The The degree to which social studies teachers in Irbid governorate have spatial thinking skills

Abstract

The aim of the study was to reveal the degree to which social studies teachers in Irbid governorate possess spatial thinking skills, and to find out whether there are differences in their degree of spatial thinking skills due to gender, scientific specialization, teaching experience and the level of education, which was set at (75%). The study sample consisted of (57) social studies teachers selected by random class method distributed in three regions in Irbid governorate. A test was prepared to measure the degree to which teachers have spatial thinking skills, it consists of (22) paragraphs distributed among the three dimensions of thinking: knowledge of spatial space concepts, (9) paragraphs, use of representation tools, (7) paragraphs, spatial thinking processes and (6) paragraphs. It has the significance of acceptable honesty and stability. 

The results showed that social studies teachers had spatial thinking skills that were below the educationally acceptable level (75%) in its three dimensions and each dimension separately. There are no statistically significant differences due to both sex and experience, and differences that are statistically indicative of specialization and interest in geography. 

The study recommended: including courses in the training programs of social studies teachers in the colleges concerned with their preparation related to spatial thinking skills and teaching skills. And to run workshops for social studies teachers to provide them with spatial thinking skills.