educating spatial intelligence
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Educating Spatial IntelligenceEducating Spatial Intelligence
Nora S. NewcombeNora S. Newcombe
Temple UniversityTemple University
Talk at National Geographic SocietyTalk at National Geographic Society
November 2008November 2008
Standing on the Shoulders of Standing on the Shoulders of Giants, Preaching to the ConvertedGiants, Preaching to the Converted
Penn State spatial Penn State spatial discussion groupdiscussion group
UC-Santa Barbara UC-Santa Barbara NCGIA and Varenius NCGIA and Varenius ProjectsProjects
Learning to Think Learning to Think SpatiallySpatially
Nevertheless, Separated Communities Lead to Differences
Four ArgumentsFour Arguments
Spatial intelligence and learning are importantSpatial intelligence and learning are importantSpatial intelligence and learning can be Spatial intelligence and learning can be improvedimproved There are sex-linked and SES-linked differences in There are sex-linked and SES-linked differences in
spatial intelligence--addressing these differences is spatial intelligence--addressing these differences is important for social equityimportant for social equity
Spatial intelligence and learning are critically Spatial intelligence and learning are critically under-studiedunder-studiedSpecific educational techniques to foster spatial Specific educational techniques to foster spatial intelligence are within our graspintelligence are within our grasp
Four ArgumentsFour Arguments
Spatial intelligence and learning are importantSpatial intelligence and learning are importantSpatial intelligence and learning can be Spatial intelligence and learning can be improvedimproved There are sex-linked and SES-linked differences in There are sex-linked and SES-linked differences in
spatial intelligence--addressing these differences is spatial intelligence--addressing these differences is important for social equityimportant for social equity
Spatial intelligence and learning are critically Spatial intelligence and learning are critically under-studiedunder-studiedSpecific educational techniques to foster spatial Specific educational techniques to foster spatial intelligence are within our graspintelligence are within our grasp
Spatial Intelligence and Spatial Intelligence and Learning Are ImportantLearning Are Important
In an evolutionary context, spatial In an evolutionary context, spatial adaptation is vitaladaptation is vital
In modern life, spatial thinking is used both In modern life, spatial thinking is used both in everyday tasks and in reasoning and in everyday tasks and in reasoning and communicationcommunication
In scientific thought and communication, In scientific thought and communication, spatial skills are particularly centralspatial skills are particularly central
Basic AdaptationBasic Adaptation
Way FindingWay Finding
Tool MakingTool Making
Everyday LifeEveryday Life
Reasoning and CommunicationReasoning and Communication
Graphs and diagramsGraphs and diagrams
InferenceInference
AnalogyAnalogy
MetaphorMetaphor
Performance in STEM DisciplinesPerformance in STEM Disciplines
PhysicsPhysics
ChemistryChemistry
BiologyBiology
EngineeringEngineering
MathematicsMathematics
GeoscienceGeoscience
Predicting B.A. Degree AreasPredicting B.A. Degree AreasFromFrom Shea, Lubinski & Benbow (2001)Shea, Lubinski & Benbow (2001)
What We Still NeedWhat We Still Need
Do Do improvementsimprovements in spatial skill translate in spatial skill translate into greater STEM interest and ability?into greater STEM interest and ability? How important are any such effects?How important are any such effects?
How do such effects compare with other How do such effects compare with other influences, e.g., work-family conflicts?influences, e.g., work-family conflicts?
Do such effects reduce sex- and SES-based Do such effects reduce sex- and SES-based differences in STEM participation?differences in STEM participation?
Does Does earlyearly spatial skill relate to spatial skill relate to earlyearly STEM learning?STEM learning?
