Developing Spatial Intelligence with Tetris
This weekend, I was helping my best friend move and as we were packing as many boxes onto a flatbed dolly as possible, I thought of Tetris. The three of us – all Tetris players in our youth (though not together… we’re from BC, Alberta and North Carolina) were incredibly adept at find little gaps to plug in with the right shaped box or ikea furniture piece.
I never played Tetris in school – well, I did, but not as a school-sanctioned activity! But I was crazy about playing Tetris on my Game Boy (ooh, so glad Nintendo changed the name of their portable gaming device to the gender-neutral DS)). My older sister loved Tetris too – so much so that she got her own Game Boy packed with Tetris for her next birthday – as well as my mom. I still love some good ole Tetris, and I have it for my DS and for my Wii. Don’t play it that often, but it’s a good standby. For my personal gaming now, I favour puzzle games and sudoku, mainly on my iPod touch. And MarioKart Wii.
I think that Tetris was huge in developing my generation’s spatial intelligence – our capacity to conceptualize and organize space. I think that this is especially significant for girls. I remember from social geography lectures that throughout the late 20th century, North American boys routinely outperformed girls in spatial aptitude tests – due to boys being given more free reign to venture (pun realized, not intended) out into the out of doors, while girls were much less encouraged or allowed to do so. Puzzle games like Tetris that help us develop our spatial aptitudes help to rectify this gender gap – or at least make us efficient movers!
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Angela Novoa 12:09 pm on October 4, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Allie, I agree with you. Even though I do not practice a lot with digital games, now I remember that I loved playing Tetris. As you, I think it is huge for developing spatial intelligence, specially today’s versions that are in 3D.
themusicwoman 12:50 pm on October 4, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Allie and Angela,
Nice that both of you have brought up spatial intelligence. Here’s a thought for you: my 5 year old daughter is quite into the games and my iPhone in particular and, funnily enough, she has some very “boy” like traits when it comes to her play. I know we are not supposed to gender stereotype but it’s interesting to see. And I am not surprised that the North American boys outperformed girls in spatial aptitude tests.
So, anyone up for a good old fashioned head to head Tetris game? lol
Allie 6:43 pm on October 5, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
thanks all for your comments; I’m intrigued by what might be the more practical applications of this spatial aptitude – beyond packing boxes and moving of course! I can imagine that this aptitude/intelligence would be significant for engineering (a field in which women continue to be vastly underrepresented).
Juliana 3:22 pm on October 4, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Allie,
I remember playing tetris too! I also remembering hearing that statistic of boys doing better with spatial games such as this. Interesting that you bring up that games like this could help to bridge the gender differences with spatial skills. Also, whenever I think of tetris and moving, it also reminds me of “The Simpsons” episode that alludes to this too. Here it is if you’re interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po5eiqXG5uw&feature=related
jarvise 2:20 pm on October 5, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I’m always up for a Simpsons reference. 🙂
Allie 6:41 pm on October 5, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
me too! that was awesome! I’m reminded of lecturing in my Aboriginal art class about the “crying Indian” PSA in the early 70s, and trying to convince my students of its cultural importance at the time. One student then said, “yeah, The Simpsons made a reference to it!” – which cemented my point for them!
jarvise 9:41 am on October 6, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I know that one from the Simpsons too. The ultimate post-modern experience…
Angela Novoa 3:57 pm on October 5, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
me too 🙂 I did remember that episode before watching it again
jenaca 7:09 am on October 5, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hey Allie,
Great post! I remember playing tetris when I was younger, but never thought I could relate it to relate to it like you have: I was wrong!!! This goes to show that games do have meaning and that in the big picture it is learning!
Allie 6:50 pm on October 5, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Thanks for your comment! I really enjoyed exploring games in 510, and one of my take-home lessons from that course was that there is a *lot* of learning that goes on in gaming that isn’t necessarily content-focused… or even intended. Since then, I’ve really paid attention to what I am learning when I play games. I think that’s because games are experiential and involve our affective domains.
Deb Giesbrecht 8:51 am on October 9, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I loved Tetris too —- glad to hear that it finally came in handy in ‘packing and moving’ of all places. Good to see those many hours were not a waste of time!