Spatial reasoning ability of mathematics college students

Abstract

Calculus is one of the courses related to Science, Technology, Engineering, and mathematics (STEM). To be able to understand this material, the competence that students must possess is spatial reasoning ability. Spatial reasoning is ability related to representation, use of objects and their relationships in the 2D and 3D worlds. Spatial reasoning ability is essential for a college student. The study was carried out to analyze and measure the spatial reasoning ability of mathematics college students. Descriptive used in this qualitative study. The subject involved 97 college students, consists of 21 male and 76 female. The measurement used a spatial reasoning test based on three aspects which are spatial visualization, mental rotation and spatial orientation. The average of the three aspects which are spatial visualization, mental rotation and spatial orientation were as follows 9.47; 11.22; 8.25. It indicated that more than half college students had the average ability. The construct of mental rotation was the aspects that had the highest value compared to the other elements. The findings show that there was no difference in ability between male and female. It can be concluded that the spatial reasoning ability in college students still low and need some scaffolding to improve the spatial reasoning ability.