Spatial Thinking Research at Texas A&M University

1. Spatial Thinking Research at Texas A&M University Bob Bednarz (r-bednarz@tamu.edu) Injeong Jo(injeong@geog.tamu.edu) Sandra Metoyer(smetoyer@geog.tamu.edu)

2. Spatial Thinking Research at Texas A&M University Does GIS and Other Geo-spatial Technology Support Spatial Thinking?

3. Spatial Thinking Research at Texas A&M University A Taxonomy of Spatial Thinking as a Framework to Implement Spatial Thinking into Geography Classrooms • 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

4. Spatial Thinking Research at Texas A&M University A Taxonomy of Spatial Thinking as a Framework to Implement Spatial Thinking into Geography Classrooms (Sager & Helgren, 2003, p.178-179)

5. Spatial Thinking Research at Texas A&M 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.

6. Spatial Thinking Research at Texas A&M 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 world’s religions.

7. Spatial Thinking Research at Texas A&M University A Taxonomy of Spatial Thinking as a Framework to Implement Spatial Thinking into Geography Classrooms

8. Spatial Thinking Research at Texas A&M 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)

9. Spatial Thinking Research at Texas A&M 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.

10. Spatial Thinking Research at Texas A&M 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

11. Spatial Thinking Research at Texas A&M 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

12. Spatial Thinking Research at Texas A&M 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

13. Spatial Thinking Research at Texas A&M 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.

14. Spatial Thinking Research at Texas A&M 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

15. Spatial Thinking Research at Texas A&M 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

16. Spatial Thinking Research at Texas A&M 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

17. Spatial Thinking Research at Texas A&M 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.

18. Spatial Thinking Research at Texas A&M University A Taxonomy of Spatial Thinking as a Framework to Implement Spatial Thinking into Geography Classrooms Curriculum Instruction Assessment

19. Spatial Thinking Research at Texas A&M University Hierarchical Parallel Model of Spatial Thinking