Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS)*
- (1) “What’s going on in this picture?”
- (2) “What do you see that makes you say that?”
- (3) “What more can you find?”
NEW:1) What is it about? What does the artist want you to think? feel? see?2) What do you see in the art that makes you think that?3) What more do you see to suppprt your idea?
VTS was designed to demystify the process of art analysis. It’s a technique for conducting a whole group, student-driven discussion about a work of art I’ve found it to be highly effective in generating active, effective student participation. It encourages close examination of the art, always a good thing, and uses simple, non-threatening questions, creating a comfortable atmosphere in which students can feel safe sharing their ideas.
The main theory is that students learn by listening to one another, and provide a natural “scaffolding” for each other. They are asked simple, open-ended questions (see above list) that direct them to the artwork for all the answers. The teacher moderates but remains an objective observer throughout, simply restating student comments and encouraging student-directed discourse.
Empowered by the process and knowledge gained, students take on the role of the expert, and begin to to recognize the expressive characteristics of fine art photography.
Developed by:
- Philip Yenawine, former Education Director, MOMA, NYC
- Abigail Housen, cognitive developmental psychologist