VSL Strategies for the High School- Visual Art Class

After learning about the Visual Spatial Learner in relation to general traits (right brain dominant, thinks in pictures, is a whole-concept learner, arrives at correct solutions intuitively, spells words by visualizing) as well as learning about the VSL in relation to math, reading and writing, I decided to culminate my new repertoire of VSL knowledge and apply it my visual arts classes specifically.

For my ceramics and digital video classes I came up with a few important ideas that I am currently integrating into my curriculum including:

1.  Implement  Discovery/Experiential/Kinetic learning activities with all new art projects. 
2. Utilize metaphors, visualization, and whole-concept teaching/ learning techniques.
3. Stimulate the VSL senses through not just visuals but also touch, scent, rhythm, and musical expressions of learning material
4. Color coding areas in the art room in groupings, for example: all the elements of art vocabulary posters outlined in Green, or labeling all of the clay equipment and tools used for throwing in yellow etc. 
5. Challenge art students with new, abstract and conceptual project outlets.
6. Offer choice and creative expression with every project.  
7. Associate new art concepts, techniques and vocabulary with their visual counterparts (i.e. when demonstrating how to wedge clay label the demo area: "Wedging Board", Verbally discuss the process, physically demonstrate the process, have the students take a piece of clay and discover the process on their own-experiential learning, then repeat the process on a visual reference poster above the wedging board area).

Below I included two of my new VSL influenced lesson presentations. One is a visual arts writing lesson "Title Your Work". The other video is a self portrait lesson plan. 

Favorite Links and Resources for the VSL

This text book is an awesome resource by Alexandra Golon

Visually stimulating video and presentation websites:

Quickly animate any classroom presentation for the VSL!

http://animoto.com/

Comic generator:

http://www.superlame.com/

Record and play your own screen-shot step by step

instructional movie (shows your mouse moving and everything)-great for computer software lessons:

http://prezi.com/
http://www.techsmith.com/jing/

A fun, culminating way to unite words with concepts in the classroom:

http://www.wordle.net/

Arts Advocacy Articles:

http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/arts/goodheart.htm

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2008/05/02/study-creativity-is-important-but-neglected/

Visual Spatial Learner Sites:

http://www.homeeddirectory.com/blog/multiple-intelligences-visualspatial-learner%E2%80%A8 

http://www.visual-learners.com/articles-visual-spatial-learners.html 

http://www.giftedservices.com.au/visualthinking.html 

http://www.visual-learners.com/ 

Organization for the Visual Spatial Brain

When it comes to the Visual Spatial Learner (VSL) and organization some interesting traits tend to occur:

• Because the VSL is so right-brained and just "sees" things rather than "know" them they tend to have piles rather than structured organization
•  The VSL is also very non-linear so while they may appear to be highly messy and disorganized they can often find anything they need from a "messy pile" because their visual minds remember where that certain color or bent corner of a paper looked like among the seemingly disorganized pile of madness 

  Even though the VSL often does fine with a "mess of an area", they still need to learn a few techniques to help them work successfully in a world that will require some form of organization. These are a few of the techniques that I found most applicable and useful in my visual arts classroom:

•  Using highly visual planners (like a calendar with images and words) like the example below
• Folders over 3-rings!!! VSLs like to stuff over bind....3hole punching takes way too long for the VSL
• Color associate everything....red for new art vocabulary, blue for graded sketchbooks, purple for sculpture ideas (use a folder that matches the color and pen that matches the task)
• Offer choice and control to the VSL in regard to the type of folders or colors; that way they dictate which color makes the most sense for which task in their mind

Teach to the VSL= Better Educating ALL Learners

The article "Why All Students Need Visual-Spatial Methods" was extremely pertinent to me as a Visual Art Teacher and as a teacher in one of the many elective classes that is always the first on the chopping block in education when budget issues arise (which it seems is never ending eh?). 

Explore the article yourself here:

http://www.gifteddevelopment.com/Articles/vsl/v120.pdf

Seven years into my career (and even before I was a teacher) the educational trend of a suffering budget and cutting education electives appears to be a perpetual issue.

The article by Linda Kreger Silverman, Ph.D points out, however, that today's job market is seeking employee candidates who exhibit creative thinking and problem solving, understand abstract or complex ideas, grasps the big picture and is willing to take risks.These are the attributes of a VSL!

In addition, today's job market is HEAVILY driven by visually oriented positions. There are very few markets out there that do not require an art director, graphic designer or creative consultant. Our job market wants the visually and spatially oriented mind. So, of course, ALL TYPES OF LEARNERS will benefit from VSL strategies AND visual arts or creative art classes. But, alas these classes always get the crappy end of the stick in education.

