curriculum.
Conduct a full research project to evaluate your institution, implement strategies and changes, and assess the effects of the changes.
If you are interested in learning more on how I can help your students and institution, please contact me via the Contact button