Systematic Review of Spatial Thinking in Mathematics Education
Keywords:
mathematics education, spatial thinking, spatial ability, systematics review
Abstract
The objective of this study is to perform a comprehensive analysis of existing research on spatial thinking abilities using a Systematic Literature Review (SLR). To achieve this, five search engines (Scopus, SpringerLink, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, and ERIC) were utilized during various stages, including identification, screening, eligibility, inclusion, and data analysis. Adhering to the PRISMA reporting rules, a total of 22 articles were included, selected mainly from the sorted studies. The results of our research indicate that there were four studies conducted using a mixed method approach, while nine studies utilized a quantitative approach, and another nine focused on qualitative methods. The number of studies investigating spatial thinking has consistently increased over the years. The findings section revealed that the majority of studies on this subject were authored by researchers from the USA, followed by authors from Australia, Turkey, Israel, Germany, Spain, China, Slovakia, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
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References
Baranová, L., Katreničová, I. (2018). Role of descriptive geometry course in development of students’ spatial visualization skills. Annales Mathematicae et Informaticae, 49, 21-32.
Burte, H., Gardony, A. L., Hutton, A., & Taylor, H. A. (2020). Elementary teachers’ attitudes and beliefs about spatial thinking and mathematics. Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, 5(1), 1-18.
Clements, D. H. (2004). Geometric and spatial thinking in early childhood education. Engaging young children in mathematics: Standards for early childhood mathematics education, 267-297.
Cohrssen, C., & Pearn, C. (2021). Assessing preschool children’s maps against the first four levels of the primary curriculum: lessons to learn. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 33 (1), 43 – 60.
Del Cerro Velázquez, F., & Méndez, G.M. (2021). Application in augmented reality for learning mathematical functions: A study for the development of spatial intelligence in secondary education students. Mathematics, 9 (4), 1 – 19.
Dhlamini, Z.B., Chuene, K., Masha, K., & Kibirige, I. (2019). Exploring grade nine geometry spatial mathematical reasoning in the South African annual national assessment. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 15 (11).
Edward Purssell, & Dinah Gould. (2021). Undertaking qualitative reviews in nursing and education - A method of thematic analysis for students and clinicians. International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances, 3, 1-8.
Fiantika & S P Setyawati. (2019). Representation, representational transformation and spatial reasoning hierarchical in spatial thinking. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1321 (2), 1 – 7.
Fiantika, C L Maknun, I K Budayasa & A Lukito. (2018). Analysis of students’ spatial thinking in geometry : 3D object into 2D representation. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1013, 1 – 8.
Fujita, T., Kondo, Y., Kumakura, H. et al. (2020). Spatial reasoning skills about 2D representations of 3D geometrical shapes in grades 4 to 9. Math Ed Res J,32, 235–255.
Garofalo, S.G., & Farenga, S.J. (2021). Cognition and Spatial Concept Formation: Comparing Non-digital and Digital Instruction Using Three-Dimensional Models in Science. Technology, Knowledge and Learning, 26 (1), 231 – 241.
Gilligan-Lee, K. A., Hawes, Z. C., & Mix, K. S. (2022). Spatial thinking as the missing piece in mathematics curricula. npj Science of Learning, 7(1), 1-4.
González-Campos, J.S., Arnedo-Moreno, J., & Sánchez-Navarro, J. (2022). Self-Learning Geometric Transformations: A Framework for the “Before and After” Style of Exercises. Mathematics, 10 (11).
Götz, D., & Gasteiger, H. (2022). Reflecting geometrical shapes: approaches of primary students to reflection tasks and relations to typical error patterns. Educational Studies In Mathematics, 111, 47–71.
Harris, D., Logan, T. & Lowrie, T. (2021). Unpacking mathematical-spatial relations : Problem-solving in static and interactive tasks. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 33, 495–511.
Hubber, P.J., Gilmore, & C.,Cragg, L. (2019). Mathematics students demonstrate superior visuo-spatial working memory to humanities students under conditions of low central executive processing load. Journal of Numerical Cognition. 5 (2), 189 – 219.
Kus, M., & Cakiroglu, E. (2022). Mathematics in the informal setting of an art studio: students’ visuospatial thinking processes in a studio thinking-based environment. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 110 (3), 545 – 571.
Medina Herrera, L., Castro Pérez, J., & Juárez Ordóñez, S. (2019). Developing spatial mathematical skills through 3D tools: augmented reality, virtual environments and 3D printing. International Journal on Interactive Design and Manufacturing, 13 (4), 1385 – 1399.
Mulligan, J., Woolcott, G., Mitchelmore, M., & Davis, B. (2018). Connecting mathematics learning through spatial reasoning. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 30 (1), 77-87.
