Forum Post 4: Discussion for Assignment 6

I have used VTS most predominately in Social Studies. We have been using a serious of pictures to understand and access background knowledge on transportation. This has included pictures of our city in the past and in the present. By using so many pictures, we have been able to discuss some of the problems people might face if their only transportation is a horse, or ways students got to school.

Another way VTS has naturally been used is in Science. Much in the same way of Social Studies mentioned above students are able to look at pictures of a butterflies transformation and access their background knowledge, as well as the clues in the picture to understand or explore more of what is taking place.

A website I found was https://vtshome.org/. They explore the ins and outs of visual thinking by creating a site exploring many images they have curated to help facilitate VTS learning.

What great ideas.  I agree with the science and social studies suggestions on implementing VTS.  This actually reminded me of an activity I had done in college for social studies.  We looked at black and white photographs and describe what we thought was happening and how it made us feel.

I agree with you that VTS is great to use in social studies and science. Some of the concepts in these subjects are abstract and the use of VTS can really help make them more concrete. I like the website you shared and the images are a great way to introduce VTS in the classroom.

I am intrigued with the concept of your students being able to engage with and wonder about the content itself, be it pictures of your city or of a caterpillar's transformation. By asking questions, I think your students have the opportunity to set themselves up to learn content from a place of authentic curiosity rather than rote or obligation. Moreover, I imagine that your students probably notice things about the photographs that extends beyond the purview of your lessons and helps to extend that curiosity into the rest of their lives.