News
VTS in the College of Medicine and Health's Newsletter
Professor John R Higgins, Head of College of Medicine and Health, UCC, dedicated his editorial in the February 2016 edition of the College of Medicine and Health Newsletter to Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS).
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Dear Colleagues,
We are already well into 2016, and I am pleased to see both students and staff so full of energy and determination to take on the challenges of the New Year.
One initiative which has made great progress is the teaching of Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS). In May 2011, the College Council took the decision to incorporate VTS teaching into the curriculum for each undergraduate programme in the College. This was an unusual step as normally the curriculum is driven by developments in specific disciplines and the regulatory needs of the profession. However, the evidence for VTS was compelling with ‘exposure to VTS significantly increasing observations made of patient images’ (Klugman et al, Acad Med 2011). Prestigious Schools such as Harvard Medical have included visual arts education in their curriculum and have again found a measurable improvement in observational skills.
The College has been fortunate that a cadre of committed staff have worked hard to integrate VTS in its schools. These staff have also conducted research studies at School level the results of which have been presented and well received at international conferences. These studies validate the decision to deliver VTS teaching to students. This year, a cross disciplinary research study is underway and I await the outcome with interest.
The intent of VTS is to develop critical thinking, observational, language and literacy skills. I believe that introducing VTS has been one of the more satisfying and beneficial initiatives introduced in the College and that Louis Pasteur said it best in 1854 when he said ‘In the field of observation, chance favours the prepared mind.’
VTS is preparing our students well.
John R Higgins, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Head of College of Medicine and Health
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The February 2016 edition of the College of Medicine and Health's newsletter can be accessed below: