Sunday, November 28, 2010

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!

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