VISUAL THINKING STUDIOS

VTS in Action

VTS Discussion Videos

Student Discussions

A VTS Discussion with Kindergarten Students from Visual Thinking Strategies on Vimeo.

A VTS Discussion with First Grade Students from Visual Thinking Strategies on Vimeo.

D8 from Visual Thinking Strategies on Vimeo.

A VTS Discussion with Fourth Grade Students from Visual Thinking Strategies on Vimeo.

D10 from Visual Thinking Strategies on Vimeo.

Teacher Discussion

A VTS discussion with adults. from Visual Thinking Strategies on Vimeo.

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VTS Facilitation 101

In VTS discussions teachers support student growth by facilitating discussions of carefully selected works of visual art.

Teachers are asked to use three open-ended questions:

  • What's going on in this picture?
  • What do you see that makes you say that?
  • What more can we find?

3 Facilitation Techniques:

  • Paraphrase comments neutrally
  • Point at the area being discussed
  • Linking and framing student comments

Students are asked to:

  • Look carefully at works of art
  • Talk about what they observe
  • Back up their ideas with evidence
  • Listen to and consider the views of others
  • Discuss multiple possible interpretations

"The most effective experiences for stimulating aesthetic development give the learner repeated opportunity to construct meaning from different points of view, take place in an environment that supports looking in new and meaningful ways, and are inspired by rich, varied, and carefully chosen works of art.”   

-Abigail Housen, from Art Viewing and Aesthetic Development