Learning and Intelligent Systems: Understanding and Fostering Spatial Competence

该项目由学习和智能系统(LIS)倡议提供资金。一个由九名高级研究人员组成的小组将在认知、计算和神经层面研究空间能力及其随着时间的推移而出现的情况。将研究的主题包括：人们如何形成空间表征；人们如何使用外部符号系统，如地图、图表、图形和语言描述来交流空间信息；美国学校接受的教育投入在支持空间学习方面的作用；空间学习的最佳计算模型；以及基于神经解剖学研究和神经心理学评估的空间学习神经可塑性的证据。这一组相关研究的共同目的是研究环境敏感型空间能力增长的本质，以及如何在美国人口中最大化空间学习。我们的研究将在合作教师的帮助下对教育实践和教育软件的创新进行评估。

This project is being funded through the Learning and Intelligent Systems (LIS) Initiative. A group of nine senior investigators will study spatial competence, and its emergence over time, at the cognitive, computational, and neural levels. Topics to be studied include how people form spatial representations; how people communicate about spatial information using external symbol systems such as maps, diagrams, graphs, and linguistic descriptions; the role of the educational input received in American schools in supporting spatial learning; the optimal computational model of spatial learning; and, evidence of neural plasticity for spatial learning, based on both neuroanatomical study and neuropsychological evaluation. The common purpose of this group of related research endeavors is to examine the nature of environmentally-sensitive growth in spatial competence and how spatial learning can be maximized in the American population. Innovations for educational practice and educational software resulting from our research will be evaluated with the help of collaborating teachers.