Visual Thinking Strategies in Occupational Therapy Education
Heather Kuhaneck 4-23-25
Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is a teaching method that uses art to foster critical thinking, communication, and observational skills. This approach has gained traction in various educational fields, including occupational therapy (OT) education. By engaging with visual art, students can develop essential skills that are directly applicable to OT practice. This blog post explores the principles of VTS, its benefits for OT education, and how it can be effectively integrated into the curriculum, supported by insights from peer-reviewed research.
What are Visual Thinking Strategies?
Visual Thinking Strategies is a teaching method developed by cognitive psychologist Abigail Housen and museum educator Philip Yenawine, that encourages students to look at works of art and discuss what they observe. The process involves three key questions:
- What’s going on in this picture?
- What do you see that makes you say that?
- What more can we find?
This method aims to enhance visual literacy, critical thinking, and communication skills.
Benefits of Visual Thinking Strategies in OT Education
Enhancing Observational Skills
Observation is a critical skill for occupational therapists, who must carefully assess clients’ behaviors, movements, and environments. VTS helps students refine their observational skills by encouraging them to notice and articulate details in visual art. Research indicates that medical and health profession students who engaged in VTS showed improved observational skills, which are directly transferable to clinical practice.
Developing Critical Thinking
VTS fosters critical thinking by prompting students to interpret and analyze visual information. This practice helps students learn to consider multiple perspectives and develop reasoned arguments based on evidence. Students who participated in VTS sessions demonstrated enhanced critical thinking skills, which are essential for problem-solving in OT practice.
Improving Communication Skills
Effective communication is vital in OT, as practitioners must convey their observations and treatment plans clearly to clients, families, and other professionals. VTS encourages students to articulate their thoughts and listen to others’ interpretations, thereby enhancing both verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
Promoting Empathy and Cultural Competence
Engaging with diverse works of art through VTS can help students develop empathy and cultural competence by exposing them to different perspectives and experiences. This is crucial for OT practitioners who work with clients from varied cultural backgrounds. VTS can foster greater empathy and understanding of cultural diversity among health profession students.
Encouraging Reflective Practice
Reflective practice is a key component of professional development in OT. VTS sessions provide an opportunity for students to reflect on their thought processes, biases, and assumptions. This reflective practice can enhance self-awareness and professional growth, as highlighted by Charon et al. (2016), who found that VTS promotes reflective thinking in medical education.
Integrating Visual Thinking Strategies into OT Education
Incorporating VTS Sessions into the Curriculum
Educators can integrate VTS sessions into the OT curriculum by collaborating with art museums or utilizing online art resources. Regular VTS sessions can be incorporated into courses focused on assessment, clinical reasoning, and communication skills. Faculty can become trained in using VTS through their web based course, available here.
Facilitating Interdisciplinary Learning
VTS can be a valuable tool for interdisciplinary learning, bringing together students from OT, medicine, nursing, and other health professions. Collaborative VTS sessions can foster interdisciplinary communication and teamwork, essential for holistic client care.
Encouraging Reflective Journals
Encouraging students to keep reflective journals based on their VTS sessions can enhance their reflective practice. Students can document their observations, interpretations, and insights, promoting deeper self-awareness and critical thinking.
Conclusion
Visual Thinking Strategies offer a powerful approach to enhancing critical thinking, observational skills, communication, empathy, and reflective practice in occupational therapy education. By integrating VTS into the curriculum, educators can prepare students to become more effective and empathetic practitioners. Supported by a growing body of research, VTS provides a valuable tool for enriching OT education and ultimately improving client care.
Resources
A video about VTS by one of the creators
Another example of how to do VTS
References
- Feen-Calligan, H., Serra, G., Farrell, K., Mendez, J., McQuillen, E., Murphy, C., & Amponsah, D. (2023). Using Visual Thinking Strategies to Enhance Observation Skills. Art Therapy, 41(4), 203–211. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2023.2254200
- Gallagher Worthley, J., & Trudell, T. (2022). The Use of Visual Thinking Strategies to Enhance Observation Skills of Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Students. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 6 (3). https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2022.060307
- Ker, J., Yenawine, P., & Chisolm, M. S. (2024). Twelve Tips for facilitating visual thinking strategies with medical learners. Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 1155-1161.
- Nanavaty, J. (2018). Using visual thinking strategies with nursing students to enhance nursing assessment skills: A qualitative design. Nurse Education Today, 62, 39-42.
- Reilly, J. M., Ring, J., & Duke, L. (2005). Visual thinking strategies: A new role for art in medical education. Family Medicine, 37(4), 250-52.
- Poirier, T. I., Newman, K., & Ronald, K. (2020). An exploratory study using visual thinking strategies to improve undergraduate students’ observational skills. American journal of pharmaceutical education, 84(4), 7600.
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