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Background: Medical humanities can contribute positively to clinical practice and medical education. Therefore, in many countries, medical schools have been progressively incorporating medical humanities into their curriculum. In Italy, only a few medical schools offer a variety of medical humanities courses, often as elective. What induces Italian medical students to take a medical humanities course has not yet been explored. The aim of this study is to fill this gap by investigating whether academic performance, sociodemographic and psychological variables may influence student motivation. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in a medical school and collected data from 260 medical students, from the 3rd to the 6th year of the degree course. The students who chose to take a course in Medical Humanities were compared with those who chose not to take such a course, analysing numeric variables (age, grade point average, psychometric scores) and categorical variables (gender, nationality, educational level, living conditions). Motivations were investigated by open-ended questions and categorized prior to analyses. Results: The two subgroups showed no significant differences in sociodemographic characteristics, except for age, which was lower for the students who chose to take a medical humanities course (p < 0.001). Among the psychometric scores, only the anxiety score differed significantly between the groups, being lower for the students who chose a medical humanities course (p < 0.05). Regarding academic performance, the number of examinations passed was similar between the groups, while the average grade was lower for the students taking the course (p < 0.01). Interest in the humanities and their educational potential were the main reasons for choosing to take a course in medical humanities (76.2%). Concurrent commitments and lack of time were the major obstacles to this choice (39%). Conclusions: Age, anxiety levels and academic performance seem to be inversely associated with the choice to take a medical humanities course. Considering the workload due to curricular activities when planning elective courses could increase student participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Medical humanities can contribute positively to clinical practice and medical education. Therefore, in many countries, medical schools have been progressively incorporating medical humanities into their curriculum. In Italy, only a few medical schools offer a variety of medical humanities courses, often as elective. What induces Italian medical students to take a medical humanities course has not yet been explored. The aim of this study is to fill this gap by investigating whether academic performance, sociodemographic and psychological variables may influence student motivation. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in a medical school and collected data from 260 medical students, from the 3rd to the 6th year of the degree course. The students who chose to take a course in Medical Humanities were compared with those who chose not to take such a course, analysing numeric variables (age, grade point average, psychometric scores) and categorical variables (gender, nationality, educational level, living conditions). Motivations were investigated by open-ended questions and categorized prior to analyses. Results The two subgroups showed no significant differences in sociodemographic characteristics, except for age, which was lower for the students who chose to take a medical humanities course (p

Background. Art-based education is gaining interest in the medical field, particularly in specialties with a strong visual focus. Visual arts are increasingly used for the development of observational skills and social competencies. While content and objectives of art-based programs widely differ across medical faculties in the Netherlands, the diverse range of options underscore the interest in and the potential of this educational approach. In this report, we explore the value of art-based observational training for medical students and surgical residents in two prominent Dutch museums in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, respectively. Methods. Our program, conducted at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and Depot Boijmans van Beuningen Museum in Rotterdam engaged medical students (n=24) and surgeons (in training) (n=66) in an interactive workshop focused on art observation led by an experienced art-educator and a clinical professional. Learning objectives were defined and a post-workshop questionnaire was devised to evaluate participants' perceptions, with a specific focus on contribution of the program to professional development. Results. Both residents and surgeons acknowledged that the program had a positive impact on their professional skills. The program learned them to postpone their judgements and contributed to the awareness of their personal bias. Notably, medical students believed in the program's potential contribution to their professional development. Surgeons were more critical in their evaluation, emphasizing the challenge of sustainable improvement of skills within the limited duration of the course. Conclusions. An interactive art-based medical education program was offered to medical students, PhD students, house officers, surgical residents and surgeons in two well known Dutch museums. Participants expressed enthusiasm for the innovative educational approach they experienced at the museums. They learned about the importance of critical observation in their professional work, handling of ambiguity and got the opportunity to practice both observational and communicational skills in a creative manner. The findings indicate that medical students and surgical residents can benefit from art-based observational training, using art as a vehicle to develop their professional competencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Professional identity formation is an