Four ArgumentsFour Arguments
Spatial intelligence and learning Spatial intelligence and learning are importantare importantSpatial intelligence and learning Spatial intelligence and learning can be improvedcan be improved There are sex-linked and SES-linked There are sex-linked and SES-linked
differences in spatial intelligence--differences in spatial intelligence--addressing these differences is addressing these differences is important for social equityimportant for social equity
Spatial intelligence and learning Spatial intelligence and learning are critically under-studiedare critically under-studiedSpecific educational techniques Specific educational techniques to foster spatial intelligence are to foster spatial intelligence are within our graspwithin our grasp
Especially Important For GirlsEspecially Important For Girls
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BoysGirls
Spatial Transformation Score
Frequency
Levine, Huttenlocher, Taylor & Langrock (1999)
Social Class Effects and the Male Social Class Effects and the Male Advantage Advantage
(Levine, Vasilyeva, Lourenco, Newcombe & (Levine, Vasilyeva, Lourenco, Newcombe & Huttenlocher, Huttenlocher, Psychological SciencePsychological Science, 2005), 2005)
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Low Middle High
SES
Perc
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Boys Girls
Chance
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Low Middle High
SES
Perc
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tag
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Boys Girls
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Aerial Maps Mental Rotation
Not Just Because of Difficulty LevelNot Just Because of Difficulty Level (Levine, Vasilyeva, Lourenco, Newcombe & (Levine, Vasilyeva, Lourenco, Newcombe & Huttenlocher, Huttenlocher, Psychological SciencePsychological Science, 2005), 2005)
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High Middle Low
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Fall, 2nd grade Spring, 3rd grade
SES
Some Prior Reasons To Believe in Some Prior Reasons To Believe in MalleabilityMalleability
Effects of practice and trainingEffects of practice and training Baenninger & Newcombe (1989)Baenninger & Newcombe (1989)
Effects of simple instructionsEffects of simple instructions Ward, Newcombe & Overton (1986)Ward, Newcombe & Overton (1986)
School effectsSchool effects Huttenlocher, Levine & Vevea (1998)Huttenlocher, Levine & Vevea (1998)
New Data on MalleabilityNew Data on MalleabilityNew meta-analysis supports large training New meta-analysis supports large training effects, as well as durability and transfereffects, as well as durability and transfer Liu, Uttal, Marulis, Lewis, Warren, & Newcombe, Liu, Uttal, Marulis, Lewis, Warren, & Newcombe,
under reviewunder review David Uttal David Uttal will present this later onwill present this later on
Two specific recent studies on improvement that Two specific recent studies on improvement that is is durabledurable and and transferabletransferable Terlecki, Newcombe & Little (Terlecki, Newcombe & Little (Applied Cognitive Applied Cognitive
PsychologyPsychology, 2008), 2008) Wright, Thompson, Ganis, Newcombe & Kosslyn Wright, Thompson, Ganis, Newcombe & Kosslyn
((Psychonomic Bulletin & ReviewPsychonomic Bulletin & Review, 2008), 2008)
Five Questions about Improvement Five Questions about Improvement in Mental Rotation Skillsin Mental Rotation Skills
What is the shape of long-term growth What is the shape of long-term growth trajectories?trajectories?
Does videogame training have effects exceeding Does videogame training have effects exceeding simple practice?simple practice?
Do growth trajectories differ for men and women, Do growth trajectories differ for men and women, and for individuals of higher or lower spatial and for individuals of higher or lower spatial experience?experience?
Are practice and training effects durable? Are practice and training effects durable?
Do practice and training transfer, and is transfer Do practice and training transfer, and is transfer durable?durable?
