Dynamical System Modeling and Stability Investigation�DSMSI-2025

May 08-10, 2025, Kyiv, Ukraine

The Impact of Game-Based Environments on Spatial Thinking:

Investigating the Potential Influence

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Danylo Sheludko and Olha Tkachenko,

Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine

Introduction

In today’s digital world, interactive 3D environments are evolving beyond entertainment — becoming powerful and targeted tools for developing key cognitive skills. Among these, spatial thinking is a fundamental ability that enables people to visualize, mentally manipulate, and navigate objects and environments in space. It is crucial in disciplines such as engineering, mathematics, architecture, and design.

While traditional educational approaches support the development of spatial skills, modern specialized interactive applications offer an immersive and more practical alternative. These applications are designed with specific mechanics such as limited visibility, spatial navigation, and problem-solving, which directly stimulate spatial reasoning.

This research aims to explore how and why such interactive 3D applications can help users actively develop and train their spatial intelligence in a practical and immersive way.

Dynamical System Modeling and Stability Investigation, DSMSI-2025

Background and Key Terms

• Before diving into the exciting world of exploring the impact of gaming environments on spatial thinking, it’s important to establish a solid foundation.
• Spatial thinking
• Gaming environments
• Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)
• Puzzles and spatial tasks

Why is spatial thinking important?

• Spatial thinking is a core supporting skill in many STEM disciplines. It helps professionals mentally visualize, manipulate, and predict the behavior of complex structures and systems.
• Used to read and create technical drawings, imagine how parts fit together, and mentally test designs before prototyping.�Example: An engineer evaluates the functionality of a mechanism before building it.
• Essential for visualizing 3D graphs, understanding geometric transformations, and reasoning in multidimensional space.�Example: A mathematician works with matrix transformations or vector fields.
• Other STEM Fields

Existing Methods and Their Limitations

• Classical teaching methods

• Physical puzzles and constructions

• Digital games and simulations

• Limitations of traditional methods

Relevant Research and Opportunities

• Special 3D applications provide more immersive and hands-on experiences, helping the brain better grasp spatial relationships.
• Compared to static drawing or physical puzzles, games — especially in 3D, VR, or AR — offer richer practice and deeper engagement, which leads to more effective spatial understanding and skill development.

Proposed Approach.�Interactive 3D software application

• Now that we have a common understanding of the context and challenges, we can move on to the proposed approach: an interactive 3D software application aimed exclusively at developing spatial thinking by having the user solve various puzzles. Spatial thinking is the ability to imagine objects in three-dimensional space and manipulate them in the mind.
• To develop it, we are doing to create an interactive application that immerses the user in an environment with a limited field of view and complex mazes. The main idea is to make the user not just navigate in space, but actively imagine the environment and build a mental map of the level.

Using puzzles for spatial analysis

• The levels will integrate puzzles that require active analysis of space.
• The user switches between different perspectives, training an imaginary combination of perspectives and spatial thinking.
• Parts of the maze rotate after activating the mechanisms - the player has to predict how this will change the path.
• Three-dimensional puzzles force you to imagine invisible parts or interpret the shape of objects from different angles - this develops logic and imagination with incomplete information.

Сreating applications aimed at developing spatial thinking

Evaluation and Results.�Putting interactive 3D app to the Test

• An interactive 3D application not only helps users to develop spatial thinking, but also has a number of advantages in learning and practical use.
• Unlike traditional teaching methods, the app allows users to interact directly with spatial objects. This simplifies the understanding of complex concepts such as:
• Geometric transformations and their effect on objects.
• Interaction of structural parts in mechanics.
• The relationship between two-dimensional and three-dimensional representations.

Conclusion and Future Directions

• This research highlights the power of interactive 3D applications in developing spatial thinking. Through puzzles and dynamic environments, users enhance cognitive skills essential in daily life.
• Looking ahead, these technologies can further aid engineers, mathematicians, and scientists by refining design skills and simplifying complex spatial concepts. Future improvements may include:
• More complex environments and personalized tasks
• Specialized scenarios for professionals
• Adaptive learning algorithms
• Integration with VR/AR for immersive experiences
• Interactive 3D applications are already changing learning methods, and with continued development, they can become a powerful tool for solving complex problems.

Thank you for your attention