Learning to think spatially.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

National Academies Press, Corporate Author.

Contributor:

National Academies Press (U.S.)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Space perception--Study and teaching.

Space perception.

Geographic information systems.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (333 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academies Press, c2006.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Spatial thinking--a constructive combination of concepts of space, tools of representation, and processes of reasoning--uses space to structure problems, find answers, and express solutions. It is powerful and pervasive in science, the workplace, and everyday life. By visualizing relationships within spatial structures, we can perceive, remember, and analyze the static and dynamic properties of objects and the relationships between objects. Despite its crucial role underpinning the National Standards for Science and Mathematics, spatial thinking is currently not systematically incorporated into the K-12 curriculum. Learning to Think Spatially: GIS as a Support System in the K-12 Curriculum examines how spatial thinking might be incorporated into existing standards-based instruction across the school curriculum. Spatial thinking must be recognized as a fundamental part of K-12 education and as an integrator and a facilitator for problem solving across the curriculum. With advances in computing technologies and the increasing availability of geospatial data, spatial thinking will play a significant role in the information-based economy of the 21st-century. Using appropriately designed support systems tailored to the K-12 context, spatial thinking can be taught formally to all students. A geographic information system (GIS) offers one example of a high-technology support system that can enable students and teachers to practice and apply spatial thinking in many areas of the curriculum.

Contents:

Introduction

The nature of spatial thinking

Spatial thinking in everyday life, at work, and in science

Teaching and learning about spatial thinking

Responding to the need for spatial thinkers

Tools for thought: the concept of a support system

High-tech support systems for spatial thinking

An assessment of GIS as a system for supporting spatial thinking in the K-12 context

GIS as a support system for spatial thinking

Conclusions and recommendations

The spatial thinker.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 243-255) and index.

ISBN:

9786610309993

9780309185639

0309185637

9781280309991

1280309997

9780309531917

0309531918

OCLC:

923276088