What Is Visible Thinking? 1.0102

Many of you asked for more posts on how to communicate with our children more effectively.  So here is a post about a communication style that will foster learning, discussion and exploration with your kids...

You may not have heard of "visible thinking" before.  It is a term coined by Project Zero of Harvard University and operates from the premise that when learners speak, write, or draw their ideas, they deepen their cognition.

Project Zero stresses on a few key points around learning - the main point is that thinking happens mostly in our heads.  It is invisible to others and even to ourselves.

Kids already are naturally good at making their thinking visible, they externalize their thoughts through speaking, writing, drawing, or some other method. So as parents we can continue to build on these already innate abilities.  Project Zero also reiterates how open-mindedness, curiosity, attention to evidence, skepticism, and imagination all make for good thinking and great learners.

Encouraging visual learning can be easily done by asking a series of simple questions.  Here is an extract from Project Zero of what to do.

4 Simple Questions to Encourage Visible Thinking in Your Child.

Start the process by observing your child's conversations and play.  Then look for opportunities  for learning related to their topics of interest.  For example, if your child gets extremely excited by their first ride on an airplane then this creates a perfect opportunity to use visible thinking.

Question 1 "What do you think you know about ____________ (airplanes)?"

It is very important to point out here the language - we are not asking what the child "knows" about airplanes, this question uses conditional language that suggests an absolute idea rather than the "think you know" question that allows for possibilities and openness, and encourages sharing of tentative ideas.  Also, kids are not made wrong when they discover their initial thinking may have been incorrect, instead they understand that learning begins with one's own ideas and truth is built over time.

Question 2 "What makes you say that?"

The idea here is when kids are interested in a topic - talk to them about it!   Ask for the 1st thoughts that come to their mind and then ask the all important question "What makes you say that?"  Also, it's important for ongoing learning of the subject to document responses in pictures or word to keep the thinking visually stimulating.

Question 3  "What are you puzzling over?"

Again, the phrasing here is really important to notice because it is subtly different from the traditional, "What do you want to find out?" and it guides students towards investigating, problem solving and critical thinking rather than rote memorization and stockpiling facts.

Question 4 - "How will we explore our puzzles?"

Give the child options - books, newspaper, a movie or documentary, a Broadway play - anything they can imagine!

The last thing I want to say about this method of teaching/learning is that during the process, thinking is always noticed, respected, and encouraged, with the primary focus being to foster a culture of fun and joyful learning.

Here's an example

So here is how the typical visible learning conversation with a 6 year old about airplanes may play out....

Mom - So, Aiden, I know you are so excited to take your first airplane ride, and what I really want to know is what do you think you know about airplanes?

Aiden - Well, I think that they fly really fast - faster than a cheetah!

Mom - What makes you say that?

Aiden - Cheetahs can run really fast, but a plane can make it across the whole country in 1 day!

Mom - So Aiden what are you puzzling over or wondering about airplanes?

Aiden - I really want to know how they can stay up in the sky and not fall out.  Also, how come some planes make trails in the sky and others don't?

Mom - Well those are great questions - how should we explore these puzzles?  Do you want to take library books with us about planes on the trip to read?  Should we watch a movie about how planes work?

Aiden - Actually I want to build a remote control plane and see all the parts and practice flying it.  Also, we can take a movie with us on our trip about planes.

Mom - I think those are great ideas!

So that's it!  Kind of academic, but still some cool ideas on how we can better communicate with our children to foster and encourage their learning!

If you want to read more about this method you can download the original Project Zero article.