Spatial Thinking Research at Texas A

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Spatial Thinking Research at Texas AM University

• Bob Bednarz (r-bednarz_at_tamu.edu)
• Injeong Jo (injeong_at_geog.tamu.edu)
• Sandra Metoyer (smetoyer_at_geog.tamu.edu)

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Spatial Thinking Research at Texas AM University
Does GIS and Other Geo-spatial Technology
Support Spatial Thinking?
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Spatial Thinking Research at Texas AM University
A Taxonomy of Spatial Thinking as a Framework to
Implement Spatial Thinking into Geography
Classrooms

1. Is spatial thinking addressed in the current
   geography curriculum?

(2) Do geography teachers incorporate spatial
thinking into their teaching practices?
Curriculum
Instruction
(3) Is the geographic assessment relevant to
spatial thinking skills?
Assessment
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Spatial Thinking Research at Texas AM University
A Taxonomy of Spatial Thinking as a Framework to
Implement Spatial Thinking into Geography
Classrooms
(Sager Helgren, 2003, p.178-179)
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Spatial Thinking Research at Texas AM University
A Taxonomy of Spatial Thinking as a Framework to
Implement Spatial Thinking into Geography
Classrooms

• Example question1 Write the key term that best
  completes the sentence.
• __________ supply great quantities of fish and
  other sea animals to North America.

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Spatial Thinking Research at Texas AM University
A Taxonomy of Spatial Thinking as a Framework to
Implement Spatial Thinking into Geography
Classrooms

• Example question 2. Study the map of world
  religions.
• Then write two generalizations
• about the distribution of
• The worlds religions.

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Spatial Thinking Research at Texas AM University
A Taxonomy of Spatial Thinking as a Framework to
Implement Spatial Thinking into Geography
Classrooms
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Spatial Thinking Research at Texas AM University
A Taxonomy of Spatial Thinking as a Framework to
Implement Spatial Thinking into Geography
Classrooms

• A collection of cognitive skills comprised of
• (NRC 2006, p.12)

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Spatial Thinking Research at Texas AM University
A Taxonomy of Spatial Thinking as a Framework to
Implement Spatial Thinking into Geography
Classrooms

• Primary category 1 Concepts of space
• (Golledge, 1992, 1995, 2002 Gersmehl, 2005,
  2006)

• GNP
• Population
• Fishery
• Terrorism
• etc.

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Spatial Thinking Research at Texas AM University
A Taxonomy of Spatial Thinking as a Framework to
Implement Spatial Thinking into Geography
Classrooms

• Primary category 1 Concepts of space
• (Golledge, 1992, 1995, 2002 Gersmehl, 2005,
  2006)

• Location
• Place-specific identity
• Magnitude

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Spatial Thinking Research at Texas AM University
A Taxonomy of Spatial Thinking as a Framework to
Implement Spatial Thinking into Geography
Classrooms

• Primary category 1 Concepts of space
• (Golledge, 1992, 1995, 2002 Gersmehl, 2005,
  2006)

• Distance
• Direction
• Connection
• Region
• Shape
• Movement
• Boundary

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Spatial Thinking Research at Texas AM University
A Taxonomy of Spatial Thinking as a Framework to
Implement Spatial Thinking into Geography
Classrooms

• Primary category 1 Concepts of space
• (Golledge, 1992, 1995, 2002 Gersmehl, 2005,
  2006)

• Distribution
• Pattern
• Density
• Diffusion
• Hierarchy/ Network
• Spatial association
• Overlay

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Spatial Thinking Research at Texas AM University
A Taxonomy of Spatial Thinking as a Framework to
Implement Spatial Thinking into Geography
Classrooms

• Primary category 2 Tools of representation

• Map
• Diagram
• Chart
• Graph
• etc.

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Spatial Thinking Research at Texas AM University
A Taxonomy of Spatial Thinking as a Framework to
Implement Spatial Thinking into Geography
Classrooms

• Primary category 3 Processes of reasoning
• (Costa, 2000)

• Define
• List
• Label
• Recognize
• Name
• Match
• Count

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Spatial Thinking Research at Texas AM University
A Taxonomy of Spatial Thinking as a Framework to
Implement Spatial Thinking into Geography
Classrooms

• Primary category 3 Processes of reasoning
• (Costa, 2000)

• Explain
• Compare
• Contrast
• Summarize
• Classify
• Infer
• Analyze

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Spatial Thinking Research at Texas AM University
A Taxonomy of Spatial Thinking as a Framework to
Implement Spatial Thinking into Geography
Classrooms

• Primary category 3 Processes of reasoning
• (Costa, 2000)

• Evaluate
• Judge
• Generalize
• Hypothesize
• Predict
• Create
• Build a model

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Spatial Thinking Research at Texas AM University
A Taxonomy of Spatial Thinking as a Framework to
Implement Spatial Thinking into Geography
Classrooms
Jo, I. S. Bednarz (in press) . Evaluating
Geography Textbook Questions from Spatial
Perspectives Concepts, Using Tools of
Representation, and Cognitive Processes to
Evaluate Spatiality. Journal of Geography.
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Spatial Thinking Research at Texas AM University
A Taxonomy of Spatial Thinking as a Framework to
Implement Spatial Thinking into Geography
Classrooms
Curriculum
Instruction
Assessment
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Spatial Thinking Research at Texas AM University
Hierarchical Parallel Model of Spatial Thinking