Using LEGO to test children's ability to visualize and rotate 3D shapes in space:
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed a test that uses children’s ability to assemble LEGO pieces to assess their spatial visualization ability. Spatial visualization is the ability to visualize 3D shapes in one’s mind, which is tied to increased GPAs and graduation rates in STEM college students.
At the college level, a widely used assessment is the Purdue Spatial Visualization Test: Rotations, or PSVT:R, which is a 20-minute timed test consisting of a series of multiple-choice questions that are geared towards students 13 and older. Van Den Einde and Delson wanted to develop an assessment that would be more suitable and engaging for students at lower grade levels. They turned to LEGO, which was designed with that younger age range in mind and is familiar to many children. To pass the test, students have to assemble a set of LEGO pieces into a specific shape, such as a whale or a small plane, while only being given a picture of the final shape but no step-by-step instructions. The time it takes students to build the correct solution is the metric used for assessment.
[...] In order to validate the test, the researchers had students in two freshman engineering graphics courses take both the LEGO assembly test and the PSVT:R. Students took the tests both at the beginning and end of the quarter. During the course, they were trained with the Spatial Viz app. Test results show a statistically significant correlation between outcomes on the LEGO test and the PSVT:R.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 22 2020, @06:16PM (1 child)
From what I understand there was a period where they swayed way towards having just about every set have a few specialty bricks that were only available in a small number of sets. Since then, they've pared it back a ton because it wasn't economically feasible to have all these blocks that are essentially one-offs in terms of production costs.
That being said, the sets I've mostly used were from the '80s and '90s, I mostly just see the ones that my nephew has and they do have markedly more special pieces, even though Lego has been working to reduce the numbers in sets to keep production costs to something reasonable.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 23 2020, @09:53AM
To get any of those old-style lego pieces anymore. I've actually seen Fry's Electronics in California carrying them, although I didn't pick up a set. The second generation 'beveled' cockpits from the later plane and space sets are only available via the Chinese market now, and only in the glassic blue glass color. You can't find any of the cooler ones like the yellow, green or neon orange cockpits that were available in the blacktron, megatron and ice planet sets of the early to mid 90s anymore. So many great pieces are rarely available in the color and sizes people would actually want.