Spatial Reasoning Proven Practices

Enhancing spatial reasoning increases retention of women (and men) in the science and technology classroom.

Spatial Reasoning Collection

Alphatome -- Enhancing Spatial Reasoning

  • This exercise, in which students take slices of clay letters, was developed by a biology professor to enhance students' spatial reasoning without using challenging jargon or digital imaging.

Source:

LeClair, Elizabeth, "Alphatome--Enhancing Spatial Reasoning," Journal of College Science Teaching v. 33 no. 1 (September/October 2003) p. 26-31.

Download

Effects of Video Game Playing on Measures of Spatial Performance

  • For more than 50 college students, playing Tetris for a total of 6 hours improved mental rotation time and spatial visualization skills in women and men.

Source:

Reprinted from Okagaki, Lynn; Peter A. Frensch, "Effects of video game playing on measures of spatial performance: Gender effects in late adolescence," Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, Volume 15, Issue 1, Pages 33-58, Copyright (1994) with permission from Elsevier.

Download

Gender Differences in Spatial Reasoning Skills and their Effects on Success

  • More than three-quarters of women who took an introductory spatial skills course were retained, compared to 48% of the women who didn't take the course. Find out what worked at one College of Engineering. See also the Spatial Reasoning Software developed by author Sheryl Sorby.

Source:

Sorby, Sheryl, "Gender Differences in Spatial Reasoning Skills and their Effects on Success," The Michigan Tech Project: Phase 1--Initial Development, Michigan Technological University.

Download

Identifying Gender Differences in the 3-D Visualization Skills of Engineering Students in Brazil and in the United States

  • Many female engineering students lag behind their male counterparts in 3-D visualization, which is critical to engineering. The authors explain why and recommend solutions. See also the Spatial Reasoning Software developed by author Sheryl Sorby.

Source:

Medina, Afonso and Helena Gerson and Sheryl Sorby, "Identifying Gender Differences in the 3-D Visualization Skills of Engineering Students in Brazil and in the United States," International Conference on Engineering Education, 1998.

Download

Learning Style-Based Innovations to Improve Retention of Female Engineering Students

  • A two-hour workshop on spatial reasoning with accompanying visualization software completely eliminated significant gender differences in spatial reasoning abilities among a group of UC Berkeley engineering students.

Source:

Copyright © 1995 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Reprinted from, Agogino, A.M. and S. Hsi, "Learning Style Based Innovations to Improve Retention of Female Engineering Students in the Synthesis Coalition," (Engineering Education for the 21st Century: Proceedings of Frontiers in Education, FIE'95, ASEE/IEEE, pp. 4a2.). This material is posted here with permission of the IEEE. Such permission of the IEEE does not in any way imply IEEE endorsement of any of the products or services of the Institute for Women in Trades, Technology & Science (IWITTS). Internal or personal use of this material is permitted. However, permission to reprint/republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or redistribution must be obtained from the IEEE by writing to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . By choosing to view this document, you agree to all provisions of the copyright laws protecting it.

Download

Maximizing Retention for At-Risk Freshmen: The Bronx Community College Model

  • The mostly female student body at Bronx Community College is very low income; the majority of students qualify for financial aid. Short, intensive courses in basic skills combined with student support significantly improved their grades and retention.

Source:

Finkelstein, Jason A., "Maximizing Retention for At-Risk Freshmen: The Bronx Community College Model," 2002.

Download

Playing an Action Video Game Reduces Gender Difference in Spatial Cognition

  • This study found that playing an action video game virtually eliminated the gender difference in spatial attention and simultaneously decreased the gender disparity in mental rotation ability.

Source:

Jing Feng, Ian Spence, and Jay Pratt, "Playing an Action Video Game Reduces Gender Differences in Spatial Cognition," Psychological Science v. 18 no. 10 (24 Sept. 2007) p. 850-855

Download

A Plea for Spatial Literacy

  • Citing the importance of spatial thinking from building furniture to discovering the structure of DNA the author calls for more education in spatial literacy, in particular for women.

Source:

Newcombe, Nora S., "A Plea for Spatial Literacy," Chronicle of Higher Education, 00095982, March 3, 2006, Vol. 52, Issue 26.

Download

Spatial Ability Development in the Geosciences

  • After a one-semester introductory geoscience course, gender differences in spatial relations skills had disappeared for a group of college science majors.

Source:

Baldwin, Tammy, Michelle Hall Wallace, "Spatial Ability Development in the Geosciences," poster, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, December 8-12, 2003

Download

Teaching Spatial Reasoning to Improve Retention of Women in Technology

  • webinar_iconSheryl A. Sorby, Ph.D., explains how improving your female students' spatial reasoning skills increases their success in the technology classroom. The webinar includes a demonstration of Dr. Sorby's software, "Introduction to 3D Spatial Visualization: An Active Approach."

    Please click here to access the webinar.