Professional Development
How can teachers develop the skills and disposition requisite for delivering a 21st century education to a classroom of diverse learners? Through VTS methods and experience teachers enable students to think for themselves, form their own ideas, support their interpretations with evidence, all while learning from their peers by collaboratively constructing and considering new ideas and perspectives.
How can teachers catch and hold the attention of an entire classroom, and can we expand teachers’ repertoire so that they can better engage their most struggling students? VTS's professional development offers teachers research-based methods and knowledge through which they can facilitate these kinds of learning processes for all of their students.
Through Visual Thinking Strategies training and practice, teachers:
- Use open-ended questioning and student-centered facilitation techniques, including strategies for listening and paraphrasing, to create student-driven and engaging group discussion environments.
- Engage students in discourse about a complex problem (carefully selected works of visual art) with an emphasis on providing evidence while considering and building off the contributions and perspectives of their peers.
- Teach in a rigorously student-centered, inquiry-based manner that both nurtures positive relationships with students while encouraging students to be independent learners who think for themselves.
Contact us to inquire about VTS PD for your school or teachers.