Navigation

What is SUPERKEENEYE about?

SUPERKEENEYE (SKE) is a program designed to prepare students for Section III of the UMAT. The program consists of puzzle creations  in sequence form as well as pattern omissions  
SKE provides the student with  puzzles of varying difficulty levels  for  practice. SKE can be used to custom create the student's own preparation for Section III of the UMAT.

Practicing with SKE will ensure that the student receives  excellent  preparation  for Section III of the UMAT. Preparing for  20-30  minutes a day with SKE prior to exam day will not only accustom the student to identifying patterns and finding  omitted pattern pieces shapes  but  also  increase the student's spatial ability  for  the UMAT.
Back to the top

Introduction

Spatial intelligence questions assess the person’s perceptual and cognitive abilities without the influence of prior knowledge. Spatial abilities allow the person to manipulate the orientation of objects in their 3D form by flipping and rotating them.

A developed spatial intelligence is useful for a variety of occupations which require forming an image in the mind and visually imagine various results. It is useful for everyday activities such as reading a map. It is also of use in special intelligence questions, which may be difficult to attempt at first as the person can not rely on previously gained knowledge.

Spatial abilities can be increased through practice with puzzles and mazes, drawing and with building blocks. This is why Superkeeneye is a useful tool in preparation for Section III of the UMAT, which assesses the UMAT candidate’s non-verbal reasoning.
Back to the top

Spatial Intelligence

Spatial ability is probably the most important aspect of the brain’s capabilities. The brain attempts to interpret incoming visual information through spatial functioning. This information can be in the form of pictures, maps or figures. Spatial ability allows us to understand and interpret visual information around us which enables us to function in our surroundings. Without this, we would not be able to perform even the simplest of tasks, such as opening a window!

A way to examine spatial ability is through questions which require you to view objects in different orientations. A question may present you with one shape and five others, one which correctly represents the initial shape in a different orientation. The initial shape must be mentally rotated or flipped to solve this type of a problem. Thus the viewer is required to visualise the object and manipulate it in order to compare the object with the other five options and choose the correct answer. The capabilities that are vital to spatial functioning are being able to perceive the visual world accurately, modify the initial perceptions, and be able to recollect at least a part of one’s visual experience after the exposure. Spatial intelligence is present as a combination of abilities and practicing one of these areas will advance the development of the ability. The relevant components of spatial ability are the ability to recognise an object which is presented in different orientations and the ability to imagine movement along the parts of a pattern.

The most relevant factors for visualisation skills are:
- The ability to hold and compare objects.
- The ability to rotate the object.
- The ability to deconstruct and manipulate these 3D objects within a 3D pattern. Superior visual skills maintain that the person is able to:
- Imagine the 2D or 3D object as viewed from different angles.
- Imagine manipulating or rotating the object.
- To change or assemble objects within a pattern. These skills are evident in a person who:
- Prefers to view graphs and images to the written text
- Likes to draw
- Likes to take objects apart
- Likes to construct objects
- Enjoys puzzles
- Enjoys to doodle
- Has a keen eye for detail
- Remembers places through descriptions
- Has the ability to interpret maps

These skills are presented through the person’s:
- Paintings
- Diagrams
- Models
- Photographs
- Flow charts
- Plans
- Mazes
- Drawings
- Maps
- Collages

It is useful for the UMAT candidate to use the above information as checklists to gain an idea of the degree to which their spatial intelligence extends. If a person prefers written text to diagrams, if they do not like practical modeling games or puzzles, if they do not find colour helpful when concentrating or studying from notes, it could be useful to further develop their spatial abilities.

