Gender and Racial Differences: Development of Sixth Grade Students' Geometric Spatial Visualization within an Earth/Space Unit

Christa Jackson, Jennifer Anne Wilhelm, Mary Lamar, Merryn Cole

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study investigated sixth-grade middle-level students' geometric spatial development by gender and race within and between control and experimental groups at two middle schools as they participated in an Earth/Space unit. The control group utilized a regular Earth/Space curriculum and the experimental group used a National Aeronautics and Space Administration-based curriculum. The quantitative data sources included the Lunar Phases Concept Inventory, Geometric Spatial Assessment, and the Purdue Spatial Visualization–Rotation Test. The results indicated the experimental males and females, and the students of color and white students in the experimental group showed significant gains in their understanding of geometric spatial visualization from pre- to post-implementation. However, for the control group, the significant gains were limited to the males and the white students. The findings reveal that support is needed for males, females, and all racial groups to have the opportunity to develop their spatial reasoning, which in turn, increases students' scientific understanding.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)330-343
Number of pages14
JournalSchool Science and Mathematics
Volume115
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2015

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 School Science and Mathematics Association.

Keywords

  • gender
  • geometric spatial visualization
  • middle grades

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Mathematics (miscellaneous)
  • Education
  • Engineering (miscellaneous)
  • Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)
  • History and Philosophy of Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Gender and Racial Differences: Development of Sixth Grade Students' Geometric Spatial Visualization within an Earth/Space Unit'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this