Forum Post 4 - Jilian Heatwole

As I've learned, VTS is used to encourage student to observe what is going on (being presented) and to independently make their own assumptions about what they see. They use critical thinking to solve problems, they are engaged and can find enjoyment in participation. This promotes confidence and makes personal connections with the world around them. Kids wonder about everything, being able to ask the questions why and what's going on will help them independently make decisions in all aspects of their life and learning. In physical education students often need to be able to use movement concepts and predict what might need to be done next. In individual activities as well as team sports. For the climbing wall activity for example; I would show pictures of climbers and having students think about what they see the climber doing. What is the next move, what tools do they need, when they move to the next rock do the hands go first or the feet? Kids will visually make connections and problem solve before physically trying it. Some good guiding questions would be, have you climbed something before, what did it feel like, what strategies did you use ? We could watch a soccer game and have students ask themselves 3 key questions; 1. what is going on 2. what do you see that makes you say that and 3. what more do we see ?

On the website https://www.time4learning.com/learning-styles/visual-spatial.html. It talks about visual learning style, the characteristics, gives study tips for the learners and explains how Time4Learning works for visual learners. There are tabs to click that will take you to a variety of search options. You can search for curriculum, subject, homeschooling find learning tools and guides as well as resources.  This resource can help you design your lessons using the VTS style in a variety of disciplines. Ideas that I can incorporate in my PE class would include, whiteboards and markers, to-do lists for kids to refer to, color-code activities around my room, outline what we will be doing, use powerpoint presentations for visual learning before getting active and use symbols in stead of words all the time.

I love the idea of using photos to think through a problem and relating to it rather than explaining from the get go. Problem solving skills are something students need to learn at a young age to be successful in their future and what better and engaging way than to present different photos of situations to bring meaningful and engaging conversations of maybe what could happen or having them make world to self connections.

I also like the idea of using pictures, and I think having student demonstrators can also be powerful for visual learners. The website you shared was very useful and I bookmarked it to make sure that I am using a variety of techniques and strategies to reach all learning styles in my classroom.

I agree that this is a great resource for helping students learn visually. I believe if students can hear the instruction and also see the instruction, the students will be more engaged and more apt to remember what they are being taught.