Study Finds Spatial Skill Is Early Sign of Creativity • Hacker News Board

Re: Study Finds Spatial Skill Is Early Sign of Creativity

#21

Post by rsmith05 » Thu, Jul 18, 2013, 5:43 PM UTC

darkmighty wrote: post #19

A similar conclusion struck me when I was taking a linear algebra course in my 1st year. I had a very smart friend, and sometimes I studied with him. He usually studied a lot more than myself, and naturally fared a lot better (and more consistently). However there were some problems which were very unusual which I would look at, think for just a few seconds, and have a delightful path to the solution -- and often tim…

Would you be able to elaborate on "algebraical vs geometrical" thinking?

I've noticed myself that there are two types of "math" that people tend to be good at:

1) Algorithmic - Following a set of steps to achieve a particular result. Algorithms, discrete math, "compsci" math, and procedural and OO programming. Coders tend to be good at this kind.

2) "Abstract" - "Pure Math", what I would label as the harder kind of math, like calculating the intersection of planes, calculus, linear algebra, etc. Pure math majors and theoretical computer science folks are good at this kind.

I have met folks that are good at 1 or 2, or both.

Forgive me for my poor use of terms, I'm one of those folks that is not particularly great at math (mostly due to lack of practice) but I was always curious if my observation was backed up with any "real" terms or if there has been any research into this kind of thing. What you describe seems to be relatively close to what I've observed myself.

Re: Study Finds Spatial Skill Is Early Sign of Creativity

#22

Post by nborwankar » Thu, Jul 18, 2013, 5:53 PM UTC

tokenadult wrote: post #15

To emphasize the positive here, and to link to some other information about research on this topic, I invite readers to look at the freely downloadable peer-reviewed research articles from the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth, which researches the issue of which early indicators of ability may be predictive of different kinds of adult achievement. The study has been looking at spatial ability tests as one of…

I am consistently disappointed that these sort of articles do not even mention what can be done to develop spatial reasoning but focus on testing alone. The challenge is to create a curriculum that systematically develops this mental faculty. That would require a lot of creativity ;-).

Re: Study Finds Spatial Skill Is Early Sign of Creativity

#23

Post by bcgraham » Thu, Jul 18, 2013, 5:56 PM UTC

darkmighty wrote: post #19

A similar conclusion struck me when I was taking a linear algebra course in my 1st year. I had a very smart friend, and sometimes I studied with him. He usually studied a lot more than myself, and naturally fared a lot better (and more consistently). However there were some problems which were very unusual which I would look at, think for just a few seconds, and have a delightful path to the solution -- and often tim…

You mean Planck, not Maxwell, right?

Re: Study Finds Spatial Skill Is Early Sign of Creativity

#24

Post by crusso » Thu, Jul 18, 2013, 6:08 PM UTC

wslh wrote: post #2

While I really like this kind of articles I don't like the search for single or few causes of intelligence or creativity. Happily human beings and the world in general is more complex and trying to absolutely follow what these studies say is a bad idea.

really like this kind of articles I don't like

What's to like or not like about it? It's information on correlation of an aspect of reasoning with creativity.

What's does "follow what these studies say" even mean?

Re: Study Finds Spatial Skill Is Early Sign of Creativity

#25

Post by darkmighty » Thu, Jul 18, 2013, 6:15 PM UTC

bcgraham wrote: post #23

darkmighty wrote: post #19

A similar conclusion struck me when I was taking a linear algebra course in my 1st year. I had a very smart friend, and sometimes I studied with him. He usually studied a lot more than myself, and naturally fared a lot better (and more consistently). However there were some problems which were very unusual which I would look at, think for just a few seconds, and have a delightful path to the solution -- and often tim…

You mean Planck, not Maxwell, right?