important aspect of medical education that can be difficult to translate into formal curricula. The role of arts and humanities programs in fostering professional identity formation remains understudied. Analyzing learners' written reflections, we explore the relationship between an arts-based course and themes of professional identity formation. Materials and methods: Two cohorts of learners participated in a 5-day online course featuring visual arts-based group activities. Both cohorts responded to a prompt with written reflections at the beginning and end of the course. Using a thematic analysis method, we qualitatively analyzed one set of reflections from each cohort. Results: Themes included the nature of the good life; fulfilling, purposeful work; entering the physician role; exploration of emotional experience; and personal growth. Reflections written at the end of the course engaged significantly with art - including literature, poetry, lyrics, and film. One student disclosed a mental illness in their reflection. Conclusions: Our qualitative analysis of reflections written during a visual arts-based course found several themes related to professional identity formation. Such arts-based courses can also enrich learners' reflections and provide a space for learners to be vulnerable. Practice Points: (five short bullets conveying the main points) • Arts-based courses can support learners' professional identity formation • Reflection themes related to professional identity formation included entering the physician role, fulfilling clinical work, and personal growth • At the end of the course, learners' reflections included significant engagement with art • Reflective writing in small, arts-based learning communities can provide space for learners to be vulnerable The Role of Arts-Based Curricula in Professional Identity Formation: Results of A Qualitative Analysis of Learner's Written Reflections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has recommended* integrating medically-relevant arts and humanities curricula into medical student education in order promote physician skills development. An analysis of the state of existing visual artsbased medical school pedagogies was conducted to inform future implementation strategies. Methodology: An electronic survey was distributed to representatives of US medical schools to describe the prevalence and characteristics of visual arts-based medical school curricula. Official courses, informal events, cross-registration opportunities, and established art museum partnerships were assessed. Results: Survey response rates were 65% for US allopathic medical schools and 56% for osteopathic medical schools. A majority (79%) of responding institutions incorporate or support medical student art experiences in some format. Thirty-one percent (n = 36) of schools offer stand-alone humanities courses using visual arts. These were primarily allopathic programs (n = 35; 37% of allopathic programs) and only one responding osteopathic program (n = 1; 5% of osteopathic programs). Schools without dedicated courses are less likely to report other curricular and extracurricular visual arts engagement. Most visual art medical courses are offered at medical schools located in the Northeastern United States. Conclusions: Many but not all medical schools are incorporating the visual arts into their medical education curriculum. Opportunities to promote increased uptake, more effective implementation, and collaboration strategies for the AAMC recommendations are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Arts-based pedagogical tools have been increasingly incorporated into medical education. Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is a research-based, constructivist teaching methodology that aims to improve visual literacy, critical thinking, and communication skills through the process of investigating works of art. Harvard Medical School pioneered the application of VTS within medical education in 2004. While there are several studies investigating the use of VTS, there is a need to systematically assess the different programs that exist for medical education and their efficacy in improving relevant clinical skills. This systematic review aims to critically analyse the available evidence of the effectiveness of VTS in medical education to guide future research and provide a framework to adapt medical curricula. Methods A systematic search of PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases (through November 2022) was conducted to identify studies of VTS-based interventions in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. Two reviewers independently screened citations for inclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. The extracted data was then narratively synthesized. Results Of 5759 unique citations, 10 studies met the inclusion criteria. After reference review, one additional study was included. Therefore, 11 studies were included in our review. Of these, eight reported VTS-based interventions for undergraduate medical students and three reported interventions in residency training, specifically in dermatology and ophthalmology. The main goal of most studies was to increase observational or visual diagnostic skills. Three of the studies in undergraduate medical education and two in postgraduate achieved a statistically significant improvement in observational skills in post-course evaluations. Some studies reported increased tolerance for ambiguity and empathy. Conclusions Although the studies varied considerably in study design, learning objectives, and outcomes, findings consistently indicate that the VTS approach can serve as a vehicle to develop crucial clinical competencies, encouraging more in-depth visual analysis that could be applied when observing a patient. Despite some limitations of the included studies (lack of control groups, self-selection bias, or non-standard outcome measures), the results of this review provide support for greater inclusion of VTS training in the medical curriculum.

