Teaching spatial cognition and thinking. Embodied cognition design principles

Teaching students to think spatially through embodied actions: Design principles for learning environments in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

D. DeSutter* and M. Stieff

Abstract

Spatial thinking is a vital component of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics curriculum. However, to date, broad development of learning environments that target domain-specific spatial thinking is incomplete. The present article visits the problem of improving spatial thinking by first reviewing the evidence that the human mind is embodied: that cognition, memory, and knowledge representation maintain traces of sensorimotor impressions from acting and perceiving in a physical environment. In particular, we review the evidence that spatial cognition and the ways that humans perceive and conceive of space are embodied. We then propose a set of design principles to aid researchers, designers, and practitioners in creating and evaluating learning environments that align principled embodied actions to targets of spatial thinking in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

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Research Byte: Gymnasts and orienteers show better Gv than nonathletes

 

File under Gv and Gp as per the CHC taxonomy of human abilities.

 

Gymnasts and orienteers display better mental rotation performance than nonathletes.

Schmidt, Mirko; Egger, Fabienne; Kieliger, Mario; Rubeli, Benjamin; Schüler, Julia

Journal of Individual Differences, Vol 37(1), 2016, 1-7. http://dx.doi.org.ezp1.lib.umn.edu/10.1027/1614-0001/a000180

Abstract

1. The aim of this study was to examine whether athletes differ from nonathletes regarding their mental rotation performance. Furthermore, it investigated whether athletes doing sports requiring distinguishable levels of mental rotation (orienteering, gymnastics, running), as well as varying with respect to having an egocentric (gymnastics) or an allocentric perspective (orienteering), differ from each other. Therefore, the Mental Rotations Test (MRT) was carried out with 20 orienteers, 20 gymnasts, 20 runners, and 20 nonathletes. The results indicate large differences in mental rotation performance, with those actively doing sports outperforming the nonathletes. Analyses for the specific groups showed that orienteers and gymnasts differed from the nonathletes, whereas endurance runners did not. Contrary to expectations, the mental rotation performance of gymnasts did not differ from that of orienteers. This study also revealed gender differences in favor of men. Implications regarding a differentiated view of the connection between specific sports and mental rotation performance are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Motor skill acquisition meta-analysis: File under Gp (broad motor domain) in CHC model

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Dissertation Dish: Extension of CHC theory-SB5 and Bender Gestalt factor study

Structural extension of the Cattell-Horn-Carroll cross-battery approach to include measures of visual-motor integration by Brooks, Janell Hargrove, Ph.D., Georgia State University, 2009 , 117 pages; AAT 3401596

Abstract

In spite of the long-standing tradition of including measures of visual-motor integration in psychological evaluations, visual-motor abilities have not been included in the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory of cognitive abilities or its complementary cross-battery approach to assessment. The purpose of this research was to identify the shared constructs of a popular test of visual-motor integration and a test of intellectual functioning, and to investigate how a test of visual-motor integration would be classified within the CHC model. A large normative sample of 3,015 participants that ranged in age from 5 to 97 years completed the Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test, Second Edition (Bender-Gestalt II; Brannigan & Decker, 2003) and the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, Fifth Edition (SB5; Roid, 2003). Correlational analyses indicated positive moderate correlations across all age ranges between the Bender-Gestalt II Copy measure and the SB5 Nonverbal Visual-Spatial Processing subscale and between the Bender-Gestalt II Recall measure and the SB5 Nonverbal Visual-Spatial Processing and Nonverbal Working Memory subscales. Exploratory factor analyses revealed a three-factor model for four age groupings and four-factor model for one age grouping, suggesting factors which represent crystallized ability, fluid reasoning, and visual-motor ability. The results of this study suggest that the Bender-Gestalt II measures abilities that are not included in the SB5. Therefore, the Bender-Gestalt II would complement an intelligence test such as the SB5 in order to form a CHC Visual Processing ( Gv ) broad ability factor. These findings also address the need for further research to validate the constructs measured by newer versions of widely-used tests of cognitive ability.

