Tatyana Sokolova
E-mail: tdsokolova@gmail.com
The title of speech for school:
Mental Rotation As Major Part Of Solving Spatial Tasks
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I’m studying in the International University of Nature, Society and Men “Dubna”, Russia on the General Psychology chair. Visual thinking and mental rotation is the aria of scientific interest of my PhD supervisor prof. V Zinchenko. My PhD dissertation about mental rotation as major part of solving spatial exercises. Now I’m collecting theoretical part and planning the experiment. Mental rotation is a component of visual thinking. Interest in the study of mental rotation is quite high, as evidenced by the large number of publications on this subject in recent years. Because of in modern society a lot of professions require processing three-dimensional (3D) tasks (designers, engineers, architects, program developers etc.).
Most of scientists study mental rotation of adult people in artificial (unnatural) environment using 3D objects stimulus. However, we interesting in research mental rotation in real activity when rotation is required part of solving practical problem. Also we concentrate on yang participants, because this will answer the question: How can we teach the rotation of the objects?
There are publications presented different ways to teach to rotate. Geiser C. suggests instruct children how to rotate effectively; Wiedenbauer G. proposes manual training of mental rotation. We suppose that better way to study is via real activity. Currently in Russian schools almost disappeared subjects which step up spatial abilities like (Hand-made lessons, Drawing). Geometry expects from student well formed mental 3D rotation skills, and not directed to develop it. There are some life activities which increase spatial abilities (ex., modelling, terrain orientation).
Research tasks:
- Study spatial ability of children connected with different 3D activities (terrain orientation, modelling, and deep Geometry studying).
- Develop list of 3D rotation study lessons which represented as practical activities.
- Studying the effect of the transfer of spatial skills, formed by a practical activity, into the mental plan.
In the summer school I’ll plan to discuss transfer problem mentioned in third task above, and told with scientist from other countries with similar topics.
Also I continue to work at the Culture-Historical Psychology department of Moscow State University of Psychology & Education. In this university I’d participate in compilation of Culture-Historical dictionary.
My thesis to degree was devoted to forming of productive action. This work was based on Vygotsky’s cultural-historical theory and Gal’perin’s systematic formation of mental actions theory.
Tatyana Sokolova Mental Rotation As Major Part Of Solving Spatial Tasks