%0 Book %A National Research Council %T Learning to Think Spatially %@ 978-0-309-09208-1 %D 2006 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11019/learning-to-think-spatially %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11019/learning-to-think-spatially %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Education %P 332 %R doi:10.17226/11019 %X Learning to Think Spatially examines how spatial thinking might be incorporated into existing standards-based instruction across the school curriculum. Spatial thinking must be recognized as a fundamental part of K–12 education and as an integrator and a facilitator for problem solving across the curriculum. With advances in computing technologies and the increasing availability of geospatial data, spatial thinking will play a significant role in the information-based economy of the twenty-first century. Using appropriately designed support systems tailored to the K–12 context, spatial thinking can be taught formally to all students. A geographic information system (GIS) offers one example of a high-technology support system that can enable students and teachers to practice and apply spatial thinking in many areas of the curriculum.