Spatial thinking is essential for scientific thought; it is used to represent and manipulate information in learning and problem solving (Clements & Battista, 1992). It is also required in many intellectual endeavors such as solving problems in engineering, design, physics and mathematics (Smith, 1964; Pellegrino, Alderton & Shute, 1984). Enhancing students' spatial abilities is one of the roles of geometric activities. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics recommends "the mathematics curriculum for grade 58 should include the study of the geometry of one, two, and three dimensions in a variety of situations, so that students can visualize and represent geometric figures with special attention to developing spatial sense" (NCTM, 1989). However, such is not the case. Current geometry curricula do not provide enough opportunities for the development of spatial ability (Usiskin, 1987). Moreover, in many schools geometry is delayed until the end of the school year (Hoffer & Hoffer, 1992) or eliminated (Porter, 1989).

Making connections: improving spatial abilities with engineering drawing activities

A culture’s social fabric is deeply dependent on how its members establish romantic bonds. What happens when the way those bonds are formed is radically changed over the course of a single generation? This is the case with the rise of online dating, which is now the second most common way for people to meet a romantic partner. Despite existing research exploring issues such as mate selection, self-presentation, and impressions, we still do not know how online dating systems affect people’s perceptions—about technology, relationships, romantic partners, and themselves—and how these perceptions affect behavior. In this paper, we introduce and explicate the Source Multiplicity, Attribution, Recognition, and Transformation (SMART) Model of Online Dating. The SMART model is a comprehensive theoretical framework that has interdisciplinary roots in human-computer interaction (HCI), computer-mediated communication (CMC), psychology, and decision science.

Jerry L. Young

Papers

Uncovering the Algorithms

Improving Spatial Abilities with Geometric Activities.