Visualization: The Human Brain and Developing Spatial Ability in Structural Geological Education

Abstract: Spatial ability and the skill to visualize objects is necessary for earth scientist, especially structural geologist. For this reason, undergraduate students within earth science needs to learn this skills, and how is the best way to teach this skills. To implement 3D thinking in undergraduate teaching, three strategies are presented. The first one is to separate and combine objects, which includes to see geological differences and categorize them. Secondly, visualize objects, both many and single ones and see which ones who are connected. Third and lastly is still and moving objects which involves geological processes. It is important to give students time to develop their spatial abilities and help them during the learning process. Another aspect to this is the path of information within the human brain when visualizing an object. The result shows that the process starts with the human eye which perceive the object and its attributes, then the geniculate nucleus sorts the information and directs it toward the visual primary cortex located in the occipital lobe. The primary visual cortex then send the information though the ventral- and dorsal steam which produces a visualization. Aspects which can affect the spatial ability may be earlier experiences, age and the way each person perceive the object. These factors effects how hard humans think the process of visualization is. The questionnaire showed that 3D models help students to visualize and should be used more in undergraduate teaching.