ABSTRACTBackground: The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has recommended integrating medically-relevant arts and humanities curricula into medical student education in order promote physician skills development. An analysis of the state of existing visual arts-based medical school pedagogies was conducted to inform future implementation strategies.Methodology: An electronic survey was distributed to representatives of US medical schools to describe the prevalence and characteristics of visual arts-based medical school curricula. Official courses, informal events, cross-registration opportunities, and established art museum partnerships were assessed.Results: Survey response rates were 65% for US allopathic medical schools and 56% for osteopathic medical schools. A majority (79%) of responding institutions incorporate or support medical student art experiences in some format. Thirty-one percent (n = 36) of schools offer stand-alone humanities courses using visual arts. These were primarily allopathic programs (n = 35; 37% of allopathic programs) and only one responding osteopathic program (n = 1; 5% of osteopathic programs). Schools without dedicated courses are less likely to report other curricular and extracurricular visual arts engagement. Most visual art medical courses are offered at medical schools located in the Northeastern United States.Conclusions: Many but not all medical schools are incorporating the visual arts into their medical education curriculum. Opportunities to promote increased uptake, more effective implementation, and collaboration strategies for the AAMC recommendations are proposed.

AbstractWhile the significance of imparting reflective thinking skills to business undergraduates is widely acknowledged, the optimal approaches to attain this objective remain uncertain. Furthermore, there is a scarcity of empirical evidence regarding the effectiveness of specific teaching initiatives aimed at achieving this goal. Therefore, firstly, this pilot study introduces a digital approach to developing reflective thinking skills. It builds upon the integration of using photographs to capture learning experiences, combined with written narratives within the context of constructing an e-portfolio. Secondly, responding to the need to validate technology’s role in developing reflective thinking skills, this pilot study utilised hierarchical linear regression to analyse survey responses from 41 business undergraduates. The aim was to test hypotheses related to the proposed initiative. The pilot study findings uncover that higher digital competencies in portfolio creation strengthen the link between the effectiveness of photo use for capturing learning experiences and undergraduates’ reflective thinking skill development.

ABSTRACTBackground Professional identity formation is an important aspect of medical education that can be difficult to translate into formal curricula. The role of arts and humanities programs in fostering professional identity formation remains understudied. Analyzing learners’ written reflections, we explore the relationship between an arts-based course and themes of professional identity formation.Materials and methods Two cohorts of learners participated in a 5-day online course featuring visual arts-based group activities. Both cohorts responded to a prompt with written reflections at the beginning and end of the course. Using a thematic analysis method, we qualitatively analyzed one set of reflections from each cohort.Results Themes included the nature of the good life; fulfilling, purposeful work; entering the physician role; exploration of emotional experience; and personal growth. Reflections written at the end of the course engaged significantly with art – including literature, poetry, lyrics, and film. One student disclosed a mental illness in their reflection.Conclusions Our qualitative analysis of reflections written during a visual arts-based course found several themes related to professional identity formation. Such arts-based courses can also enrich learners’ reflections and provide a space for learners to be vulnerable.Practice Points (five short bullets conveying the main points) Arts-based courses can support learners’ professional identity formationReflection themes related to professional identity formation included entering the physician role, fulfilling clinical work, and personal growthAt the end of the course, learners’ reflections included significant engagement with artReflective writing in small, arts-based learning communities can provide space for learners to be vulnerableThe Role of Arts-Based Curricula in Professional Identity Formation: Results of A Qualitative Analysis of Learner’s Written Reflections

In this article, the authors discuss the development and current curriculum of the Art in Medicine course at the University of Colorado School of Medicine (CUSOM), developed in collaboration with the Centre for Bioethics and Humanities, and the Denver Art Museum. Examples of art museum-based techniques implemented with medical students are discussed with objectives, methods, and pedagogy highlighted. Translational skillsets for medical professionals, including empathy, tolerance of ambiguity, perspective taking, bias, and communication are emphasised through practice in engagement in visual arts with facilitation by medical faculty and art museum educators. Following the discussion of classroom based activities, two of the co-authors, physician-educators from the CUSOM Departments of Medicine and Radiology, discuss the direct applications and importance of these skillsets in the context of the exam room and the reading room respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual Thinking Strategies is a teaching technique initially studied in primary education