Technorati Tags: Psychology, school psychology, educational psychology, forensic psychology, neuropsychology, special education, intelligence, cognitive abilities intelligence theories, CHC theory, Cattell-Horn-Carroll, factor analysis, cross battery assessment, IQs Corner, IQ, IQ tests, IQ scores, Gv, Gc, Gf, Gp, Bender Gestalt, motor abilities, SB5, Stanford Binet

CHC intelligence definitions: "Official" table (for now)

In 1997, as part of a book chapter I wrote for Flanagan et al's 1997 CIA book, I developed a table of Cattell-Horn-Carroll cognitive ability definitions (CHC Theory; back then called Extended Gf-Gc theory), which I extracted from Carroll's (1993) seminal treatise. As described in that chapter, Jack Carroll was gracious enough to review and make suggestions via an iterative back-and-forth process...eventually blessing that 1997 table.

Since then this table of broad and narrow CHC definitions has more-or-less become the "official" set of working definitions and has surfaced in most CHC publications.

Since then I've worked to refine these definitions. Part of the refinement process has been seeking feedback from other professionals. I've recently revised the table as it will be used by all authors in a forthcoming special issue on CHC theory and assessment in a school psychology journal.

Today I'm announcing the latest (and greatest) revision of CHC broad and narrow ability definitions. Consider it a "working list" that will undergoe revision as additional research accumulates and additional feedback is received.

A copy can be viewed/downloaded by clicking here.

Technorati Tags: psychology, school psychology, educational psychology, neuropsychology, intelligence, education, general intelligence, IQ test, IQ, IQ scores, CHC theory, Cattell-Horn-Carroll, Gf-Gc, IQs Corner, Gf, Gc, Grw, Gq, Gkn, Go, Gt, Gh, Gp, Gps, Gv, Ga, Gsm, Glr, Gs

CHC Gps and Gp: Developmental coordination disorder special issue

I just stumbled across a journal I had not seen before (Human Movement Science) that has a recent special issue devoted to developmental motor/coordination disorders. I simply have no degrees of freedom to add these articles to my "to do" reading list...so I'm just providing this FYI for others. As per the CHC theory/model of human abilities, this area of human functioning would reside under the broad CHC domains of Gps (psychomotor speed) and Gp (psychomotor abilities)

The editorial lead article is "New and emerging approaches to understanding developmental coordination disorder" (Wilson & Larkin, 2008) and can be viewed by clicking here. Below is the lead paragraph to the editorial article. It is followed by a listing of the articles in this issue.

• "The study of movement clumsiness in children (or Developmental Coordination Disorder (APA, 1994) has evolved considerably over the past 20 years. The field has mirrored parallel developments in the areas of motor control and learning, but also has influenced thinking in the mainstream developmental literature. A signifcant development has been cross-disciplinary approaches to understanding DCD; developmental disorders like DCD are of interest to psychologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, movement scientists, physical educators, paediatricians, child neurologists, nutritionists, and so on. Work has begun to integrate different methodologies, including genetic research using twin studies (e.g., Martin, Piek, & Hay, 2006), neurophysiology (e.g., Lust, Geuze, Wijers, & Wilson, 2006), and dynamical systems approaches (e.g., Whitall et al., 2006). This special issue of human movement science reflects this evolution. Furthermore, it shows how the work of international experts has influenced our very conception of atypical motor development, its broader impact on child and adolescent adjustment, and how movement skill can best be facilitated in children.....Papers here are drawn from the 7th International Conference on DCD, held in Melbourne, Australia in February 2007."