Right, Planck! (It stands corrected)

Re: Study Finds Spatial Skill Is Early Sign of Creativity

#26

Post by bcbrown » Thu, Jul 18, 2013, 6:37 PM UTC

rsmith05 wrote: post #21

darkmighty wrote: post #19

A similar conclusion struck me when I was taking a linear algebra course in my 1st year. I had a very smart friend, and sometimes I studied with him. He usually studied a lot more than myself, and naturally fared a lot better (and more consistently). However there were some problems which were very unusual which I would look at, think for just a few seconds, and have a delightful path to the solution -- and often tim…

Would you be able to elaborate on "algebraical vs geometrical" thinking? I've noticed myself that there are two types of "math" that people tend to be good at: 1) Algorithmic - Following a set of steps to achieve a particular result. Algorithms, discrete math, "compsci" math, and procedural and OO programming. Coders tend to be good at this kind. 2) "Abstract" - "Pure Math", what I would label as the harder kind of m…

I know that I personally am much stronger with algebraic math than geometrical math. For me, that means that integrals, linear algebra, etc are something that I'm strong at, but I'm poor at anything that requires spatial reasoning.

That's different from your two types. For example, take your "calculating the intersection of planes." I would approach that by first writing the algebraic equations that define the two planes, then trying to find the manipulation that will let me solve for the intersection. Someone who is a geometric thinker might start by plotting the two planes, and reasoning spatially.

So, that distinction is wholly separate from your algorithmic/abstract distinction, and to me, is a distinction within the abstract realm.

Re: Study Finds Spatial Skill Is Early Sign of Creativity

#27

Post by bcbrown » Thu, Jul 18, 2013, 6:43 PM UTC

nborwankar wrote: post #22

tokenadult wrote: post #15

To emphasize the positive here, and to link to some other information about research on this topic, I invite readers to look at the freely downloadable peer-reviewed research articles from the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth, which researches the issue of which early indicators of ability may be predictive of different kinds of adult achievement. The study has been looking at spatial ability tests as one of…

I am consistently disappointed that these sort of articles do not even mention what can be done to develop spatial reasoning but focus on testing alone. The challenge is to create a curriculum that systematically develops this mental faculty. That would require a lot of creativity ;-).

You're assuming there's a causation there, not just a correlation.

Re: Study Finds Spatial Skill Is Early Sign of Creativity

#28

Post by daemon13 » Thu, Jul 18, 2013, 6:50 PM UTC

nborwankar wrote: post #22

tokenadult wrote: post #15

To emphasize the positive here, and to link to some other information about research on this topic, I invite readers to look at the freely downloadable peer-reviewed research articles from the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth, which researches the issue of which early indicators of ability may be predictive of different kinds of adult achievement. The study has been looking at spatial ability tests as one of…

I am consistently disappointed that these sort of articles do not even mention what can be done to develop spatial reasoning but focus on testing alone. The challenge is to create a curriculum that systematically develops this mental faculty. That would require a lot of creativity ;-).

seconded

I wonder if there are any methods or tools for developing this? My son is almost 3 years old.

Re: Study Finds Spatial Skill Is Early Sign of Creativity

#29

Post by neovive » Thu, Jul 18, 2013, 6:57 PM UTC

This is just more evidence that our school system is heading in the wrong direction. With so much emphasis on testing easily measurable subjects, emphasis is moving away from hard to measure, such as creative thinking.

I've seen first hard how the results of standardized tests in elementary schools force administrators to shift additional periods towards test prep that would have otherwise been used for arts, music, free play, etc.

Re: Study Finds Spatial Skill Is Early Sign of Creativity

#30

Post by mooze » Thu, Jul 18, 2013, 7:25 PM UTC

If this is true, then schools are literally quashing creativity.

When I was in high school my maths teacher insisted on us using algebraic methods to solve geometry problems. (I'm a visual-spatial thinker, go figure.) The reasoning went: laying the steps out that way would guarantee 'process points', even if you got the result wrong. Not possible with a geometric approach. This was in preparation for the Chinese Gaokao, mind, so points were a matter of life and death (or so it felt like).