Umhlali Preparatory school has been looking at new and innovative ways of ensuring that their pupils reach their full learning potential.
In keeping with that aim on August 4, the school invited education specialist, Ingrid Lynne Turner from the American International School in Lusaka to equip both teachers and pupils with more information on visual thinking.
The concept is focused on strategies and repeated routines where thinking skills become habitual and are transferred from lesson to lesson, be it oral or written classes.
Teachers go through the different routines to find ways to best teach pupils.
The approach provides a jump-start for learning to think deeply.
The strategy can be used in most subjects ranging from poetry and math to science and social studies.
Turner said that there are more than 50 visual thinking routines.
“The main routine is called See, Think and Wonder where pupils interact with each other and express their creative thoughts on a subject that would normally be boring.
“For example, an art teacher can look get pupils to look at a painting and express what they see and how they feel.
“This allows for them to challenge their mind and push their limits.
“When the kids hear their friends thoughts, it allows for them to see things from a different perspective.
“In this way, they are not just taking in information but actively participating in the information process.
“They become critical thinkers,” she said.
The day was spent with busy chatter, fun inter-class activities and pupils actively engaging with their teachers and each other.
Umhali Preparatory principal, Astra Russel said the visual learning methods look promising.
“Going forward, the teachers will try to incorporate the strategies into their classes.
“It will be good to see the outcome and we hope for positive results,” said Russel.
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