An Investigation on $6^{th}$ Grade Students' Spatial Sense and Spatial Reasoning

초등학교 6학년 학생들의 공간감각과 공간추론능력 실태조사

The purpose of this study was to provide instructional suggestions by investigating the spatial sense and spatial reasoning ability of 6th grade students. The questionnaire consisted of 20 questions, 10 for spatial visualization and 10 for spatial orientation. The number of subjects for the survey was 145. The processes through which the students solved the problems were the basis for the assessment of their spatial reasoning. The result of the survey is as follows: First, students performed better in spatial visualization than in spatial orientation. With regard to spatial visualization, they were better in transformation than in rotation. With regard to spatial orientation, students performed better in orientation sense and structure cognitive ability than in situational sense. Second, the students that weren't excellent in spatial visualization tended to answer the familiar figures without using mental images. The students who lacked spatial orientation experienced difficulties finding figures observed from the sides. Third, students had high frequency rate on the cognition and use of transformation, the development and application of visualization methods and the use of analysis and synthesis. However they had a lower rate on a systematic approach and deductive reasoning. Further detailed investigation into how students use spatial reasoning, and apply it to actual teaching practice as a device for advancing their geometric thinking is necessary.

본 연구는 초등학교 6학년 학생들의 공간감각과 공간추론능력의 실태를 조사하였다. 공간감각 측면에서는 전반적으로 학생들의 공간 시각화 능력이 공간 방향화 능력보다 우수하였는데, 각각의 하위 요소를 분석한 결과 변환능력이 회전능력보다, 방향감각과 물체의 구조인식능력이 위치감각보다 상대적으로 우수하였다. 공간추론능력 측면에서는 학생들이 문제를 해결할 때 다양한 공간추론능력을 사용하는 것으로 드러났는데, 특히 변환의 인식과 사용, 분석과 종합, 시각화 방법의 개발과 적용을 많이 사용하였다. 본 논문은 학생들의 공간감각 및 공간추론능력 사용형태를 상세히 분석함으로써 이와 관련한 교수 학습 과정에 시사점을 제공하고자 하였다.