Developing such abilities advances spatial understanding and performance at complex graphical tasks. This can be achieved through:
- Images to reinforce concepts
- Images to communicate complex ideas
- Building models
- Processing maps
- Visualising future goals
- Creating and watching videos
- Taking photographs
- Using visual posters and flash cards
- Highlighting information with colour
- Incorporate art with other subjects
- Doodle when studying
- Construct diagrams
- Imagine how you would look like in different orientations
- Picture objects, flip and rotate them in your mind
Back to the top

The Importance of Spatial Intelligence

It has been identified that spatial skills are vital in occupational fields other than those directly associated with design. However the unawareness of the nature of intelligence and how the mind works have resulted in ignorance for the need of visualisation skills. Throughout history, some of the greatest thinkers such as Einstein, Da Vinci, Edison and Nikola Tesla were highly visual thinkers. The nature of the progress of their inventions or creations shows that high human capabilities and processes are image based. The input of the spatial brain in the process is extremely high by this notion.

Spatial intelligence manifests itself in a variety of ways. It allows the conceptualisation of the path on a map, it is the abstract intelligence of a strategist, and it allows us to recognise objects, faces and our surroundings. Our ability to see at all is an action of our spatial abilities. However spatial intelligence is not solely dependent on a single sensory system. “Spatial” incorporates more than “visual” and includes abstract, analytical images which are more than simply viewing pictures. This allows the possibility of images to be constructed from reading the written word. Spatial intelligence plays an important role in organising written text. Mind maps and flow charts are a visual method of displaying and organising written text. This allows the individual to perceive how thoughts relate to each other. Outlining text is a spatial method of arranging ideas in sequence. Our ability to access our spatial intelligence is most commonly seen in how we visualise and imagine objects in 3D. We use our spatial intelligence to perceive and interpret that which we may or may not physically see. The existence of spatial intelligence in the right hemisphere of the brain has been scientifically proven. Certain brain injuries can result in the person’s inability to recognise faces or their surroundings. Their understanding of what they see has become impaired.
Back to the top

Visual and Spatial Intelligence

Visual and spatial intelligence criteria are as follows:
- Sensitivity to colour, shape, space and form
- An ability to manipulate objects
- Ability to graphically reconstruct an object
- The ability to understand the components of an object within a pattern

Some people are able to visualise their surroundings with great accuracy. They are able to think in 3D and are able to reconstruct an image out of its components or mentally modify the image. These individuals are well coordinated in new surroundings because they have a strong sense of spatial awareness for where they are positioned in relation to the rest of their environment. Spatial intelligence is evident in the average person through his love for colours and shapes, choosing wall pictures, constructing a garden layout, and designing posters and web pages. Some times ideas and thoughts can not be communicated with words alone.
Back to the top

Using Music to Increase Spatial Abilities

It has been proven that individuals exposed to classical instrument tuition from an early age show significantly superior abstract reasoning abilities. Furthermore, students who study music achieve higher grades, score better on standardised tests and improve their overall school performance at a faster rate than other students. A study has been performed to identify the effect Mozart has on a person’s spatial intelligence. Listening to 10 minutes of the music was found to significantly increase the spatial IQ. Simply listening to classical music can improve a student’s abilities, yet playing instruments can have a stronger impact. Making music increases higher brain functions and has more of an impact on the student’s spatial IQ.
Back to the top

Who uses SUPERKEENEYE?

SUPERKEENEYE is an essential tool in preparation for the UMAT. Students who are aware that their strongest point is not spatial intelligence will benefit greatly through consistent practice with the program. It may be difficult at first for these students because it may take a few minutes to find a shape within a puzzle. The student must realise that under exam conditions it would take even longer to find the shape or to work out a pattern. It is necessary to remember that with enough practice, this will become easier and will take up less time.

SKE is also useful for students whose spatial intelligence is a point of strength. These students may not find it difficult to locate type II shapes within the puzzles, or guess the pattern within a matter of seconds. It is up to the student to choose the level which will challenge him or her, to master it and to move on. Consistent practice in the months prior to the exam will ensure that this student is confident that any changes to Section III of the UMAT will be easily confronted and overcome.
Back to the top