TrainingTrainingOne hour per week for a semesterOne hour per week for a semester Tetris or SolitaireTetris or Solitaire
Weekly MRT administrationWeekly MRT administration
Time Course of ImprovementTime Course of ImprovementTerlecki, Newcombe & Little, 2008Terlecki, Newcombe & Little, 2008
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1011121314151617181920
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Weeks
MR
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Training
Time Course of ImprovementTime Course of ImprovementTerlecki, Newcombe & Little, 2008Terlecki, Newcombe & Little, 2008
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Improvement is DurableImprovement is DurableTerlecki, Newcombe & Little, 2008Terlecki, Newcombe & Little, 2008
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Pretest Posttest Retake
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Transfer is Durable and Transfer is Durable and Tetris Augments TransferTetris Augments Transfer
Terlecki, Newcombe & Little, 2008Terlecki, Newcombe & Little, 2008
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Five New AimsFive New AimsTraining intensive enough to produce large Training intensive enough to produce large gains but shorter than a semestergains but shorter than a semesterNovel stimuli: to assess stimulus-specific Novel stimuli: to assess stimulus-specific versus general effectsversus general effectsSymmetric look at transfer: A to B and also Symmetric look at transfer: A to B and also B to AB to ANon-spatial task to make sure transfer is Non-spatial task to make sure transfer is spatially-specificspatially-specificComponential analysis: intercept versus Componential analysis: intercept versus slope effectsslope effects
Three TasksThree Tasks
TrainingTraining
21 consecutive 21 consecutive days, about 20 days, about 20 minutes per dayminutes per day
Either MRT or Either MRT or Paper FoldingPaper Folding
Transfer Across Spatial TasksTransfer Across Spatial TasksWright, Thompson, Ganis, Newcombe & Kosslyn, Wright, Thompson, Ganis, Newcombe & Kosslyn,
Psychonomic Bulletin & ReviewPsychonomic Bulletin & Review, 2008, 2008
Transfer Across Spatial TasksTransfer Across Spatial TasksWright, Thompson, Ganis, Newcombe & Kosslyn, Wright, Thompson, Ganis, Newcombe & Kosslyn,
Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 20082008
Goals for New Training StudiesGoals for New Training StudiesDelineate Delineate mechanismsmechanisms of improvement and of improvement and possible possible additivityadditivity of methods of methods Allowing for Allowing for tailoredtailored recommendations about recommendations about
sequencing and aptitude-treatment interactionssequencing and aptitude-treatment interactionsTim Shipley Tim Shipley will present progress report on an adult study will present progress report on an adult study of this kindof this kind
How should we best enhance spatial learning in How should we best enhance spatial learning in children?children?
Methods that are more play, less workMethods that are more play, less work Gesture, puzzle play, paper folding, block playGesture, puzzle play, paper folding, block play
Training in different SES groupsTraining in different SES groups
More GoalsMore GoalsWhat are the neural correlates of improvements?What are the neural correlates of improvements? Do they provide clues as to mechanism?Do they provide clues as to mechanism?
How do we improve way finding skills?How do we improve way finding skills?
Is there far transfer from visualization to way Is there far transfer from visualization to way finding and vice versa?finding and vice versa?
(Again) What are the implications of (Again) What are the implications of improvements for STEM learning? improvements for STEM learning? Different at various ages?Different at various ages? Different for different disciplines or sub-areas?Different for different disciplines or sub-areas?
Four ArgumentsFour Arguments
Spatial intelligence and learning are importantSpatial intelligence and learning are importantSpatial intelligence and learning can be Spatial intelligence and learning can be improvedimproved There are sex-linked and SES-linked differences in There are sex-linked and SES-linked differences in
spatial intelligence--addressing these differences is spatial intelligence--addressing these differences is important for social equityimportant for social equity
Spatial intelligence and learning are critically Spatial intelligence and learning are critically under-studiedunder-studiedSpecific educational techniques to foster spatial Specific educational techniques to foster spatial intelligence are within our graspintelligence are within our grasp
