1. Importance of Developing Spatial Skills for Success in CS
Laura Reasoner Jones

2. Well-developed spatial skills lead to success in
Engineering and Technology
Computer Science
Chemistry
Computer-Aided Design
Mathematics
Geospatial technologies
Neurosurgery
And much more
Because they represent and manipulate information in problem-solving.

3. Gender Differences in Spatial Skills
~100 years of research finds significant gender differences favoring males in 3-D spatial skills
Differences are particularly robust in mental rotation and spatial perception (Linn and Peterson, 1985)
Experiences as youth seem to explain some of the differences (Baenninger and Newcombe, 1995, Voyer, Nolan, and Voyer, 2000, and Terlecki and Newcombe, 2005)
Training seem to improve female performance to some degree (Baartmans and Sorby, 1996)

4. Components of Spatial Thinking
Mental Rotation—rotate two and three-dimensional figures
Spatial Perception—determine relationships with respect to the orientation of her/his body
Spatial Visualization—multi-step manipulations of objects and parts both individually and holistically
(AWE)

5. How can you improve measurable spatial skills?
Teach students to:
Analyze the components of the task
Rotate the item into congruence
Compare objects
Respond

6. Important Experiences for the Development of Spatial Skills
Play with construction toys/Legos Shop, drafting, and mechanics classes 3-D computer games Certain sports Mathematics skills Sketching Repeated practice with general spatial skills

7. Importance for Computer Science
Spatial ability allows you to:
Navigate in virtual space
Develop mental models and maps
Move between files and functions more easily
Navigate through text/code more easily
Figure out where to go next
3-D Printing…….

8. How can you improve functional spatial skills?
Practice
Experience
Build confidence

9. Tests for Spatial Abilities:
Mental Cutting Test

10. Mental Rotation Test (Vandenberg and Kuse, 1978)

11. Purdue Spatial Visualization Test: Rotations

12. Project Talent Study (APA, 2009)

13. What you can do
Make thinking visible—use the Think-Aloud technique Teach mental rotation, 2-D and 3-D drawing (Sorby)

14. (Everyday Examples in Engineering)
Use E3 Materials
(Everyday Examples in Engineering)
Sorby’s Engineering Graphics

15. Make 2D to 3D and 3D to 2D a part of the classroom life
Logic groups
Modeling as part of the programming process

16. Promote and use free CAD software Encourage exploration
Allow experimentation & failure

17. Contact information:
Laura Reasoner Jones