Record 1 of 15
Authors BE Faught, J Cairney, J Hay, S Veldhuizen, C Missiuna, CA Spironello
Title Screening for motor coordination challenges in children using teacher ratings of physical ability and activity
Full source Human Movement Science, 2008, Vol 27, Iss 2, pp 177-189

Record 2 of 15
Authors MM Schoemaker, BCT Flapper, HA ReindersMesselink, A deKloet
Title Validity of the motor observation questionnaire for teachers as a screening instrument for children at risk for developmental coordination disorder
Full source Human Movement Science, 2008, Vol 27, Iss 2, pp 190-199

Record 3 of 15
Authors S Rosenblum, M LivnehZirinski
Title Handwriting process and product characteristics of children diagnosed with developmental coordination disorder
Full source Human Movement Science, 2008, Vol 27, Iss 2, pp 200-214

Record 4 of 15
Authors J Summers, D Larkin, D Dewey
Title Activities of daily living in children with developmental coordination disorder: Dressing, personal hygiene, and eating skills
Full source Human Movement Science, 2008, Vol 27, Iss 2, pp 215-229

Record 5 of 15
Authors P deCastelnau, JM Albaret, Y Chaix, PG Zanone
Title A study of EEG coherence in DCD children during motor synchronization task
Full source Human Movement Science, 2008, Vol 27, Iss 2, pp 230-241

Record 6 of 15
Authors C DiBrina, R Niels, A Overvelde, G Levi, W Hulstijn
Title Dynamic time warping: A new method in the study of poor handwriting
Full source Human Movement Science, 2008, Vol 27, Iss 2, pp 242-255

Record 7 of 15
Authors SJ Mackenzie, N Getchell, K Deutsch, A WilmsFloet, JE Clark, J Whitall
Title Multi-limb coordination and rhythmic variability under varying sensory availability conditions in children with DCD
Full source Human Movement Science, 2008, Vol 27, Iss 2, pp 256-269

Record 8 of 15
Authors J Williams, PR Thomas, P Maruff, PH Wilson
Title The link between motor impairment level and motor imagery ability in children with developmental coordination disorder
Full source Human Movement Science, 2008, Vol 27, Iss 2, pp 270-285

Record 9 of 15
Authors L Pettit, J Charles, AD Wilson, MS Plumb, A Brockman, JHG Williams, M MonWilliams
Title Constrained action selection in children with developmental coordination disorder
Full source Human Movement Science, 2008, Vol 27, Iss 2, pp 286-295

Record 10 of 15
Authors BCM SmitsEngelsman, Y Westenberg, J Duysens
Title Children with developmental coordination disorder are equally able to generate force but show more variability than typically developing children
Full source Human Movement Science, 2008, Vol 27, Iss 2, pp 296-309

Record 11 of 15
Authors M Licari, D Larkin
Title Increased associated movements: Influence of attention deficits and movement difficulties
Full source Human Movement Science, 2008, Vol 27, Iss 2, pp 310-324

Record 12 of 15
Authors AA Poulsen, JM Ziviani, H Johnson, M Cuskelly
Title Loneliness and life satisfaction of boys with developmental coordination disorder: The impact of leisure participation and perceived freedom in leisure
Full source Human Movement Science, 2008, Vol 27, Iss 2, pp 325-343

Record 13 of 15
Authors M Cantell, SG Crawford, PK DoyleBaker
Title Physical fitness and health indices in children, adolescents and adults with high or low motor competence
Full source Human Movement Science, 2008, Vol 27, Iss 2, pp 344-362

Record 14 of 15
Authors D Green, ME Chambers, DA Sugden
Title Does subtype of developmental coordination disorder count: Is there a differential effect on outcome following intervention?
Full source Human Movement Science, 2008, Vol 27, Iss 2, pp 363-382

Record 15 of 15
Authors PH Wilson, D Larkin
Title New and emerging approaches to understanding developmental coordination disorder
Full source Human Movement Science, 2008, Vol 27, Iss 2, pp 171-176

Technorati Tags: psychology, educational psychology, school psychology, neuropsychology, neuroscience, coordination, developmental coordination, motor abilities, OT, PT, CHC, Cattell-Horn-Carroll, Gps, Gp, handwriting, motor rehabilitation