Educating Integral Innovators in a European Academic Network

Abstract

This study introduces a new framework for developing spatial education programs based on a geometric language and manipulation of ensembles of polyhedra, called X-Colony Knowledge Discovery Kit (KDK). The KDK main goals are to develop spatial intelligence, creativity, strategic planning, forecasting skills, abstract reasoning, self-confidence, and social skills. Landmark studies document that spatial education plays a central role in driving performance in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) occupations, yet spatial education is under-studied and the infrastructure for research on spatial learning is at the beginning. KDK introduces a novel geometric language that allows visual communication and develops spatial abilities by engaging students to perform creative paper folding and various mental spatial transformations. KDK is organized in program sessions consisting of cooperative open-end paper construction activities that engage students to build modular constructions of gradual complexity and to explore various strategies for combining the constructs into novel configurations. KDK supports the Core Math Standard and Science curricula and provides students the opportunity to discover connections between mathematics, science and various other disciplines. A pilot case-control study conducted with fifth grade students indicates an average increase of 17% in geometric reasoning after 8 hours of KDK activities.