but recently has been used to teach nursing students and other healthcare professionals. VTS has been found to help participants think and see differently, explore learning in safe environments, and develop ethical competencies. Experiences with VTS can create rich discussions and present opportunities for nurses to talk about issues and concerns that may not always present in the classroom. VTS can provide participants with the ability to explore meanings and engage in conversations about diversity and social determinants of health. This article explores how teachers can use VTS to create meaningful dialogue with participants and relate it to their care of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Racism has been recognised as a threat to patient outcomes, public health, and the healthcare workforce, and health professions (HP) educators and learners alike are seeking effective ways to teach anti-racism in HP education. However, facilitating conversations on race and racism in healthcare contexts can be challenging. Integrative arts and humanities approaches can engage learners in the critical dialogue necessary to educational interventions focused on anti-racism. Discussions of works of visual art, for instance, can leverage visual art as an avenue for indirection to balance introspection and revelation with psychological safety. Structured pedagogical frameworks that emphasise the perspectives and experiences of participants, such as the Visual Thinking Strategies approach, can lead to open-ended and collaborative discussions where participants can safely explore their assumptions in a space that encourages productive discomfort. Visual arts-based programs on anti-racism in HP are limited, though, in part because no collection of images exists to support HP educators in this endeavour. This paper describes the process of developing a digital image library to support HP educators seeking to generate discussions on race and racism as part of anti-racism curricula. We also highlight common themes, best practices, and potential pitfalls associated with use of the image library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The foundation of art processes in the social brain can guide the scientific study of how human beings perceive and interact with their environment. Here, we applied the theoretical frameworks of the social and artistic brain connectomes to an eye-tracking paradigm with the aim to elucidate how different viewing conditions and social cues influence gaze patterns and personal resonance with artworks and complex imagery in healthy adults. We compared two viewing conditions that encourage personal or social perspective taking--modeled on the well-known Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) method--to a viewing condition during which only contextual information about the image was provided. Our findings showed that the viewing conditions that used VTS techniques directed the gaze more toward highly salient social cues (Animate elements) in artworks and complex imagery, compared to when only contextual information was provided. We furthermore found that audio cues also directed visual attention, whereby listening to a personal reflection by another person (VTS) had a stronger effect than contextual information. However, we found no effect of viewing condition on the personal resonance with the artworks and complex images when taking the random effects of the image selection into account. Our study provides a neurobiological grounding of the VTS method in the social brain, revealing that this pedagogical method of engaging viewers with artworks measurably shapes people's visual exploration patterns. This is not only of relevance to (art) education but also has implications for art-based diagnostic and therapeutic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case study, using triangulation-focused mixed methodology, analyzes the perceptions of 477 elementary school pupils after exposure to Visual Thinking Strategies through the educational programs of the Barcelona Picasso Museum. Pupils' learning preferences and their perceived impact of Visual Thinking Strategies were studied in the aftermath of an experience based on this teaching method, which focused on skill development and total class participation through exposure to art. The study also aimed to determine if this visit contributed to pupils' desire for future use of similar methods in museums and at school. Results articulate student voices, showing that, when faced with choosing between participatory and discursive teaching methods, most preferred the former; however, over 40% favored a combination of both strategies. This research contributes to the field in showing that many pupils would favor more art-historical content during Visual Thinking Strategies sessions as well as highlighting the potential of a single-session experience in generating a perception of impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the introduction of Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) in Denmark and its potential as a pedagogical tool used throughout Danish education culture and particularly in Danish primary schools. The first active Danish users of and trainers in VTS in the country provide purposive qualitative interview data through structured e-mail interviews focused on their experiences with VTS and their impressions of this pedagogical tool in the Danish education culture context. The analysis of this qualitative data indicates that VTS is highly and widely adaptable to Danish education culture which, like other Scandinavian education systems, is based on bildung didactic principles. In their contemporary manifestation, these principles value the emancipation of the individual and the promotion of democratic learning processes. The introduction of VTS is still a work in progress in the Danish context and is not yet formally used in the school system. However, it is precisely there that a rich vein of opportunities exists for VTS in Denmark. