New study on spatial ability ‘You need it all day long'
From loading the dishwasher to packing the car: good spatial ability is always useful. How do children develop this skill in primary school? Researchers from Leiden University and TU Delft are investigating this. ‘We want to create a meaningful toolbox for teachers.’
You use spatial ability all day long
When people think of spatial ability, they often picture a test question where you have to visualise which faces to fold to form a cube. In reality, however, you use spatial ability all day in a wide range of situations, says researcher Dietsje Jolles.
Jolles is affiliated with the Institute of Education and Child Studies at Leiden University and studies how people acquire knowledge and new skills. ‘Spatial ability includes anything where you form a mental image of space,’ she explains. ‘That could be loading the dishwasher, finding your way, or solving a maths problem. In other words, you use it constantly.’
Onderzoek naar ruimtelijk inzicht in de klas
Together with Leiden colleague Marian Hickendorff (also at the Institute of Education and Child Studies) and Anna Hotze, Remke Klapwijk and Jeroen Spandaw from TU Delft, Jolles is conducting research into the development of spatial ability in primary school children under the project name Make Space!.
The ultimate goal is to create a toolbox full of activities related to spatial thinking that teachers can use in the classroom.
What kind of activities are we talking about? ‘Think, for example, of designing a new animal enclosure for a zoo or building a bridge. Tasks like these really require children to draw on their spatial ability,’ explains Anna Hotze.
Hotze is affiliated with the Science and Engineering Education group at the Faculty of Applied Sciences at TU Delft. She specialises in science and technology education and inquiry-based and design-based learning, which includes developing activities focused on spatial ability.
The link between spatial ability and mathematics
With the toolbox, the researchers hope to secure a permanent place for spatial ability in the classroom. At present, this is not yet guaranteed in every teaching method — and that matters.
Not only because we rely on spatial ability throughout the day, but also because it is closely linked to maths skills.
Hotze explains: ‘Research shows that well-developed spatial ability contributes to pupils’ mathematical abilities.’ Jolles adds: ‘Studies indicate that when solving abstract problems, we often try to create a mental spatial representation because it makes them easier to solve. Even for a calculation that doesn’t seem spatial at first, such as 83 minus 67, we do this.’
A well-developed sense of spatial ability is also one of the strongest predictors of success in education and careers in the bèta-field, the researchers note. There is currently a strong demand in society for people who choose careers in these areas, such as plumbers and electricians.
Working together with teachers
To help teachers and schools better support their pupils, the research team works closely with them. All activities are developed in co-creation with teachers, ensuring they fit well with everyday classroom practice. Ultimately, there should be suitable activities for every child.
‘There is already a lot of interest from schools in participating,’ says Hotze. ‘Not only because maths is such an important subject, but also because the importance of spatial ability is increasingly recognised.’
Jolles adds: ‘What I sometimes hear now is that teachers feel a bit nervous when they encounter an activity related to spatial ability in a textbook. They’re not quite sure what to do with it, so it’s easy to skip it. Spatial ability is also something people often say they’re “just not good at”, whereas studies show you can definitely train it.’
Support from start to finish
That is exactly where the toolbox could make a difference. It can give both teachers and pupils the confidence to engage more deeply with spatial ability.
However, the work of the Make Space! research team is not yet finished. ‘We also want to measure whether the activities improve pupils’ maths skills and whether their spatial ability actually develops through using the toolbox', Hotze concludes.
Meet the Make Space!-team
In addition to Anna Hotze, Dietsje Jolles, Marian Hickendorff, Remke Klapwijk and Jeroen Spandaw, the Make Space! team also includes Leonie Sonneveld (TU Delft), PhD candidate Paulina De Graaf-Nunez (TU Delft) and PhDcandidate Tristan de Jonge (Leiden University). This project is funded by nationaal Kennisinstituut Onderwijs.