Rikkiasher

Having taught this course for several semesters, I have made the leap from using slides (the old fashioned ones) to Power Point. I have not used Blackboard or other online Learning Systems, and look forward to learning how to create 3-4 digital assignments that are related to actual viewing of artwork in museums.

Visual Thinking is a course that satisfies one of two required Art Education Workshops in the MS in Art Education program and introduces Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) to Art teachers. It teaches critical thinking communication skills and visual literacy. Students gain experiences in learner-centered methods to examine and find meaning in visual art through theoretical understanding of aesthetic education and hands-on practical projects designed to stimulate developmentally-based questions facilitated by teachers for classroom and museum use.

COURSE LEARNING GOALS & OBJECTIVES The course examines classical and contemporary ideas on Visual Thinking with attention to Rudolph Arnheim’s theory of the relationship between perception and cognition and Maxine Greene’s theory of Aesthetic Education with three or our online assignments. 1. Develop critical thinking skills related to observation and methods for designing and applying questioning strategies to works of art.

2. Visit cultural institutions virtually and live, that provide hands-on applications, putting theoretical ideas into practice, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MMA) focusing on visually impaired learners.

3. Study, design and implement Student Activity Guides related to theories in Aesthetic Education and Visual Thinking.