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The foundation of art processes in the social brain can guide the scientific study of how human beings perceive and interact with their environment. Here, we applied the theoretical frameworks of the social and artistic brain connectomes to an eye-tracking paradigm with the aim to elucidate how different viewing conditions and social cues influence gaze patterns and personal resonance with artworks and complex imagery in healthy adults. We compared two viewing conditions that encourage personal or social perspective taking—modeled on the well-known Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) method—to a viewing condition during which only contextual information about the image was provided. Our findings showed that the viewing conditions that used VTS techniques directed the gaze more toward highly salient social cues (Animate elements) in artworks and complex imagery, compared to when only contextual information was provided. We furthermore found that audio cues also directed visual attention, whereby listening to a personal reflection by another person (VTS) had a stronger effect than contextual information. However, we found no effect of viewing condition on the personal resonance with the artworks and complex images when taking the random effects of the image selection into account. Our study provides a neurobiological grounding of the VTS method in the social brain, revealing that this pedagogical method of engaging viewers with artworks measurably shapes people's visual exploration patterns. This is not only of relevance to (art) education but also has implications for art-based diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Background: Arts-based pedagogical tools have been increasingly incorporated into medical education. Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is a research-based, constructivist teaching methodology that aims to improve visual literacy, critical thinking, and communication skills through the process of investigating works of art. Harvard Medical School pioneered the application of VTS within medical education in 2004. While there are several studies investigating the use of VTS, there is a need to systematically assess the different programs that exist for medical education and their efficacy in improving relevant clinical skills. This systematic review aims to critically analyse the available evidence of the effectiveness of VTS in medical education to guide future research and provide a framework to adapt medical curricula. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases (through November 2022) was conducted to identify studies of VTS-based interventions in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. Two reviewers independently screened citations for inclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. The extracted data was then narratively synthesized. Results: Of 5759 unique citations, 10 studies met the inclusion criteria. After reference review, one additional study was included. Therefore, 11 studies were included in our review. Of these, eight reported VTS-based interventions for undergraduate medical students and three reported interventions in residency training, specifically in dermatology and ophthalmology. The main goal of most studies was to increase observational or visual diagnostic skills. Three of the studies in undergraduate medical education and two in postgraduate achieved a statistically significant improvement in observational skills in post-course evaluations. Some studies reported increased tolerance for ambiguity and empathy. Conclusions: Although the studies varied considerably in study design, learning objectives, and outcomes, findings consistently indicate that the VTS approach can serve as a vehicle to develop crucial clinical competencies, encouraging more in-depth visual analysis that could be applied when observing a patient. Despite some limitations of the included studies (lack of control groups, self-selection bias, or non-standard outcome measures), the results of this review provide support for greater inclusion of VTS training in the medical curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reflective practice is considered a highly valued graduate attribute in the field of occupational therapy. Occupational therapy educators influence and shape how students develop into reflective practitioners. Reflective practice requires a set of complex thinking skills that are typically focused on personal experiences and can be broken down into pre-requisite skills that aid in the teaching and learning process. This article introduces a six component Permissions model used with graduate level students during their first semester that combines experiential learning and pre-requisite skills of reflective practice. The model includes three broad domains: self-awareness, observation, and effective communication and six pre-requisite skills including: a) permission to slow down when necessary; b) permission for tolerating ambiguity; c) permission to notice, think, and ponder; d) permission to speak up; e) permission to listen with careful consideration of other’s thinking; and f) permission to respectfully build or challenge the ideas of others based on visual evidence. Using experiential learning methodologies of Lego Serious Play and Visual Thinking Strategies, faculty actively and explicitly teach the Permission model skills while simultaneously helping students to see the relevancy and transferability of the pre-skills to more advanced professional skills.

