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Spatial Intelligence and Learning Center
NSF Science of Learning Center
National Science Foundation

Welcome to SILC

Jump to:    Research Showcase    Join our Spatial Network    Help Us Gather Sketches

The Spatial Intelligence and Learning Center (SILC) brings together scientists and educators from Temple University, Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to pursue the overarching goals of

  • ♦Understanding spatial learning
  • ♦Using this knowledge to develop programs and technologies that will transform educational practice, helping learners to develop the skills required to compete in a global economy.

SILC participants include researchers from cognitive science, psychology, computer science, education, and neuroscience, as well as practicing geoscientists and engineers who are particularly interested in spatial thinking in their fields, and teachers in the CPS.


See monthly highlights of our research and researchers:

Image teaser from February showcaseSILC Showcase graphic(nontransp)Image teaser from March showcase

Invitation to Researchers:

The Spatial Intelligence and Learning Center would like to invite interested researchers currently conducting spatial cognition and learning research to join this open network.
If you would like to be involved, please contact Dr. Sian Beilock, Associate Professor of Psychology at The University of Chicago to request an invitation:   


Want to help scientists help you?
Researchers at the Spatial Intelligence and Learning Center (SILC) are gathering a corpus of sketches using CogSketch. CogSketch is the sketch understanding software that we are creating, which is available for free from our web site. It has two purposes. First, we are using it to explore how people reason and learn. Second, we are exploring how to incorporate sketching into education, to improve student learning. By gathering people’s sketches, scientists will be able to do analyses that will help them with both of these missions. If you want to participate, all you have to do is download CogSketch, and indicate your acceptance when you install the software. (If you change your mind, there is a “Phone Home” setting in the software preferences.)


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SILC NEWS/UPDATES

Today is Friday, September 3, 2010

NEW RELEASE:
CogSketch v1.22 (7/16/2010)
(download here)

see SILC in the press

Read our latest updates and incoming news below or for SILC in the press go to our Press Room (click on PRESS ROOM icon above).

8/31/2010
Please, welcome our new Spatial Network Members: Sarah Anderson, Demis Basso, Melanie Busch, Elisabetta Carattin, Josh Coyan, Klaus Kessler, Parisa Kordjamhsidi, Xiaoou Li, Steve Marchette, Chiara Meneghetti, Susan Metheny, Jonna Nilsson, John Pani, Stephen Reynolds, Teya Rutherford, Chiara Saracini, Richard Sproat & Steven Thrash

8/17/2010
Please, welcome our new Spatial Network Members: Mark Gahegan, Werner Kuhn, Ben Kuipers, David Mark & Juval Portugali

8/10/2010
Please, welcome our new Spatial Network Members: Ruth Conroy Dalton, Vinod Goel, Gabi Goldschmidt, Christian S. Jensen, Hua Lu, Franziska Preusse, Kai-Florian Richter, Rudi Stouffs, David Szymanski & Lisa Yu

8/10/2010
A new resource has been added to our Links page: ESRI GIS Education Community website.

8/06/2010
New job opportunity: Senior Research Scientist, Cognition, Educational Testing Service (ETS).

7/31/2010>
Our August SILC Showcase is now on-line.


Read about past SILC News in our Archive.