History
Visual Thinking Strategies was originally created by Abigail Housen and Philip Yenawine after they decided that museum tours needed to be more educational and approachable to the masses.
VTS was originally implemented in urban and rural schools with students that struggle to learn.
VTS was originally implemented in urban and rural schools with students that struggle to learn.
What is VTS?
"Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is a method initiated by teacher-facilitated discussions of art images and documented to have a cascading positive effect on both teachers and students. It is perhaps the simplest way in which teachers and schools can provide students with key behaviors sought by Common Core Standards: thinking skills that become habitual and transfer from lesson to lesson, oral and written language literacy, visual literacy, and collaborative interactions among peers." (http://www.vtshome.org/what-is-vts)
When using VTS the facilitator asks the group three open ended questions about a particular piece of artwork that the group is viewing at that time: What is going on in this picture? What do you see that makes you say that? What more can we find? The first question gives the viewers a chance to interpret on their own what they are seeing. The second question encourages evidentiary thinking. Finally, the third question pushes them to think further and deeper that the first layer of a piece.
Through VTS students will be learning to "read" an image, which is critically important in the visual age we live in.
"Through VTS' rigorous group 'problem-solving' process, students cultivate a willingness and ability to present their own ideas, while respecting and learning from the perspectives of their peers. Engaged by contributing observations and ideas, the students participate in VTS-based lessons in ways they often don’t in others." (http://www.vtshome.org/what-is-vts)
For videos of VTS in action for all ages go to:
http://www.vtshome.org/what-is-vts/vts-in-action--2
When using VTS the facilitator asks the group three open ended questions about a particular piece of artwork that the group is viewing at that time: What is going on in this picture? What do you see that makes you say that? What more can we find? The first question gives the viewers a chance to interpret on their own what they are seeing. The second question encourages evidentiary thinking. Finally, the third question pushes them to think further and deeper that the first layer of a piece.
Through VTS students will be learning to "read" an image, which is critically important in the visual age we live in.
"Through VTS' rigorous group 'problem-solving' process, students cultivate a willingness and ability to present their own ideas, while respecting and learning from the perspectives of their peers. Engaged by contributing observations and ideas, the students participate in VTS-based lessons in ways they often don’t in others." (http://www.vtshome.org/what-is-vts)
For videos of VTS in action for all ages go to:
http://www.vtshome.org/what-is-vts/vts-in-action--2