This article makes a case for SoTL practitioners to engage in what we term a pedagogy of slow. Here, "slow" connotes with waiting and patience. It takes time to learn and acquire the skills that a SoTL scholar needs. "Doing SoTL" we therefore argue, requires a pedagogy that takes time and sees time as an ally instead of as an opponent. In what the university has become, there seems little room for a pedagogy of slow that both offers and allows for time. In this article we present a case for considering engagement with the visual arts as part of a pedagogy of slow and the development of SoTL. By making the familiar strange, we acknowledge the implications of visual thinking strategies for social engagement by highlighting teaching and learning as relational. Working with colleagues in the context of continuing professional development, we collected data via focus groups and written reflections within physical and virtual gallery spaces to glean insight into participant experiences of slow looking as the antithesis to fast-paced and pressurised environments. We highlight how learning to become a SoTL scholar is an iterative process that requires time and generates what we term "productive friction." This is the iterative process which creates dislocation and uncertainty within participants, but which also has the capacity to nudge towards a transformation of the professional self. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure the effect that a learning method using art, such as Visual Thinking Strategies, can have on nursing students and residents in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine; we also aimed to improve skills of observation, communication, empathy and collaboration with the patient and other team members, and evaluate the impact on quality of life, burnout and positivity. Methods: The experimentation was based on administering a form (written assessment) before and after the intervention, to measure the impact of the method on improving some useful skills for the nursing and medical professions by inserting one image of an artistic type and the other of a clinical type, and asking participants to answer basic questions on the VTS method. Students participated in groups of eight in 90-min sessions for four meetings in the classroom and one at the museum, on a weekly basis. Results: The experimental study concerned a randomized controlled sample involving undergraduate nursing students who voluntarily participated in the survey. 84 students took part in the study, including 50 undergraduate nursing students (mean age 22.5, SD 2.7; 14 males and 34 females) and 34 residents in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine (mean age 28.7, SD 2.6; 8 males and 26 females). For the artistic image, the median of the total score for all skills was −1.5 for the control group and 3 for the intervention group (p = 0.002), registering an increase for the Delta identified items, which was −1.5 for the control group and 1 for the intervention group (p = 0.007). For the clinical image, the median of the total score for all skills was 0 for the control group and 2 for the intervention group (p = 0.025), recording an increase for Delta observation skills, found to be 0 for the control group and 1 for the intervention group (p = 0.007). Conclusions: Most students who participated in the intervention reported considerable improvements in the skills the method promises to improve, and a reduction in personal and work burnout scores, suggesting that the use of the VTS method in health professions curricula is viable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific literature demonstrated the impairment in cognitive/executive functions and pragmatic language in SLE patients, potentially involving also asymptomatic subjects. The present study focuses on the assessment in an SLE cohort of emotional intelligence, which is an ability regulated by the network of the executive functions, cognitive abilities involved in the initiation, planning, organization, and regulation of achievement-oriented behaviors: with emotional. Thus, emotional intelligence, defined as the ability to reason with emotions, was evaluated in a SLE cohort diagnosed according to the 1997 American College of Rheumatology criteria. As control healthy subjects were enrolled. The Mayer–Salovey–Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT), a skill-scale that measures the ability to perform tasks and solve emotional problems, was administered to patients and controls. Second, a group of SLE patients underwent the Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) method in order to assess the potential impact of art in cognitive skills like critical thinking, problem solving, and emotional intelligence quotient. The protocol also included the evaluation of the improvement of some skills using a validated VTS skill grid. Self-reported scales for anxiety and depression were performed to rule out the influence of mood disorders on emotional intelligence. The present study demonstrated similar quotient scores of emotional intelligence in SLE patients and healthy controls. Furthermore, VTS method could help in improving this cognitive ability in patients, by implementing critical thinking and problem solving, promoting empathy, and improving tolerance to ambiguity and relational capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article makes a case for SoTL practitioners to engage in what we term a pedagogy of slow. Here, “slow” connotes with waiting and patience. It takes time to learn and acquire the skills that a SoTL scholar needs. “Doing SoTL” we therefore argue, requires a pedagogy that takes time and sees time as an ally instead of as an opponent. In what the university has become, there seems little room for a pedagogy of slow that both offers and allows for time. In this article we present a case for considering engagement with the visual arts as part of a pedagogy of slow and the development of SoTL. By making the familiar strange, we acknowledge the implications of visual thinking strategies for social engagement by highlighting teaching and learning as relational. Working with colleagues in the context of continuing professional development, we collected data via focus groups and written reflections within physical and virtual gallery spaces to glean insight into participant experiences of slow looking as the antithesis to fast-paced and pressurised environments. We highlight how learning to become a SoTL scholar is an iterative process that requires time and generates what we term “productive friction.” This is the iterative process which creates dislocation and uncertainty within participants, but which also has the capacity to nudge towards a transformation of the professional self.

