Developing Spatial Skills through Mental Rotation Activities

Author:
Atara Shriki Kibbutzim College of Education, Technology and Arts, Tel Aviv, Israel

Search for other papers by Atara Shriki in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
and
Dorit Patkin Levinsky College of Education, Tel Aviv, Israel

Search for other papers by Dorit Patkin in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

Success in STEM fields depends largely on robust spatial skills, in particular on the ability to perform a mental rotation. Given that this ability can be nurtured, this article includes examples of diverse relevant tasks appropriate for grades 6–8 students.

Supplementary Materials

    • Tasks (346 KB)
  • Collapse
  • Expand
Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PK-12
  • Bennett, George, Harold G. Seashore, and Alexander G. Wesman. 1974. The Differential Aptitude Tests: Forms S and T. New York: The Psychological Corporation.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Bonder, George M., and Ronald B. Guay. 1997. “The Purdue Visualization of Rotations Test." The Chemical Educator 2, no. 4 (October): 117.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Dimla, Robin B., and Dynah DAWA Soriano. 2019. “Integration of Spatial Visualization Tasks to Enhance Students’ Levels of Geometric Thinking following the Van Hiele Model: A Basis for the Development of a Definitive Guide in Geometry." Religación Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades 4, no. 17 (July): 38291.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Gagnier, Kristin M., Kinnari Atit, Carol J. Ormand, and Thomas F. Shipley. 2017. “Comprehending 3D Diagrams: Sketching to Support Spatial Reasoning." Topics in Cognitive Science 9, no. 4 (October): 883901.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Hadas, Nurit. 2006. Geometry—Advanced Course for Elementary School Teachers. Rehovot: Weizmann, Institute of Science. [in Hebrew]

  • Hsi, Sherry, Marcia C. Linn, and John E. Bell. 1997. “The Role of Spatial Reasoning in Engineering and the Design of Spatial Instruction." Journal of Engineering Education 86, no. 2 (April): 15158.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Levine, Susan C., Janellen Huttenlocher, Amy Taylor, and Adela Langrock. 1999. “Early Sex Differences in Spatial Skill." Developmental Psychology 35, no. 4 (July): 94049.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Linn, Marcia C., and Ann C. Petersen. 1985. “Emergence and Characterization of Sex Differences in Spatial Ability: A Meta-Analysis." Child Development 56, no. 6 (December): 147998.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Lohman, David F. 1996. “Spatial Ability and G." In Human Abilities: Their Nature and Measurement, edited by Ian Dennis and Patrick Tapsfield, pp. 97116. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Marmor, Gloria S. 1975. “Development of Kinetic Images: When Does the Child First Represent Movement in Mental Images?" Cognitive Psychology 7, no. 4 (October): 54859.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Nilson, Linda B. 2013. Creating Self-Regulated Learners: Strategies to Strengthen Students’ Self-Awareness and Learning Skills. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Patkin, Dorit, Atara Shriki, and Ruthi Barkai. 2019. “Strategies Applied by Elementary School Mathematics Pre-Service Teachers for Coping with Tasks Requiring a Mental Rotation." International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education 17, no. 8 (November): 156384.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Piaget, Jean, and Bärbel Inhelder. 1967. The Child’s Conception of Space. New York: W. W. Norton and Company.

  • Shepard, Roger N., and Jacqueline Metzler. 1971. “Mental Rotation of Three-Dimensional Objects." Science 171, no. 3972 (February): 70103.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Shriki, Atara, Ruthi Barkai, and Dorit Patkin. 2017. “Developing Mental Rotation Ability through Engagement in Assignments That Involve Solids of Revolution." The Mathematics Enthusiast 14, no. 1 (January): 54162.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Sorby, Sheryl. 1999. “Developing 3D Spatial Visualization Skills." Engineering Design Graphics Journal 63, no. 2 (January): 2132.

  • Sorby, Sheryl, and Anne F. Wysocki. 2003. Introduction to 3D Spatial Visualization: An Active Approach. Clifton Park, NJ: Thomson/Delmar Learning.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Stieff, Mike, and David H. Uttal. 2015. “How Much Can Spatial Training Improve STEM Achievement?" Educational Psychology Review 27, no. 4 (April): 60715.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Uttal, David H., Nathaniel G. Meadow, Elizabeth Tipton, Linda L. Hand, Alison R. Alden, Christopher Warren, and Nora S. Newcombe. 2013. “The Malleability of Spatial Skills: A Meta-Analysis of Training Studies." Psychological Bulletin 139, no. 2 (March): 352402.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Van Hiele, Pierre M. 1999. “Developing Geometric Thinking through Activities That Begin with Play." Teaching Children Mathematics 5, no. 6 (February): 31016.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Walker, Caren M., Ellen Winner, Lois Hetland, Seymour Simmons, and Lynn Goldsmith. 2011. “Visual Thinking: Art Students Have an Advantage in Geometric Reasoning." Creative Education 2, no. 1 (March): 2226.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 1998 903 68
Full Text Views 507 48 1
PDF Downloads 790 98 2
EPUB Downloads 0 0 0