Introduction to Spatial Thinking in Preschool Education
The preschoolers were fascinated, taking a look at their classroom through the lens of an iPad camera, watching animated images pop up as a cheerful voice told them: Feed apples to a pig behind a haystack. Select the carnival ride positioned between two sets of balloons. While the sport delighted these 3- and 4-year-olds, they were actually participating in a serious research project that’s developing a very important foundation for his or her future in math — spatial considering and its integrated vocabulary, a skill typically missed in early education.
The Importance of Spatial Thinking
Spatial considering is a vital skill that is commonly neglected in early education. It involves understanding an object’s position in relation to other objects, which is important for constructing later success in STEM learning. Despite its importance, there is restricted curriculum available about spatial considering for preschool children. Regan Vidiksis, a senior research associate, notes that spatial awareness is commonly at the underside of the totem pole relating to math education.
Developing Spatial Thinking Skills
The research project, conducted by the nonprofit Education Development Center in partnership with Boston radio station WGBH Education Foundation and education nonprofit Digital Promise, goals to develop spatial considering skills in preschoolers. The project includes eight weeks of curriculum, which allows children to learn skills interactively through a mix of collaborative digital games, read-alouds, and hands-on activities. A personality named Gracie guides kids interactively through mazes and maps displayed either on the tablet or within the classroom.
Engaging and Interactive Learning
The curriculum is designed to be engaging and interactive, with a deal with physical movement and collaboration. Preschool teacher Jill Arrell notes that her students enjoy following maps and love going "into" the sandbox, "around" the tree, and "behind" the chair as they head out on missions. The curriculum also includes activities resembling hiding a stuffed animal and giving hints to seek out it, resembling "It’s between the stove and the refrigerator."
Overcoming Challenges
Developing the curriculum was not without its challenges. The team had to seek out easy ways for youths to finish tasks, parsing through challenges resembling avoiding the necessity for youths to tap the screen at moments once they is perhaps holding the tablet with each hands. The team also had to regulate the activities based on feedback from teachers, who found some features of the games too complicated for his or her students.
Evaluating Effectiveness
To evaluate the effectiveness of the brand new curriculum, the team of researchers recruited 16 preschool classrooms and adjusted the activities based on feedback. The results show that the curriculum is effective in developing spatial considering skills in preschoolers. The researchers have found the correct balance between engagement and complexity, making it easy for teachers to adapt the curriculum to their needs.
Conclusion
The development of spatial considering skills in preschoolers is crucial for constructing later success in STEM learning. The research project has shown that with the correct curriculum and approach, preschoolers can develop these skills in a fascinating and interactive way. The aim of the curriculum is to be adaptable, in order that teachers can unfolded and repeat lessons as crucial. By providing a foundation for future work on this area, the project has the potential to make a major impact on early education and set children up for achievement in math and beyond.
