Springer Visual-spatial Ability in STEM Education: Transforming Research into Practice

Each chapter in this book makes a unique contribution to the body of the literature and enhances the understanding of spatial ability and its influence on learning in the STEM disciplines. It addresses spatial abilities, ways to measure them as well as their impact and how they can affect learning subjects in scientific, technology and engineering domains. The volume deliberately covers a wide range perspectives from cognitive psychology, educational psychology, science, technology, engineering and mathematics, computer science, information technology disciplines to human development. Taking a broad view on the topic, chapters in the book discuss how to define spatial ability and its factors, the measurement of spatial ability and psychometric analyses, and educational strategies to improve spatial skills and their implications for science and technology education. The book thus provides an overview of current thinking about visual-spatial ability, spatial reasoning, and spatial skills. Review “The eleven entries are divided in two sections, the first focusing on measurement and development of spatial ability, and the second on research and practice. … Visual-spatial Ability in STEM Education: Transforming Research into Practice is a good read for those interested in spatial reasoning research, for mathematics educators wanting to make an impact on children’s development of spatial reasoning, and for all who work with STEM students and programs.” (Cindia Davis Stewart, MAA Reviews, maa.org, July, 2017) From the Back Cover Each chapter in this book makes a unique contribution to the body of the literature and enhances the understanding of spatial ability and its influence on learning in the STEM disciplines. It addresses spatial abilities, ways to measure them as well as their impact and how they can affect learning subjects in scientific, technology and engineering domains. The volume deliberately covers a wide range perspectives from cognitive psychology, educational psychology, science, technology, engineering and mathematics, computer science, information technology disciplines to human development. Taking a broad view on the topic, chapters in the book discuss how to define spatial ability and its factors, the measurement of spatial ability and psychometric analyses, and educational strategies to improve spatial skills and their implications for science and technology education. The book thus provides an overview of current thinking about visual-spatial ability, spatial reasoning, and spatial skills. About the Author Dr. Myint Swe Khine is a Professor and Chair of Assessment and Evaluation Centre, Emirates College for Advanced Education, United Arab Emirates and Adjunct Professor at the Science and Mathematics Education Centre, Curtin University, Perth, Australia. He obtained Master degrees from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA and University of Surrey, Guildford, UK, and Doctor of Science Education from Curtin University, Australia. Before joining ECAE, he worked at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He has published widely and edited books on science education. Recent book Science Education in East Asia:  Pedagogical Innovations and Research-informed Practices is published by Springer in 2015.