Spatial FrameworkSpatial Framework
Two spatial frames Object (internal relations that define shape) Scene (external relations that define relations
among objects)
Two temporal properties Static (unchanging relations) Dynamic (changing relations)
The 2 by 2 FrameworkThe 2 by 2 FrameworkObject
Sta
ticD
ynam
ic
Scene
One Application of the Framework: One Application of the Framework: LanguageLanguage
Manner Verb
Object
Sta
ticD
ynam
ic
Scene
Path Verb
PrepositionNoun
The Third Dimension:The Third Dimension:ScaleScale
Different processes for different scales Different processes for different scales (particularly peri-personal space)(particularly peri-personal space)
Object versus scene at many scalesObject versus scene at many scales
Domain General ProcessesDomain General ProcessesThere are many such processes and most of There are many such processes and most of them are relevant to spatial learningthem are relevant to spatial learning
In SILC, we have been concentrating on:In SILC, we have been concentrating on: AnalogyAnalogy GestureGesture Working memoryWorking memory Perceptual learningPerceptual learning
In addition, specific skills (e.g., understanding In addition, specific skills (e.g., understanding diagrams) involves non-spatial content mastery diagrams) involves non-spatial content mastery (e.g., of diagrammatic conventions)(e.g., of diagrammatic conventions)
Symbolic Representation
Language Brings up classic “language and thought”
issues
Spatial representations Maps Graphs Diagrams
Static Scene Representations:Static Scene Representations:Hierarchical Coding ModelHierarchical Coding Model
Categorical or qualitativeCategorical or qualitative
Fine-grained or coordinate or metricFine-grained or coordinate or metric
Bayesian combinationBayesian combination
Leads toLeads to Method to diagnose categoriesMethod to diagnose categories
Work on natural scenes and geoscience expertiseWork on natural scenes and geoscience expertise Way to think about developmentWay to think about development Way to think about neural bases of spatial codingWay to think about neural bases of spatial coding
Anjan Chatterjee Anjan Chatterjee willwill talk about this latertalk about this later
Dynamic Representations:Dynamic Representations:Mental Transformations May Be Mental Transformations May Be Formally But Not Psychologically Formally But Not Psychologically
EquivalentEquivalentRotate object (or array) vs move viewerRotate object (or array) vs move viewer
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Dynamic Scene Dynamic Scene RepresentationsRepresentations
Navigation can be guided byNavigation can be guided by Egocentric codingEgocentric coding Allocentric codingAllocentric coding
Landmarks/place learningLandmarks/place learning
Gradients such as slopeGradients such as slope Daniele Nardi Daniele Nardi will present will present
work on this laterwork on this later
Most work of this kind is on Most work of this kind is on groups or normative groups or normative development—individual development—individual differences?differences?
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Morris Water MazeMorris Water Maze
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Morris Water MazeMorris Water Maze
Room Cue
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Room Cue
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Room Cue
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The Emergence of Place The Emergence of Place LearningLearning
Considerable evidence, from a wide variety of Considerable evidence, from a wide variety of techniques, that place learning depends on techniques, that place learning depends on hippocampushippocampus Animal studies: e.g., Morris, Garrud, Rawlins, & Animal studies: e.g., Morris, Garrud, Rawlins, &
O’Keefe (1982)O’Keefe (1982) Human studies: e.g., Holdstock et al. (2000) Human studies: e.g., Holdstock et al. (2000)
Place learning seems to emerge between Place learning seems to emerge between 18 and 24 months of age18 and 24 months of age
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New Research QuestionsNew Research Questions
• Are there individual differences in early place Are there individual differences in early place learning abilities?learning abilities?
• Do language and spatial representations Do language and spatial representations develop independently?develop independently?
• What is the relationship between the What is the relationship between the developing brain and emergent behavior?developing brain and emergent behavior?
