The Development of Spatial Thinking in Everyday Activity

Abstract

This paper discusses the development of spatial thinking from a practical, everyday perspective in which social and cultural information is used to facilitate problem solving. It focuses on problem solving that draws directly on spatial knowledge, such as wayfinding, giving directions, and spatial memory, as well as problem solving that relies indirectly on spatial knowledge, such as planning and executing a sequence of actions or a search in large-scale space. The paper integrates what is currently known about the acquisition and use of spatial knowledge with research on contextual influences on the development of thinking and problem solving. It argues that the nature of an activity organizes the type and extent of spatial knowledge that develops. In particular, it discusses the influence of the goal of an activity and the sociocultural context of performance, including conventions of communication, social and material tools, and cultural practices, on the development and use of spatial knowledge.