Nagar, G.G., Hegedus, S.,& Orrill, C.H. (2022). High school mathematics teachers’ discernment of invariant properties in a dynamic geometry environment. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 111 (1), 127 – 145.
Newcombe, N. S. (2013). Seeing Relationships: Using Spatial Thinking to Teach Science, Mathematics, and Social Studies. American Educator, 37(1), 26.
Patahuddin, S.M., Rokhmah, S., & Ramful, A. (2020). What does teaching of spatial visualisation skills incur: an exploration through the visualise-predict-check heuristic. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 32 (2), 307 – 329.
Patkin, D., Shriki, A., & Barkai, R. (2019). Strategies Applied by Pre-service Elementary School Mathematics Teachers for Coping with Tasks that Require a Mental Rotation. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 17 (8), 1563 – 1584.
Reinhold, F., Hofer, S., Berkowitz, M. et al. (2020). The role of spatial, verbal, numerical, and general reasoning abilities in complex word problem solving for young female and male adults. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 32, 189–211.
Rule, A.C., Blaine, D.A., Edwards, C.M., & Gordon, M. (2019). Girls explore math careers by making 3D-constructions of diverse Women Mathematicians' lives. Mathematics Enthusiast, 16 (1-3), 541-578.
Shumway, J.F., Bundock, K., King, J., et al. (2020). Visualizing Number: Instruction for Number System Knowledge in Second-Grade Classrooms. Investigations in Mathematics Learning, 12 (2), 142 – 161.
Silverman, S., & Ashkenazi, S. (2022). The Unique Role of Spatial Working Memory for Mathematics Performance. Journal of Numerical Cognition, 8 (1), 226 – 243.
Taylor, H. A., & Hutton, A. (2013). Think3d!: Training spatial thinking fundamental to STEM education. Cognition and Instruction, 31(4), 434-455.
Uttal, D. H., & Cohen, C. A. (2012). Spatial thinking and STEM education: When, why, and how?. Psychology of learning and motivation, 57, Academic Press.
Woolcott, G., Le Tran, T., Mulligan, J., et al. (2022). Towards a framework for spatial reasoning and primary mathematics learning: an analytical synthesis of intervention studies. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 34 (1), 37-67.
Yusuf A. Prihandika, Triyanto, & Dewi R. S. Saputro. (2022). Analysis of students’ representation skills on geometry material viewed from the spatial intelligence level. AIP Conference Proceedings 2566, 2566 (1).
Zhang, Q. (2021). Opportunities to Learn Three-Dimensional Shapes in Primary Mathematics: The Case of Content Analysis of Primary Mathematics Textbooks in Hong Kong. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 17 (6), 1 – 15.
Burte, H., Gardony, A. L., Hutton, A., & Taylor, H. A. (2020). Elementary teachers’ attitudes and beliefs about spatial thinking and mathematics. Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, 5(1), 1-18.
Clements, D. H. (2004). Geometric and spatial thinking in early childhood education. Engaging young children in mathematics: Standards for early childhood mathematics education, 267-297.
Cohrssen, C., & Pearn, C. (2021). Assessing preschool children’s maps against the first four levels of the primary curriculum: lessons to learn. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 33 (1), 43 – 60.
Del Cerro Velázquez, F., & Méndez, G.M. (2021). Application in augmented reality for learning mathematical functions: A study for the development of spatial intelligence in secondary education students. Mathematics, 9 (4), 1 – 19.
Dhlamini, Z.B., Chuene, K., Masha, K., & Kibirige, I. (2019). Exploring grade nine geometry spatial mathematical reasoning in the South African annual national assessment. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 15 (11).
Edward Purssell, & Dinah Gould. (2021). Undertaking qualitative reviews in nursing and education - A method of thematic analysis for students and clinicians. International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances, 3, 1-8.
Fiantika & S P Setyawati. (2019). Representation, representational transformation and spatial reasoning hierarchical in spatial thinking. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1321 (2), 1 – 7.
Fiantika, C L Maknun, I K Budayasa & A Lukito. (2018). Analysis of students’ spatial thinking in geometry : 3D object into 2D representation. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1013, 1 – 8.
Fujita, T., Kondo, Y., Kumakura, H. et al. (2020). Spatial reasoning skills about 2D representations of 3D geometrical shapes in grades 4 to 9. Math Ed Res J,32, 235–255.
Garofalo, S.G., & Farenga, S.J. (2021). Cognition and Spatial Concept Formation: Comparing Non-digital and Digital Instruction Using Three-Dimensional Models in Science. Technology, Knowledge and Learning, 26 (1), 231 – 241.
Gilligan-Lee, K. A., Hawes, Z. C., & Mix, K. S. (2022). Spatial thinking as the missing piece in mathematics curricula. npj Science of Learning, 7(1), 1-4.
