Manuscript received June 14, 2024; revised August 20, 2024; accepted September 30, 2024; published December 11, 2024
Abstract—Mental rotation and spatial skills are not innate abilities and therefore require development. These skills involve the ability to accurately perceive objects in space, manipulate them mentally, and recreate situations without direct sensory input. Physiological studies suggest that the optimal period for enhancing spatial skills is between the ages of 11 and 13, when brain stimulation is heightened during the execution of concrete and formal operations. This quasi-experimental study aims to use Tetris-based sequences, which utilize the dynamics of the classic Tetris video game, to facilitate the acquisition of spatial skills and mental rotation in a sample of 181 students aged 11 to 13. This study employs an innovative experimental setup based on instructional sequences utilizing Tetris-based sequences. In particular, Tetris-based sequences were employed in both paper-and-pencil and digital formats, with the control group using the former and the experimental group using the latter. Through quantitative methods, we found that Tetris-based sequences significantly enhance spatial abilities in both groups. However, the use of the digital version of the Tetris-based sequences was associated with a significant decrease in mental rotation performance.
Keywords—Tetris-based sequences, mental rotation, spatial skills, game-based learning, visual-spatial abilities
Cite: David Jiménez-Ruiz, Pascual D. Diago, and Miguel Á. García-Moreno, "The Use of Tetris-Based Sequences for the Development of Mental Rotation and Spatial Skills in Students Aged 11 to 13," International Journal of Information and Education Technology vol. 14, no. 12, pp. 1673-1678, 2024.