Sociocultural Influences on the Development of Spatial Thinking

Abstract

This paper discusses the development of spatial cognition from a sociocultural perspective. It integrates what is currently known about the acquisition and use of spatial knowledge with research on sociocultural influences on the development of thinking and problem solving. It argues that the nature of an activity organizes the type and extent of spatial knowledge that develops, and that activity is largely guided by the sociocultural context in which the activity occurs and from which it derives meaning. In particular, it focuses on the role of three aspects of the sociocultural context in the development of spatial thinking: conventions of communication, social and material tools and artifacts, and cultural practices.