Theoretical Model Concept of Spatial Awareness – Definition and Components

Motives: In the context of new spatial (rapid urbanisation and suburbanisation) and technological conditions (smart tools), studying the level of spatial awareness has become critical. It is particularly important from the perspective of enhancing cognitive skills of the current, digital generation of children, who struggle with analogue forms of navigation and orientation in multidimensional space. This highlights the need for a standardised and comprehensive tool to assess spatial awareness, grounded in a clear identification of its key components. Aim: Therefore, the research’s main aim was to develop a definition of spatial awareness as a diagnostic term comprising knowledge, skills, and affective reactions. Results: A thorough review, selection, and classification of the literature allowed to distinguish four components in the knowledge domain, five in the skills domain, and three in the affective domain within the definition of spatial awareness.