Visual Thinking for Teaching Assistants

Visual Thinking for Teaching &

Learning

Giulia ForsytheSpecial Projects Facilitator

Centre for Pedagogical Innovation

Visual Thinking

BrainstormingPlanningLearningTeaching

the world needs all kinds of minds

We all have our preference for entry into the learning cycle.

Where are you most comfortable?

but...

Even though you may have a learning preference, you need to also move outside

your comfort zone

Recognizing there are a diversity of approaches is essential in teaching and learning contexts. Also scaffolding learners into new approaches is essential.

Kolb’s cycle of experiential learning addresses the three domains of learning: cognitive,

affective and psychomotor.

Or simply,

Head Heart HandDeep learning will address all three domains.

Drawing ALSO addresses all three domains of learning.

'The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those ... who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn

- Alan Toffler

How we learn

Zull•Teach - techen

Ken Robinson RSA Animate

Changing Education Paradigms

These videos have made a huge impact both for their content but also in their modality.

If you haven’t already watched this TED talk, go do it now!

“the world needs all kinds of minds” -Temple Grandin

Dan Roam in his book “Blah Blah Blah” divides us into Foxes and Hummingbirds.

Dan argues that when communicating, we need balance between both of these

“But I’m not an

artist!”

Yes, you are.

Sunni Brown, TEDx

“As an essentially verbal education gains control, the child abandons his graphic efforts and relies almost

entirely on words” from Edwards, B. (2008) Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.

Visual practice only needs

“We cannot understand anything unless we create internal neuronal

networks that reflect physical relationships”

- James Zull

Abstract concepts are largely metaphorical-James Zull

How we study our own autobiographies as learners is essential to our development as teachers

-Stephen Brookfield

Doodle break•Learning is like...

I use visual thinking for brainstorming

I use visual thinking for planning

Nancy Duart in her book “Slideology” recommends planning your presentation using sticky notes

http://www.spinweaveandcut.blogspot.com/

Nick Sousanis is completing his PhD thesis in comic form

QuickTime™ and aGIF decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Oshii, M. (Director). (1995). Ghost in the Shell [Film].

Watching students take notes in class. There’s a lot of typing and not a lot of listening.

Note taking in Lectures

QuickTime™ and aGIF decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Providing notes online sometimes allows students to tune out.

Doodle Break• Critical incident questionnaire (Brookfield)

• Graph your attention

• most engaged / least engaged