Using almost 30 years of research, the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector (NCMPS) and Philip Yenawine present the case for visual thinking strategies (VTS) as an opportunity to apply these strategies in the Montessori learning environment by centering engagement with art. The overall goal of VTS is to provide an accessible transformative learning experience through an open-ended discussion of visual art that increases a student’s literacy, language, and critical thinking skills.

Background: Artwork can be used to practice the development of holistic care for nursing students. This activity was designed for senior nursing students to develop their holistic nursing skills through a series of in-class activities while viewing Frida Kahlo's The Broken Column . Aim: This study's aim was to design an educational experience to develop a more holistic approach to caring for patients for nursing students. Method: Students submitted their initial impressions of the painting via an anonymous quiz. After a guided Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) session, students submitted impressions of the artwork. A VTS facilitator read a history of an accident which revealed the cause of Kahlo's medical and emotional pain. Students then wrote about their perceptions of the painting's meaning and how they might use VTS in caring for their patients. Answers were analyzed using Braun and Clark's thematic analysis. Results: The themes identified were emotions and feelings, metaphor, life/story, and listening to inform perspective. Most found that VTS changed their impressions and enhanced their ability to question patients and inform their care. Conclusion: Students found that VTS expanded their view of patient care and helped them see the patient more holistically, aligning with the development of clinical judgment.

The position in this paper is that Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) are very relevant for children’s education in Sweden, and that their practice makes them highly adaptable to English language teaching. The rationale for this position is that this elicitation and communication technique has proven very effective in nurturing the abilities and skills which are identified in the Swedish curriculum for compulsory schooling. The impact of VTS in the Swedish education system could be significant. First, once known and understood by teachers, VTS can be a very efficient technique in the English language classroom and can directly help to fulfil several of the ambitions of the curriculum and the English language syllabus. Second, abilities and sensitivities developed by VTS correspond to the core values of Swedish society in its promotion of democratic values, which are espoused in the compulsory school curriculum. Third, VTS lends itself to being actively used across school subjects and therefore supports an interdisciplinary sensitivity in students. VTS can help student performance and confidence across subject areas, thus again fulfilling the wider ambitions of the compulsory school curriculum and encourage these students in their growing independence as individuals and as active members of society.

Pedagogy associated with engaging with the arts in social work education is a developing area of exploration and research. This conceptual article explores the potential use of Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), which is a methodology where students look at artwork and discuss with peers. It draws on some existing literature on visual thinking or a similar pedagogical approach to stimulate thought and debate on the use of the methodology in contemporary social work education. The links discovered between VTS, critical inquiry and visual literacy highlight the relevance, and the potential of this methodology to contribute to student learning outcomes in direct practice social work courses through connecting skills-based competency with cognitive processes, such as critical inquiry and creativity. Engaging social work students in VTS can advance skills in observing, processing and communicating reasoning to peers in situations of ambiguity, which are critical for assessment and decision making in their future professional practice. There is a potential for students to engage with VTS in inter-professional education with medical, nursing and allied health students to facilitate communication and collaborative problem-solving. The article identifies the need for research to evaluate the use of VTS in the context of art-based pedagogies in social work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering medical humanities, medicine and art are two areas that resemble each other at several features. Clinical diagnosis involves the observation, description and interpretation of information of which visual ones take an important one. The skills described are important skills in the field of visual arts, as well. Underlying a good clinical practice; clinical examination and observation skills constitute an important place. Although in several studies, these skills are shown to be improved by analyzing visual art pieces, courses intended to improve visual thinking skills are not that much common in medical faculty curriculums.

