DEVELOPMENT OF SPATIAL THINKING SKILLS OF GRADE 8 STUDENTS AT WATNOINOPPAKHUN SCHOOL BY USING EDUCATIONAL GAMES BASED ON THE GEOGRAPHIC INQUIRY PROCESS

Abstract

This research aimed to compare students’ spatial thinking skills before and after using educational games based on the geographic inquiry process, and to compare post learning spatial thinking skills between students who learned using educational games based on the geographic inquiry process and students who learned through a conventional instruction. The research population consisted of 46 Grade 8 students in the 2568 academic year at Watnoinoppakhun School. The calculated sample size was 37 students, cluster random sampling was employed by assigning one classroom as the experimental group with 15 students. And two classrooms as the control group with a total of 22 students. The research instruments included a simulation game, lesson plans using educational games based on the geographic inquiry process, lesson plans using a lecture-based method, and a spatial thinking skills test.The research findings revealed that 1) students who learned using educational games based on the geographic inquiry process demonstrated significantly higher spatial thinking skills post-instruction than pre-instruction at the .05 level. Additionally 2) students who learned using educational games based on the geographic inquiry process had significantly higher spatial thinking skills than students who learned through the conventional instruction also at the .05 significance level.