Visual Thinking Strategies and the
Common Core State Standards
Cara Goger
MARIPOSA COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL
info@arts-mariposa.org
What is going on in this photograph?
Larry Fink
Visual Thinking Strategies
Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is a
student-centered curriculum in which the
student examines and discusses works
of art, prompted by questions selected to
support careful, evidentiary looking.
VTS questions are:
1. What is going on in this picture?
2. What do you see that makes you say
that?
3. What more can we find?
Imogen Cunningham
Visual Thinking Strategies
3 Facilitation Techniques:
•
Paraphrase comments
neutrally
•
Point at the area being
discussed
•
Linking and framing student
comments
Jerry Uelsmann
Visual Thinking Strategies
Students are asked to:
Danny Lyons
•
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 many possible
interpretations
Visual Thinking Strategies and the Common
Core State Standards
One of the major shifts in the Common
Core State Standards for English
Language Arts demands that students
"produce and use evidence in a text to
justify their views" (Santos, DarlingHammond & Cheuk, 2012).
By using the VTS method on a regular
basis, teachers can develop evidencebased reasoning habits in their
students.
Alexander Rodchenko
Visual Thinking Strategies and
CCSS ELA Anchor Standards
Reading
Anchor Standard 7: Integrate and evaluate
content presented in diverse media and
formats, including visually and quantitatively,
as well as in words.
Anchor Standard 6: Assess how point of view
or purpose shapes the content and style of a
text.
Sebastiao Selgado
Visual Thinking Strategies and
CCSS ELA Anchor Standards
Elliott Erwitt
Writing
Anchor Standard 1: Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of
substantive topics or text, using valid reasoning and relevant and
sufficient evidence.
Visual Thinking Strategies and
CCSS ELA Anchor Standards
Speaking and Listening
Anchor Standard 1: Prepare for and participate effectively in
a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse
partners, building on other’s ideas and expressing their own
clearly and persuasively.
Anchor Standard 2: Integrate and evaluate information
presented in diverse media and formats, including visually,
quantitatively, and orally.
Anchor Standard 3: Evaluate a speaker’s point of view,
reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric.
Anchor Standard 4: Present information, findings, and
supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of
reasoning and the organization, development, and style are
appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Phillipe Halsman
Visual Thinking Strategies and
CCSS ELA Anchor Standards
Language Standards
Anchor Standard 5: Demonstrate
understanding of word relationships and
nuances in word meanings.
Alex Webb
Visual Thinking Strategies and
English Language Learners
The CCSS guidelines for working with
English Language Learners explicitly states
that teachers should:
Harold Eugene Edgerton
•
Provide opportunities for ELLs to
interact with proficient English speakers
•
Provide opportunities for classroom
interactions (both listening and
speaking) that develop concepts and
academic language in the disciplines.
•
Provide opportunities for ELLs to build
on their strengths, prior experiences,
and background knowledge.
SOURCES
Coleman and Goldenburg. (2012) The Common Core Challenge for English Language Learners. Principle
Leadership (pp. 46-51).
DeSantis and Housen. (2007) Aesthetic Development and Creative and Critical Thinking Skills Study. Visual
Understanding in English.
Housen. (2001-2001) Aesthetic Thought, Critical Thinking and Transfer. Arts and Learning Research Journal,
Vol. 18, No.1 (pp. 99-132)
Housen. (1999) Eye of the Beholder: Research, Theory and Practice. Presented at the conference of
“Aesthetic and Art Education: a Transdisciplinary Approach. Lisbon, Portugal
Santos, Darling-Hammond, Cheuk. (2012) Teacher Development to Support English Language Learners in
the Context of Common Core State Standards. Understanding Language | Language, Literacy, and Learning
in the Content Areas.
Thinking Through Art Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum School Partnership Program Summary Final
Research Results (2007). Institute for Learning Innovation, Annapolis, MD
RESOURCES
Visual Understanding in Education (VTS) webpage:
www.vue.org
Understanding Language | Language, Literacy, and Learning in the Content Area – Stanford University
http://ell.stanford.edu