5. Visual thinking strategies

"At the heart of art is learning to see" – Seth Goden

In PME 1, I attended a CPD day on Visual

Culture and Appreciation where we engaged in Visual Thinking Strategy activity. We discussed our observations, experience and how to integrate it into our teaching. VTS celebrates students personal response to the work being examined. The students are given time to view the work, point out areas of interest and to question what is going on in the work. Each students findings are valued and heard.

Over the summer, I researched VTS more and adapted my findings into a structure that can be used in art and art history class. Starting with allowing the students a silent moment to look. Encouraging them to look at the whole image and then specific areas. Then breaking the silence to ask what’s going on in this picture? All answers are accepted and valued. No criticism. Summarising what was said, paraphrasing their comments so all are heard. Then questioning their observations. What makes them say it? Why did they notice it? What more is there to talk about? Ending with praise and thanks so the activity can continue during the following exercises.

The skill of VTS is something that has to be built overtime, the more exposure the better. The more engaged they are the more they learn. The students find the silent moment to view awkward at the start, they warm up to it as their observation skills improve. Overtime, they learn all observations are good observations. They start to see the small details, identifying meaning becomes easier and they learn to express their opinions and values other.