González-Campos, J.S., Arnedo-Moreno, J., & Sánchez-Navarro, J. (2022). Self-Learning Geometric Transformations: A Framework for the “Before and After” Style of Exercises. Mathematics, 10 (11).
Götz, D., & Gasteiger, H. (2022). Reflecting geometrical shapes: approaches of primary students to reflection tasks and relations to typical error patterns. Educational Studies In Mathematics, 111, 47–71.
Harris, D., Logan, T. & Lowrie, T. (2021). Unpacking mathematical-spatial relations : Problem-solving in static and interactive tasks. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 33, 495–511.
Hubber, P.J., Gilmore, & C.,Cragg, L. (2019). Mathematics students demonstrate superior visuo-spatial working memory to humanities students under conditions of low central executive processing load. Journal of Numerical Cognition. 5 (2), 189 – 219.
Kus, M., & Cakiroglu, E. (2022). Mathematics in the informal setting of an art studio: students’ visuospatial thinking processes in a studio thinking-based environment. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 110 (3), 545 – 571.
Medina Herrera, L., Castro Pérez, J., & Juárez Ordóñez, S. (2019). Developing spatial mathematical skills through 3D tools: augmented reality, virtual environments and 3D printing. International Journal on Interactive Design and Manufacturing, 13 (4), 1385 – 1399.
Mulligan, J., Woolcott, G., Mitchelmore, M., & Davis, B. (2018). Connecting mathematics learning through spatial reasoning. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 30 (1), 77-87.
Nagar, G.G., Hegedus, S.,& Orrill, C.H. (2022). High school mathematics teachers’ discernment of invariant properties in a dynamic geometry environment. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 111 (1), 127 – 145.
Newcombe, N. S. (2013). Seeing Relationships: Using Spatial Thinking to Teach Science, Mathematics, and Social Studies. American Educator, 37(1), 26.
Patahuddin, S.M., Rokhmah, S., & Ramful, A. (2020). What does teaching of spatial visualisation skills incur: an exploration through the visualise-predict-check heuristic. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 32 (2), 307 – 329.
Patkin, D., Shriki, A., & Barkai, R. (2019). Strategies Applied by Pre-service Elementary School Mathematics Teachers for Coping with Tasks that Require a Mental Rotation. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 17 (8), 1563 – 1584.
Reinhold, F., Hofer, S., Berkowitz, M. et al. (2020). The role of spatial, verbal, numerical, and general reasoning abilities in complex word problem solving for young female and male adults. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 32, 189–211.
Rule, A.C., Blaine, D.A., Edwards, C.M., & Gordon, M. (2019). Girls explore math careers by making 3D-constructions of diverse Women Mathematicians' lives. Mathematics Enthusiast, 16 (1-3), 541-578.
Shumway, J.F., Bundock, K., King, J., et al. (2020). Visualizing Number: Instruction for Number System Knowledge in Second-Grade Classrooms. Investigations in Mathematics Learning, 12 (2), 142 – 161.
Silverman, S., & Ashkenazi, S. (2022). The Unique Role of Spatial Working Memory for Mathematics Performance. Journal of Numerical Cognition, 8 (1), 226 – 243.
Taylor, H. A., & Hutton, A. (2013). Think3d!: Training spatial thinking fundamental to STEM education. Cognition and Instruction, 31(4), 434-455.
Uttal, D. H., & Cohen, C. A. (2012). Spatial thinking and STEM education: When, why, and how?. Psychology of learning and motivation, 57, Academic Press.
Woolcott, G., Le Tran, T., Mulligan, J., et al. (2022). Towards a framework for spatial reasoning and primary mathematics learning: an analytical synthesis of intervention studies. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 34 (1), 37-67.
Yusuf A. Prihandika, Triyanto, & Dewi R. S. Saputro. (2022). Analysis of students’ representation skills on geometry material viewed from the spatial intelligence level. AIP Conference Proceedings 2566, 2566 (1).
Zhang, Q. (2021). Opportunities to Learn Three-Dimensional Shapes in Primary Mathematics: The Case of Content Analysis of Primary Mathematics Textbooks in Hong Kong. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 17 (6), 1 – 15.
Published
2023-12-31
How to Cite
Riyan Hidayat, Saad, M. R. M., Ismail, N., & Noor, M. A. M. (2023). Systematic Review of Spatial Thinking in Mathematics Education . Educational Studies: Conference Series, 3(1), 47-60. https://doi.org/10.30872/escs.v3i1.2571
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Copyright (c) 2023 Riyan Hidayat, Mohd Rashid Mohd Saad, Normala Ismail, Mohd Asri Mohd Noor
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