If I utilize an arsenal of VSL strategies with all of my students they become better prepared for today's job market. Now, if only the perplexing board of education and taxpayers were in agreement with keeping creativity and elective classes that foster the VSL in our schools as a valued priority, what a wonderful world this would be!

Math and the VSL: Make Numbers Visual

  Knowing and personally experiencing the challenges that face the Visually oriented thinker I was amazed by the techniques and strategies mentioned in all of my research on math and the VSL. If my teachers in elementary and high school had utilized the visual extensions of math concepts/techniques called MANIPULATIVES, my math knowledge base would be much stronger. 

MANIPULATIVES are any type of teaching that allows the learner to touch or "see" a concept rather than simply hear, say, a lecture on the subject. See the pictures below for illustrations of math manipulatives and check out these awesome links for specific ways to integrate manipulatives into your curriculum:
http://www.borenson.com/
http://www.resourceroom.net/math/lowhightech.asp

     Currently, in my visual arts classes at the high school level, I only have to use math in a few select lessons. The math concepts we incorporate in ceramics have to do with measuring clay slabs with rulers to create sculptures or functional ware. We also have to convert and measure out glaze recipes. In my digital video classes we involve math when creating our mock film budgets.
    
In both classes, I always use manipulatives and hands-on methods when incorporating math. I do this for the students but also for myself because math is an intense struggle for me. Even simple multiplication, fractions and percentiles usually take major brain power on my part. So for any measuring in ceramics we use rulers and build clay models first to apply our measurements and test them before building the physical piece. When converting weights for a glaze we use our sketchbook journals and "funnel" maps to organize our equations.
      
VSLs like finding patterns and rhythm in numbers and will enjoy learning math when paired with anything that involves movement and visual references.
    

Images for Words: Yummy for the VSL brain

Reading and Writing pose interesting requirements for the Visual Spatial Learner (VSL).

As I explore the way a VSL brain functions in regard to reading and writing by doing research on the topic, the reading and writing strategies emphasized for the VSL are the same techniques I learned on my own in school.

I can only imagine how wonderful it would have been if my teachers had provided me with strategies for a VSL in relation to reading and writing instead of the trial and error involved in discovering them on your own!

After my research on the topic I compiled a list of important facts and strategies for the VSL in today's classroom and how to best address reading and writing. Here is the list, a link with some helpful information and an example of picture note-taking:

• Writing is a left brain attribute so for the VSL it might be difficult, approaching/teaching writing as an art form (say, calligraphy) will activate the right,  creative hemisphere therefore appealing to the VSL
• Keyboarding over handwritten work allows the VSL to "export" their thoughts into words at a pace fast enough to challenge and keep their attention
• Teach students how to take notes in pictures (with words attached) to help them visualize and associate new, verbal information with images
• Grade for content over structure
• Use technology, graphic organizers and whole-concept or whole word approaches to reading and writing material before presenting parts

Awesome sites for the VSL and doodling/picture-notes:
http://graphicfacilitation.blogs.com/
http://vizthink.com/blog/2010/08/25/sunni-browns-ignite-talk-at-foo-camp-the-doodle-revolution/

ASL versus the VSL

Click here to see whether you're a lefty or righty (brain hemispheres)

One of the most intriguing elements about VSLs (Visual Spatial Learners)

and ASLs (Auditory Sequential Learners) is learning about the left

and right hemispheres of the brain. Most students have a more dominant 

hemisphere and it will influence learning methodologies. 

This graphic represents traits commonly associated with each

of the brain hemispheres:

Graphic Organizer: ASL versus VSL traits

My Mind=Visual Spatial

VSL: Visual Spatial Learner- right brain dominant, thinks in pictures, abstract, creative

ASL: Audio Sequential Learner- left brain dominant, thinks in words, linear, organized

Here I am demonstrating in class!

Me the VSL Art Teacher:

As an art teacher and a Visual-Spatial-Learner myself, I've learned techniques and strategies over the years that help me learn and comprehend new information in a context that complements my thinking style. This was a skill, however, that was not inherent growing up and learning in our societies school system. I had to learn and practice different approaches/techniques in order to retain/understand new information. Knowing this about myself, I know it is important as a teacher to address different types of learners in the classroom and provide them with techniques that best address their learning styles. 

 

The VSL thinks in images; the ASL thinks in words. Teachers need to address both learning styles in their classrooms; while I know these concepts, it's easy to follow traditional education methodologies that tend to favor the ASL. 

 

When I started teaching 7 years ago I came into the profession with the goal at hear to always strive to improve and enhance my students experience in the classroom. If consistently learn, research, experiment and reflect my teaching skill will improve and my students learning will be stronger. One of the best ways to enrich my own students ability to learn and for all other teachers in any subject area, grade level or school community, is to integrate VSL strategies!