Of spatial abilities

If one lets the students build a close-packing model for a silver crystal (see E4.5), the stacking of the spheres is at first merely a mechanical problem. If, however, they have to find the coordination number, i.e. 12 for the number of spheres, which touch one central sphere inside of the packing, it becomes a problem of spatial ability [13]. One student might be able to visualize those six spheres surrounding the central sphere on one layer, three spheres above and three below (see E4.5). Another student might have to count out each individual sphere which visibly touches the central one. 

Carter, C.S., LaRussa, M.A., Bodner, G.M. (1987). A study of two measures of spatial ability as predictors of success in different levels of general chemistry. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 24, 645-657... 

Sorby S, Gorska R. The effect of various courses and teaching methods on the improvement of spatial ability. In Proceedings of the 8th ICEDGDE. Austin, Texas 1998. p. 252-256. 

The system is a 3D geometric construction tool for the improvement of spatial abilities and for the maximization of transfer in real settings. This system has not been formally evaluated in a real course. However, an informal evaluation showed that students were motivated to use it and did not need a long familiarization before using it in practice. Several problems such as eye-hand coordination without haptic feedback and fatigue were also pointed out. As for the possible applications of the system, students mentioned interactive conic sections, vector analysis, intersection problems, and elementary geometry. 

Huk, T. (2007). Who benefits from learning with 3D models The case of spatial ability. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 22,392-404. 

In the case of representation of chiral molecules, the demands of spatial visualisation ability on understanding become critical. Head and Bucat (2002) have reported the outcomes from interviews with students and lecturers in relation to tasks such as that shown in Fig. 1.11. 

Barke, H. D. (1997). The Structure-oriented approach. Demonstrated at the example of interdisciplinary teaching spatial abilities. In W. Graber C. Bolte (Eds.), Scientific literacy. Hamburg IPN. 

Fig. 8.2, takes advantage of the ability of X-rays to penetrate a thin solution layer. Together with a simple theory of backscattering, this allows very detailed spatial information to be obtained [Lucas and Markovic, 2006]. 

Clients are assigned different cognitive tasks that exercise the specific areas of the brain that seem to have sustained injury. Tasks can run the gamut, but frequendy involve engaging in spatial-ability, abstraction, verbal, memory, and... 

Dementia An acquired organic mental disorder with loss of intellectual abilities of sufficient severity to interfere with social or occupational functioning. The dysfunction is multifaceted and involves memory, behavior, personality, judgment, attention, spatial relations, language, abstract thought, and other executive functions. The intellectual decline is usually progressive, and initially spares the level of consciousness. [NIH]... 

Apraxia is an inability to carry out coordinated physical activity. This occurs despite no paralysis or weakness. It is believed to result from a decline of visual and spatial abilities. Early in the illness, demented patients may have problems drawing three-dimensional figures. As the illness progresses, they may get lost in familiar neighborhoods or forget how to use a common object like a toothbrush or a hammer. With certain types of dementia they may even forget how to walk (gait apraxia). 

Potma and Krishnamachari (Chapter 9) explore the effects of spatial beam shaping on the generated nonlinear Raman signals in a tightly focused geometry, demonstrating its enhanced ability to image chemical interfaces. 

Similarly, you may be presented with a diagram of a floor plan of a building, perhaps filled with smoke. Again, this is a test of your ability to remember details. As mentioned in Chapter 11, Spatial Relations, the ability of a firefighter to read a floor plan is crucial, as you may someday find yourself making your way through hallways and rooms filled with smoke. When presented with a floor plan, you will want to note the location of potential hazards and dead ends you may be asked the placement of exits or smoke alarms or where to position a ladder for rescue. 

Perhaps the most important new approach to chemical measurements has been the use of sensors for oceanic chemistry. Sensors comprise a transducer and its supporting electronic instrumentation. The key feature of sensors is their ability to monitor the concentration of a particular analyte continuously, so that the dimension of time can be added to the traditional three dimensions of spatial measurements. An example of a sensor is a pH electrode, coupled with a high-impedance voltmeter and a means of standardization and temperature compensation in situ. In principle, such a sensor can monitor pH continuously for days at a time while transferring the data to a recorder or memory device. One can contemplate towing an array of sensors at various depths simultaneously, obtaining three-dimen-o tin us d ta t. i Dr v e th two- imensional data a ail-... 

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