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Computerized and Adaptable Tests to Measure Visuospatial Abilities in STEM Students

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Book cover Advances in Human Factors in Training, Education, and Learning Sciences (AHFE 2017)

Part of the book series: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing ((AISC,volume 596))

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Abstract

Performance in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines can depend on the sub-abilities of spatial ability and visuospatial working memory. According to the STEM task, certain sub-abilities may be more important than others in predicting achievement. Similarly, some individual characteristics (e.g., gender) moderate some of these sub-abilities. For example, males on average have higher mental rotation spatial ability than females, whereas spatial working memory tends to be less prone to gender effects. In addition, the results of the tests measuring these sub-abilities can be changed by manipulating certain variables. We present a battery of nine computerized and adaptable instruments to measure these sub-abilities, with the aim of informing cognitive researchers about the processing abilities most vital for undertaking STEM tasks, and how they can be modified to suit learner characteristics.

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Acknowledgments

The first author acknowledges funding from CONICYT PAI, national funding research program for returning researchers from abroad, 2014, No. 82140021; and PIA–CONICYT Basal Funds for Centers of Excellence, Project FB0003. Also, this research was supported by an Australian Research Council grant (DP140103307) to the second and third authors. We acknowledge the programming and design of Daniel Escalante, Mauricio Barrios, Matías Salinas and Ignacio Jarabran, and the significant assistance of Mónica Arenas and Claudia Arenas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Advanced Research in Education (CIAE), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Juan C. Castro-Alonso

  2. School of Education, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    Paul Ayres

  3. Department of Psychology, Education, and Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Fred Paas

  4. Early Start Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia

    Fred Paas

Authors
  1. Juan C. Castro-Alonso
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  2. Paul Ayres
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  3. Fred Paas
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Correspondence to Juan C. Castro-Alonso .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. TiER1 Performance Solutions, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

    Terence Andre

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Castro-Alonso, J.C., Ayres, P., Paas, F. (2018). Computerized and Adaptable Tests to Measure Visuospatial Abilities in STEM Students. In: Andre, T. (eds) Advances in Human Factors in Training, Education, and Learning Sciences. AHFE 2017. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 596. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60018-5_33

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60018-5_33

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-60017-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-60018-5

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