Xu, Z., Antonenko, P. Koh, D.H., Dawson, K.& Wysulko, C. (2022, April 21-25). Scaffolding Visuospatial Cognition in a Cryptology and Cybersecurity Curriculum for Elementary Students. [Paper presentation]. American Educational Research Association.
Even though visuospatial cognition has been identified as a critical to STEM learning, it is not explicitly taught or scaffolded in K-12 STEM education. Our study addresses this problem and explores strategies to scaffold visuospatial cognition in a cryptology and cybersecurity afterschool curriculum. The design of the scaffolding is guided using ten salient affordances identified in a meta-analysis of visuospatial training studies. Two iterations of pilot implementations have been conducted to refine the scaffolding. This paper reviews the design and refinement of the visuospatial scaffolding from an educational design research perspective. Our data also suggest additional potential strategies to provide visuospatial scaffolding for student learning of complex STEM concepts and processes.