Spatial Ability of Grade VIII Students in Terms of Van Hiele's Level of Thinking
Keywords:
Geometry education, spatial ability, van HieleAbstract
Spatial ability is important in learning geometry, especially related to 3D shapes. This study aims to analyze students' spatial ability based on van Hiele's geometry thinking level. The research was conducted with a qualitative case study approach involving 23 students of grade VIII at one of the public junior high schools in Bandung, West Java. The researchers gave two types of tests to students, namely spatial tests based on spatial perception, visualization, mental rotation, spatial relation, and spatial orientation elements, as well as geometry thinking tests based on van Hiele's five levels of thinking, namely visualization, analysis, informal deduction, deduction, and rigor. The results show that about half of students reached the visualization level with low spatial orientation ability, while the rest of students have not reached the visualization level with very low spatial orientation ability. The spatial ability of students in the spatial perception element is categorized as high, in the visualization and spatial relation elements is categorized as sufficient, and in the mental rotation element is categorized as low. Students' ability to see objects from various directions and to rotate objects still needs to be improved.
References
Adam, M. B., & Zulkarnaen, R. (2019). Studi Kasus Kemampuan Spasial Siswa Kelas IX dalam Menyelesaikan Soal TIMSS pada Materi Geometri. Prosiding Seminar Nasional Matematika Dan Pendidikan Matematika Sesiomadika 2019, 749–753.
Alghadari, F., & Herman, T. (2018). The obstacles of geometric problem-solving on solid with vector and triangle approach. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1132(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1132/1/012046
Atit, K., Power, J. R., Veurink, N., Uttal, D. H., Sorby, S., Panther, G., Msall, C., Fiorella, L., & Carr, M. (2020). Examining the role of spatial skills and mathematics motivation on middle school mathematics achievement. International Journal of STEM Education, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-020-00234-3
Chao, J. Y., & Liu, C. H. (2016). A Case Study on The Spatial Conceptualization Abilities for Sixth Grade Elementary Students from Urban, Suburban and Remote Schools. EURASIA Journal of Mathematics Science and Technology Education, 13(6), 1675–1686.
Crowley, M. (1987). The van Hiele model of the development of geometric thought. Learning and Teaching Geometry, K-12, 1–16.
Hafizin, M. Al. (2017). Analisis Kemampuan Spasial Siswa pada Geometri Kudus dan Balok di Kelas IX SMP Negeri 03 Pulau Beringin. Universitas Muhammadiyah Palembang.
Hiele, P. Van. (1999). Developing Geometric Thinking through Activities That Begin with Play. Teaching Children Mathematics, 6(February 1999), 10–16.
Hutagalung, D. H., Sinaga, B., & Syahputra, H. (2021). Spatial Ability Analysis of Students in Applying the Van Hiele Theory with Autograph Media Assisted. Journal of Education and Practice, 12(2), 54–58. https://doi.org/10.7176/jep/12-2-07
Ishikawa, T., & Newcombe, N. S. (2021). Why spatial is special in education, learning, and everyday activities. Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-021-00274-5
Kariadinata, R., Yaniawati, R. P., Juariah, J., Susilawati, W., & Cahyana, A. (2019). Mathematical spatial and disposition ability through the wingeom application. Journal of Physics: Conference Series. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1402/7/077098
Linn, M. C., & Petersen, A. C. (1985). Emergence and Characterization of Sex Differences in Spatial Ability: A Meta-Analysis. Child Development, 56(6), 1479–1498.
Maier, P. H. (1998). Spatial Geometry and Spatial Ability - How To Make Solid Geometry Solid? University of Osnabrueck.
Makhubele, Y., Nkhoma, P., & Luneta, K. (2015). Errors Displayed by Learners in The Learning of Grade 11 Geometry (Issue October). https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.1534.8565
Mananeke, S. G., Wenas, J. R., & Sambuaga, O. T. (2017). Hubungan Kecerdasan Visual-Spasial dengan Hasil Belajar Matematika Siswa pada Materi Geometri. Jurnal Sains, Matematika, & Edukasi (JSME) FMIPA Unima, 5(1), 87–91.
Muhassanah, N., Sujadi, I., & Riyadi, R. (2014). Analisis Keterampilan Geometri Siswa dalam Memecahkan Masalah Geometri Berdasarkan Tingkat Berpikir Van Hiele. Jurnal Elektronik Pembelajaran Matematika, 2(1).
Rusyda, N. A., Kusnandi, K., & Suhendra, S. (2017). A Cognitive Analysis of Students’ Mathematical Communication Ability on Geometry. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 895(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/895/1/012083
Sipus, Z. M., & Cizmesija, A. (2012). Spatial Ability of Students of Mathematics Education in Croatia Evaluated by The Mental Cutting Test. Annales Mathematicae et Informaticae, 40, 203–216.
Sofyana, A. U., & Budiarto, M. T. (2013). Profil Keterampilan Geometri Siswa SMP dalam Memecahkan Masalah Geometri Berdasarkan Level Perkembangan Berpikir Van Hiele. Jurnal Elektronik Matematik, 2(1).
Subroto, T. (2012). Kemampuan Spasial (Spatial Ability). Seminar Nasional Pendidikan Matematika “Pengembangan Keterampilan Berpikir Serta Pembinaan Karakter Melalui Pembelajaran Matematika,” 252–259.
Sudihartinih, E. (2018). Analisis Kesalahan Siswa dalam Konsep Titik dan Garis pada Bidang. Erudio Journal of Educational Innovation, 5(1), 12–18. https://doi.org/10.18551/erudio.5-1.2
Sudihartinih, E., & Mulyana, E. (2014). Perkuliahan Geometri Transformasi dengan Pendekatan Konstruktivisme untuk Meningkatkan Level Berpikir Geometri van Hiele. Jurnal Pendidikan Matematika Sigma Didaktika, 3(1), 11–16.
Sudihartinih, E., & Wahyudin. (2019). The van Hiele Levels of Geometric of Students in First Semester Reviewed from Gender. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1280(4). https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1280/4/042034
Sulistiowati, D. L., Herman, T., & Jupri, A. (2019). Student difficulties in solving geometry problem based on Van Hiele thinking level. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1157(4). https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1157/4/042118
Susilawati, I., & Suhendra, S. (2025). An Experimental Study on the Achievement and Enhancement of Eighth Grade Students’ Creative and Imitative Reasoning through Resource-Based Learning in Mathematics. Prisma, 14(1), 25. https://doi.org/10.35194/jp.v14i1.5115
Usiskin, Z. (1982). Van Hiele Levels and Achievement in Secondary School Geometry. CDASSG Project The University of Chicago.
VanHiele, P. M. (1959). The Child’s Thought and Geometry. In English Translation of Selected Writings of Dina van Hiele-Geldof and
Pierre M. van Hiele (pp. 243-252 (in 'Classics')).
Wai, J., Lubinski, D., & Benbow, C. P. (2009). Spatial ability for STEM domains: Aligning over 50 years of cumulative psychological knowledge solidifies its importance. Journal of Educational Psychology, 101, 817–835. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016127
Walle, J. A. Van de. (2007). Matematika Sekolah Dasar dan Menengah Jilid 2 (G. Sagara & Lemeda Simarmata (eds.); 6th ed.). Erlangga.
Zubaidah, S. (2016). Keterampilan Abad Ke-21: Keterampilan yang Diajarkan Melalui Pembelajaran. 2, 1–17.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 PRISMA
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
