In recent years, an increased emphasis on spatial concepts in the primary school
mathematics curriculum has aimed at improving students' spatial development and
understanding of geometric ideas (Board of Studies NSW, 1999). This change has reflected
widespread concern over secondary school students' lack of understanding of key geometric
concepts as well as acknowledgement of the intuitive spatial abilities of young children
(Owens, 1994). However, there has been insufficient research into the teaching and learning of
geometry and a perceived lack of a theoretical framework to underpin this (pegg & Davey, .
1998). More research is needed to improve teachers' knowledge and understanding of
students' visualisation abilities particularly because visualisation is essential for both spatial
concept development and spatial problem solving.