Visible thinking

Visible thinking...

Visible thinking summary

Visible Thinking is a research concerning children's thinking and learning, along with a sustained research and development process in classrooms.

Visible thinking is a way that shows how the student thinks, the word visible does not mean only something that can be seen, visible thinking involves all senses, watching, listening, felling and so on.

Students usually memorize or just answer question in a simple way, without giving importance, not even address in the topic even if they have the abilities to do it.

Visible thinking help students to develop in a better way, by make them participate in a more productive way for them. The qualities expected to obtain are: Deeper understanding of content, Greater motivation for learning, Development of learners' thinking and learning abilities, Development of learners' attitudes toward thinking and learning and their alertness to opportunities for thinking and learning (the "dispositional" side of thinking), A shift in classroom culture toward a community of enthusiastically engaged thinkers and learners, at the time to obtain all of these qualities the  enriching classroom learning is going to be visible.

 Teachers and students should challenge themselves to acquire this intellectual development through a process in which is necessary to learn some routines that take us to make it easier.

Leaving back the simplicity to enhance our thinking is going to take some time; it is just required to know how to start with.

Some routines can be simple like asking to some questions for example: Stephanie Martin created some questions that help students to reflect on their own thinking

 What is it like?, Function: How does it work?, Connection: How is this like something I have seen before?

A teacher can show these questions to students and also can apply other questions that let students get involved with the topic.

These following routines are also helpful

·         What Makes You Say That? Interpretation with justification routine

·         Think Puzzle Explore A routine that sets the stage for deeper inquiry

·         Think Pair Share A routine for active reasoning and explanation

·         Circle of Viewpoints A routine for exploring diverse perspectives

Ideals are also important

When there are not routines or a technical concept, teacher can begin with a thinking ideal by evaluating the strategies that better fit with a topic and asking to student about their understanding.

 Set of thinking ideals that capture naturally occurring goals, strivings, or interests that often propel our thinking.

In this way classes are going to show a different face more interesting and rich  in knowledge.