Symmetry Math Video Game Used to Identify Genius and Train Creativity Maps onto Knot Theory Gordon Shaw (gshaw@mindinst.org) Abstract Spatial-temporal
(ST) reasoning (making a mental image and thinking ahead in space and
time using symmetry operations, as in chess) is of considerable benefit
to children in understanding math and science. Big Seed, a ST video game,
is challenging, demanding and relevant, even for research mathematicians
and scientists (available for play at this Workshop). The large ST reasoning
capabilities on Big Seed demonstrated by the four groups of young children
far exceeded even the most optimistic expectations in less than 7 hours
of training. A 3 rd grader has been identified as a genius (functionally
defined) in ST performance. We suggest that Big Seed be used for training
and assessing "creativity" (functionally defined) and ST reasoning as
well as discovering genius. The mapping of knot theory onto Big Seed is
presented. |