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Balcomb & NewcombeBalcomb & NewcombeSubjectsSubjects Children aged 16-24 monthsChildren aged 16-24 monthsMaterialsMaterials 10’ diameter carpeted circle 10’ diameter carpeted circle
divided into quadrantsdivided into quadrants Battery operated puzzleBattery operated puzzleTask Task Locate puzzle hidden under Locate puzzle hidden under
carpetcarpet Remember puzzle locationRemember puzzle location
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ProceduresProceduresFamiliarizationFamiliarization
Learning Learning 4 trials to learn the puzzle’s location4 trials to learn the puzzle’s location Different points of entryDifferent points of entry
TestTest Same as learning trialsSame as learning trials No puzzleNo puzzle
ControlControl Control for motivation & walking speedControl for motivation & walking speed Puzzle clearly visiblePuzzle clearly visible
Spatial ResultsSpatial Results
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16-18 19-21 22-24
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goal found/4% adj% periph% spatial% non spatial
Space and LanguageSpace and Language
Measure Nouns Verbs Preps # times goal found # searches under “other”
Nouns -- .87 .72 .21 (.34) .36 (.09)
Verbs -- .80 .11 (.61) .34 (.10)
Preps -- .42 (.05) .20 (.34)
# times goal found
-- -.2 (.35)
Intercorrelations between language and spatial searches
Conclusions and ImplicationsConclusions and Implications
Place learning and expressive language develop Place learning and expressive language develop independently in 16-24 month old childrenindependently in 16-24 month old children BUT--Acquisition of prepositions and place BUT--Acquisition of prepositions and place
learning do correlatelearning do correlateIndividual differences measure allows us to Individual differences measure allows us to address relations with other abilitiesaddress relations with other abilities Episodic memory (not spatial but should Episodic memory (not spatial but should
correlate)correlate) Mental rotation (spatial but may not correlate)Mental rotation (spatial but may not correlate) New way to address structure of intellect in New way to address structure of intellect in
comparative and neuroscience-inspired contextcomparative and neuroscience-inspired context
Four ArgumentsFour Arguments
Spatial intelligence and learning are importantSpatial intelligence and learning are importantSpatial intelligence and learning can be Spatial intelligence and learning can be improvedimproved There are sex-linked and SES-linked differences in There are sex-linked and SES-linked differences in
spatial intelligence--addressing these differences is spatial intelligence--addressing these differences is important for social equityimportant for social equity
Spatial intelligence and learning are critically Spatial intelligence and learning are critically under-studiedunder-studiedSpecific educational techniques to foster spatial Specific educational techniques to foster spatial intelligence are within our graspintelligence are within our grasp
Some ExamplesSome ExamplesThe use of analogical comparison in teaching The use of analogical comparison in teaching geosciencegeoscience Dedre GentnerDedre Gentner
Understanding young children’s difficulties with Understanding young children’s difficulties with measurement—and ameliorating themmeasurement—and ameliorating them Susan Levine & Kristin RatliffSusan Levine & Kristin Ratliff
The importance of spatial language to childrenThe importance of spatial language to children Just a few examples nowJust a few examples now
Many othersMany others Spatial toolkit Spatial toolkit will bring them togethewill bring them togetherr
Teachers Vary in Spatial InputTeachers Vary in Spatial Input(Levine & Huttenlocher)(Levine & Huttenlocher)
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Instances of spatial talk in one hour of coded tape
And Input is Correlated with And Input is Correlated with Children’s Spatial GrowthChildren’s Spatial Growth
(Levine & Huttenlocher)(Levine & Huttenlocher)
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change in chidlren's spatial scores
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Play ContextsPlay Contexts
Pre-assembled Play Free Play
Guided Play
Parental Spatial Language in Parental Spatial Language in Four ContextsFour Contexts
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Free Play Guided Play CHILDESControl
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Session 1 Session 2
How Do We Accelerate Pace and How Do We Accelerate Pace and Scope of Study of These Issues?Scope of Study of These Issues?
Spatial Network at Spatial Network at www.spatiallearning.org
Resources at same URLResources at same URL Sian Beilock is coordinatingSian Beilock is coordinating
Gatherings like this one!Gatherings like this one! Thanks to Danny Edelson and the NGSThanks to Danny Edelson and the NGS
Four ArgumentsFour Arguments
Spatial intelligence and learning are importantSpatial intelligence and learning are importantSpatial intelligence and learning can be Spatial intelligence and learning can be improvedimproved There are sex-linked and SES-linked differences in There are sex-linked and SES-linked differences in
spatial intelligence--addressing these differences is spatial intelligence--addressing these differences is important for social equityimportant for social equity
Spatial intelligence and learning are critically Spatial intelligence and learning are critically under-studiedunder-studiedSpecific educational techniques to foster spatial Specific educational techniques to foster spatial intelligence are within our graspintelligence are within our grasp
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