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Spatial Ability for University Biology Education

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Advances in Human Factors in Training, Education, and Learning Sciences (AHFE 2018)

Part of the book series: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing ((AISC,volume 785))

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Abstract

Studying and pursuing careers of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields demand spatial ability. Completing a university degree in biology is no exception. The aim of this study is to summarize key findings showing that there is a two-way relation between university biology education and spatial ability. The first aspect of this relation is the most investigated: spatial ability facilitates learning biology. However, the other aspect is also possible: learning biology may improve spatial ability. We present empirical evidence to support both possibilities. The focus is on university biology, and the spatial abilities of mental rotation and mental folding (spatial visualization). We present findings showing that these spatial abilities affect university biology learning and achievement from textual and visual materials. We also present correlational studies and experiments showing that university biology learning positively affects mental rotation and mental folding.

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Acknowledgments

Funding from PIA–CONICYT Basal Funds for Centers of Excellence, Project FB0003 is gratefully acknowledged by the first author. Also, this research was supported by the Spatial Intelligence and Learning Center (National Science Foundation Grant SBE0541957) to the second author. We are thankful to Mariana Poblete and Monserratt Ibáñez for their assistance.

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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 and Social Policy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA

    David H. Uttal

Authors
  1. Juan C. Castro-Alonso
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  2. David H. Uttal
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Correspondence to Juan C. Castro-Alonso .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Maritime Operations, University College of Southeast Norway, Borre, Norway

    Salman Nazir

  2. Safety Solutions, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland

    Anna-Maria Teperi

  3. Department of Production Management and Logistics, Faculty of Management and Production Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Lodz, Poland

    Aleksandra Polak-Sopińska

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Castro-Alonso, J.C., Uttal, D.H. (2019). Spatial Ability for University Biology Education. In: Nazir, S., Teperi, AM., Polak-Sopińska, A. (eds) Advances in Human Factors in Training, Education, and Learning Sciences. AHFE 2018. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 785. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93882-0_28

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93882-0_28

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-93881-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-93882-0

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