Thread subject: The Dyscalculia Forum :: VisualSpatial exercise1

Posted by eoffg on January 27 2006 11:16 AM
#1

This is the first of a series of exercises, with the aim of developing visual spatial, mental imaging skills?
This first exercise, is concerned with practising 'Capturing' and 'Scanning' a mental image?

For this, you will need a Match-Box, a Pencil/ Pen and a piece of Paper.

What you then do, is to place the Paper on a table in front of you.
Then place the Match-Box near the Paper.

What you are going to do, is to simply draw the Match-Box.
But, you are going to draw it with your Eyes Closed?

So next, pick up your pencil, and place the point of it on and near the middle of the paper, and keep it there on the paper.
Then look across to the Match-Box.
Which you are about to Draw.
What we now want to do, is to capture a mental image of the Match-Box?

So you Stare at the Match-Box, for a few seconds, and then Close your Eyes and try to hold the picture of it in your mind?
Imagine that the tip of pencil is at one corner of the Match-Box,
and then with your Eyes Still Closed. Imagine that the tip of your pencil is at one corner of your mental picture, and then start to draw the image that you can see in your mind. As you come to each corner of the mental Match-Box, dont lift your pencil. Just go on to draw the next edge of it.
Keep drawing until you have drawn all of the edges of your 'mental' Match-Box'.
After this, you can open your eyes, and see what you have drawn?

It probably doesn't look anything like a Match-Box?
But what the drawing looks like, is not important!
What we have done, is to simply use the drawing as a reason to try and capture and hold a mental image.
Also, as you go to draw each Edge of the Match-Box, you will find that you actually 'look around' your mental image, to the edge that you are drawing.
When we look around our Mental Match-Box, it is in fact the same as if we were looking at the real one. Where your eyes will move around, despite being closed.
You can practise this with any Object, as the aim is to practise capturing a Mental Image, and then to practise looking around/ scanning the image.
So this is the first exercise, where I would very much appreciate feedback from anyone who tries it out.

I would mention that these are experimental exercises, which are based on current research. Where I'm hoping that we can develop some simple and freely available exercises, that cost no more than the price of a Match-Box, Pencil and Paper?
Though you will need 3 Match-Boxes later on, which will increase cost?
But empty ones will do!
Anyway, happy drawing!
Geoff.:)