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UCC & Glasheen Boys' School Open Their Eyes to Visual Thinking Strategies
What if teachers taught with questions rather than lectures and what if students were asked to reflect instead of regurgitate?
In order to answer those questions, academics from University College Cork and Glasheen Boys Primary School have combined to design and deliver the teaching and learning method Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) in Glasheen classrooms.
Successfully implemented in schools and cultural institutions internationally, VTS provides for open-ended discussions of visual art that significantly increases students critical thinking, language and literacy skills. VTS challenges the standard model of teaching by encouraging a ‘reflection and response’ style of learning. Designed by art educator Philip Yenawine from the Museum of Modern Art and developmental psychologist Abigail Housen from Harvard, VTS relies on children's natural ability to observe using pictures as the starting point for learning. The process has been proven to strengthen thinking skills, language development, confidence, and collaboration.
Sioban Murphy, VTS Project Director, states that: “Today’s teachers are challenged as their curriculum is crammed and standardised testing has enforced a “teach to test practice”. For a primary school like Glasheen the beauty of VTS is multi fold. It involves only 10 lessons; enough to produce significant growth while taking up little class time. VTS immersion begins with discussion of art, however once students have learned relevant thinking and social behaviours, the method can be applied to other subjects affecting numeracy and literacy skills which are, the key focus of the National curriculum objective as outlined in the 2011 Strategy. VTS ticks all the boxes, promoting growth academically, aesthetically, bringing art into the lives of children and young adults while giving teachers a powerful new tool in teaching. We feel privileged at UCC to partner with Glasheen Boys Primary School and VTS America allowing us to enable this adventure for some 450 boys. We congratulate the teachers at Glasheen for taking the lead in implementing this very exciting shift in strategy.”
Michael Daly, Principle of Glasheen Boy’s School states that “The idea of using 'Visual Thinking Strategies' was first suggested to Glasheen Boys' School in 2014 following a visit from Siobán Murphy; a model lesson for Glasheen Boys' School staff and a further visit from Yoon Kang O'Higgins, National Program Director USA. At that point, the school had no hesitation in accepting the offer to become the first primary school in Ireland to introduce VTS to Glasheen Boys' School pupils, as an exciting method of learning.’ Michael is confident that the skills learned through VTS will stay with his pupils and benefit them, for many years to come. Michael paid tribute to U.C.C. staff and the staff of Glasheen Boys' School, for their enthusiasm and willingness to embrace this exciting, new opportunity.”