A Case Study on the Ways How Engagement with Spatial Visualization Problem Solving Activities Helps Pre-Service Mathematics Teachers in Solving Mental Rotation Problems/Uzamsal Görsellestirme Problemleri Çözme Etkinliklerinin Ögretmen Adaylarinin Zihinsel Döndürme Problemleri Çözmelerine Nasil Yardimci Oldugu Üzerine Bir Durum Çalismasi

The purpose of the present study is to investigate in what ways engagement with spatial visualization problem solving activities helps pre-service mathematics teachers in solving mental rotation problems. To achieve this purpose, a case study is conducted and the case of the study is the group of five pre-service mathematics teachers studying in a public university in Ankara. Spatial Ability Test (SAT) and task-based interviews are used as data collecting instruments. The results of the study show that participants use different ways in solving mental rotation problems; mentally rotating the figure or comparing the relative positions or patterns of the parts of the given figure. Additionally, solving spatial problems help participants in exploring, practicing or shifting their ways of solving problems to cope with the difficulties in solving spatial visualization problems requiring mental rotation accurately and practically. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]