Spatial abilities and mathematics: From the lab to the classroom
Join us for the Centre for Language, Literacy and Numeracy: Research and Practice's summer lecture, presented by Emily Farran.
Spatial abilities and mathematics: From the lab to the classroom
03 Jun 2025, 17:30 – 19:00
The Centre are delighted to be hosting Professor Emily Farran, who will be presenting her research on spatial abilities and mathematics, from the lab to the classroom.
A robust finding in cognitive psychology is that training children’s spatial abilities is a proven route to improving mathematics performance.
Professor Farran will present the Spatial Reasoning Toolkit, a set of accessible resources designed to facilitate the transfer of research knowledge into practice and to equip practitioners to integrate spatial thinking into their curricula so that children develop the spatial skills they need to succeed in mathematics (and STEM). The toolkit has been adopted for inclusion in the early years and primary teacher training pathways by a national teacher-training organisation in England and included in a new spatial reasoning training pathway for primary school teachers run by the English government’s 40 Maths Hubs.
She will also present empirical studies to show examples of working with practitioners to implement teacher-led spatial training in the classroom, including looking at the impact of teacher-led Lego construction training on Lego construction ability and a range of spatial and mathematical abilities in children.
This lecture will be followed by a wine reception.
This event will be of interest to researchers, teachers, practitioners and parents.
Related links
- Centre for Language, Literacy and Numeracy: Research and Practice
- Department of Psychology and Human Development
Image
Phil Meech for UCL IOE.
Professor Emily Farran
Professor of Cognitive Development; Director of the Cognition, Genes and Developmental Variability Lab
University of Surrey, UK
The broad aim of her research is to characterise typical and atypical development of cognitive functions within the context of the developing brain.
This includes a focus on the relationship between spatial thinking and science and mathematics achievement.
Further information
Ticketing
Pre-booking essential
Cost
Free
Open to
All
Availability
Yes
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