Visual Thinking Strategies...Thinking Thoughts & Thoughtful Thinking

Thinking. Seeing. Articulating. Reflecting. Visualizing. Interacting. Integrating. Observing. Analyzing. Synthesizing. Deductive reasoning. Inductive reasoning. Intellectual stimulation. Thinking thoughts and thoughtful thinking. Visual Thinking Strategies or VTS is a visual arts best practice that elicits these processes and outcomes.

Three open-ended questions are used to engage the students and elicit responses.  The instructor selects the image/artwork and displays it via power-point (LCD projector) or large reproduction.  After observing the image for one full minute, the subjects are asked, “What is going on in this picture?”  A laser pen can be used to assist/encourage the viewer see observe the entire image.  The laser pointer is not used to mark out any one detail, rather a general wandering flow is used to help a child's eye observe the imagery.  The laser is used point out what the viewer has commented on, consequently helping others see and engage them in the commentary.  After an answer is given a follow-up question is asked, “What do you see that makes you say that?” This question helps the subject justify or provide a rationale for their comment and observation. The instructor may rephrase the answer to both questions for clarity, yet will not add or subtract from the subjects observations.  After a bit of silence or pause the third question is used, “What more can we find?” Observation, connections, and reasoning are all over this approach like bees to honey. Or is it bees to nectar?

“In their role as facilitators, teachers paraphrase student responses, actively listening, validating individual views, demonstrating language use, and reinforcing a range of ideas.” (http://www.carlemuseum.org/downloads/VTS%20Final.pdf)

Carle Museum puts it nicely, “Students are asked to look carefully, develop opinions, express themselves, consider multiple viewpoints, speculate together, argue, debate and/or build on each other’s ideas, and possibly revise their conclusions. They are also asked to support their opinions with evidence as they endeavor to decode complex and diverse material and construct meaning together. This approach not only uses art to teach thinking, communication skills, and visual literacy, but also helps students practice respectful, democratic, collaborative problem solving.”

Visual Thinking Strategies

"Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is a research-based teaching method that improves critical thinking and language skills through discussions of visual images. VTS encourages participation and self-confidence, especially among students who struggle. VTS is easy to learn and offers a proven strategy for educators to meet current learning objectives.

The skills required for success in higher education and 21st Century jobs require a more effective approach. Our professional development programs provide educators with the teaching and learning strategies they need to increase academic achievement."

Quoted from the VTS home page: http://vtshome.org

Visual Thinking Strategies - A Brief History

VTS was developed in a secret laboratory, by Frankenstein and Jekyll, also known as Abigail Housen and Philip Yenawine. The participants in these experiments were subjected to visual stimuli and encouraged to discover facts and relationships by themselves! This is an unheard of method in today’s world of spoon-fed education and considered by some a severe case of child torture on par with water boarding. Work began in 1995 to test and implement Visual Thinking Strategies.  It was field tested and refined over ten years. The Aesthetic Development Interview (ADI) uses three open-ended questions to extract information from the subjects. After observing the image for one full minute, the subjects are asked,  Question One: “What is going on in this picture?”  Question Two: “What do you see that makes you say that?”   Question Three: “What more can we find?” 


Here is the VTS home web site: http://www.vtshome.org/pages/history


Here is an example of VTS in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVzcknOWpaE