INTEGRATION OF DESIGN, MODELING AND VISUALIZATION IN SLOVENIAN PRIMARY EDUCATION

A human being perceives the world spatially, he detects and properly processes distances, size of objects, their shapes and all that is linked to our perceptions of the world. Humans' sensors provide the information about the world around and brain translates this information into thoughts, into ideas. The whole process is completely natural. In the past, due to technological limitations, the human attempted to generalize these ideas and convert them into a form so that he could "record" it on a flat medium, like on paper for example, and because of that he consequently had to develop the ability to "read” these records. The term spatial perception was introduced and after that it was established that not everyone has it. To possess spatial perception an abstract way of thinking and higher cognitive abilities are needed. This paper presents an integration of design, three dimensional (3D) modeling and visualization program SketchUp in Design and technology curriculum into Slovenian primary schools. Emphasis is given to the analysis of the past and current condition and situation and on the incorporation of the program into the primary school curriculum. With the strategy assigned in such a way, the abilities that are connected with technological activities are strengthened, spatial intelligence is developed and assimilated. With such an approach two of the key European competences: 1. Mathematical competence and 2. Basic competences in science and technology and digital literacy, are acquired and reinforced.