{"id":7858,"date":"2020-11-18T12:34:26","date_gmt":"2020-11-18T12:34:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=7858"},"modified":"2020-11-26T09:36:08","modified_gmt":"2020-11-26T09:36:08","slug":"the-role-of-visuospatial-processing-on-stem-learning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/the-role-of-visuospatial-processing-on-stem-learning\/7858\/","title":{"rendered":"The role of visuospatial processing on STEM learning"},"content":{"rendered":"
Working memory is our central mind processor for managing new information and integrating it with our previous knowledge. As such, working memory is a central component for learning. It is composed of at least two somewhat independent processors:<\/p>\n
Hence, both components are needed to learn through educational materials that show visualisations and narrations, such as computer multimedia modules.<\/p>\n
In our laboratory at the Institute of Education, Center for Advanced Research in Education, Universidad de Chile (Santiago, Chile), we are interested in investigating the visuospatial component of working memory and the variables that influence it. Our focus is on the effects of visuospatial processing in multimedia learning, chiefly when the multimedia modules show topics about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).<\/p>\n
We understand that the relationship between visuospatial processing and STEM education has two directions. One predicts that visuospatial processing can boost STEM learning and competency. There is abundant evidence supporting this prediction by showing the beneficial effects of visuospatial processing on disciplines as diverse as biology, chemistry, physics, medicine, anatomy, surgery, technology, and geometry. A common finding is that visuospatial processing is more important in the earlier rather than the later phases of STEM competency. In other words, the specific disciplinary knowledge eventually becomes more critical than visuospatial processing.<\/p>\n
The other direction of the reciprocal relationship between visuospatial processing and STEM education predicts that learning STEM topics and practising with STEM materials will aid in visuospatial processing tasks. There is also plenty of evidence, both correlational and experimental, supporting this prediction. Acquiring knowledge in areas such as biology<\/a>, chemistry, physics<\/a>, dentistry, anatomy, veterinary medicine, technology, and maths, has proven to help enhancing visuospatial processing performance.<\/p>\n Due to this pivotal role of visuospatial processing on STEM learning and proficiency, we have recently developed a battery of computer instruments to measure different aspects of visuospatial processing. The battery, which is called VAR (visuospatial adaptable resources), contains several Internet instruments, including two mental rotation tests, two spatial and two visual working memory tests, and dual visuospatial working memory tasks.<\/p>\n Regarding the two mental rotation instruments, VAR includes a three-dimensional and a two-dimensional tool. The three-dimensional instrument is based on the pen-and-paper Mental Rotations Test, which shows abstract shapes made with connected cubes. The two-dimensional instrument is based on the pen-and-paper Card Rotations Test. The version in VAR includes the standard abstract shapes plus 20 novel images (see Fig. 1). In both mental rotation tests, participants must judge if shapes are the same or different, independently of their rotational angles. Some variables that can be adjusted in these mental rotation instruments include: the rotation and number of shapes to show, their format, and the timing of the tests.<\/p>\n Regarding the two spatial working memory instruments, one is based on the Corsi Block Tapping Test, and the other one follows the n-back paradigm. The Corsi Block Tapping Test included in VAR shows two-dimensional on-screen squares that get highlighted in sequences. The participant must memorise and replicate the sequences (see Fig. 2). The visuospatial n-back test of VAR shows different patterns that must be recognised after some patterns have been shown as interfering blocks. Three common adaptable variables in these spatial working memory tests are: the length of the sequence shown, speed of presentation, and number of sequences per level.<\/p>\n Concerning the two visual working memory instruments in VAR, one is adapted from the Visual Patterns Test. In this case, patterns of filled and blank squares must be replicated from memory. The other visual working memory instrument includes two subtests, the Object Location Memory task, and the Object Identity Memory task. All these tests can be adjusted in variables such as: number of trials per level, size of the visual stimuli, and waiting interval time.<\/p>\n The dual visuospatial working memory tasks of VAR can be set with different combinations of memory and processing stimuli. Variables that can be adjusted in these dual working memory tasks include: time to present the stimuli, inter-stimuli time, number of trials, and starting and ending difficulty levels.<\/p>\n The VAR system also includes an internet administrative tool, with restricted access, which allows administrator users to configure the tests. Some of the changes that can be made are the language of the instructions and the written information (English and Spanish), and the timing of the tasks. Importantly, this administrative tool automatically saves the data of the finished tests, so that this information can be exported to spreadsheets for further analyses. VAR has been employed successfully in different countries and with different research teams.<\/p>\nVisuospatial adaptable resources<\/h3>\n