The research in this article aims to develop a picture book based on visual thinking strategies for thematic learning in elementary schools. This is specifically intended to test the feasibility of the media developed in aspects of 1) material, 2) media, 3) teacher response, and 4) student response. This research is categorized as research and development. Research subjects for limited trials were teachers and third-grade students of SD Muhammadiyah 16 Karangasem consisting of 2 teachers and 9 students. The type of research is qualitative evaluative. The data were obtained from the validation assessment of material experts, media experts, teachers, and students' responses. The data analysis technique was conducted through flow and constant comparison methods. Based on the results, the assessments of the media developed are 1) material experts earned a score of 62 with suitable category, 2) media experts obtained a score of 45 with suitable category, 3) teacher responses scored 44 with very suitable category, and 4) student responses gained a score of 14.1 with very suitable category. To conclude, the picture book based on visual thinking strategies is suitable for learning media in elementary schools. Penelitian dalam artikel ini bertujuan untuk mengembangkan buku bergambar berbasis strategi berpikir visual untuk pembelajaran tematik di sekolah dasar. Hal ini secara khusus dimaksudkan untuk menguji kelayakan media yang dikembangkan pada aspek 1) materi, 2) media, 3) respon guru, dan 4) respon siswa. Penelitian ini dikategorikan sebagai penelitian dan pengembangan. Subjek penelitian pada penelitian terbatas ini adalah guru-guru dan siswa kelas tiga di SD Muhammadiyah 16 Karangasem yang terdiri dari 2 guru dan 9 siswa. Data diperoleh dari penilaian validasi ahli materi, ahli media, guru, dan tanggapan siswa. Teknik analisis data dilakukan dengan metode perbandingan aliran dan konstan. Berdasarkan hasil penilaian terhadap media yang dikembangkan adalah 1) ahli materi memperoleh skor 62 dengan kategori sesuai, 2) ahli media memperoleh skor 45 dengan kategori sesuai, 3) tanggapan guru memperoleh skor 44 dengan kategori sangat sesuai, dan 4) Respon siswa memperoleh skor 14,1 dengan kategori sangat sesuai. Kesimpulannya, buku bergambar berbasis strategi berpikir visual cocok untuk media pembelajaran di sekolah awal.

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With the onset of the coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, we transformed an in-person art museum-based course for medical students into an online format. This brought new challenges but offered unexpected advantages. The course included daily close-looking of artworks using the Visual Thinking Strategies method, group arts-based activities, reflective writing, and independent creating assignments. The virtual format allowed us to incorporate important features that were unavailable in our in-person elective: multi-media activities, access to nearly unlimited international works of art, and personal reflection from one’s private space. As instructors, the experience enlightened us on the value of online arts-based teaching.

Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is an art-based education programme that originally aims to teach visual literacy, thinking, and communication skills through facilitated discussions of visual art. It has been introduced to healthcare programmes in higher education, such as medicine and nursing, but little has been reported for speech and language therapy (SLT) education. This study examined the effect of VTS as assessed by the quality of observations and linguistic structures used in written descriptions of an art image by SLT students. The pre- and post-VTS written samples of 82 final year SLT students collected over five different years were analysed. The written samples were generated by asking the students to view an art image and write down their observations in accordance with three prompting questions. Parameters related to observation skills and linguistic structures of written text were identified, coded, and counted. The results showed that there was a significant increase in the number of words used to discuss the image post-VTS, with a decrease in detailed observations but an increase in supported inferences noted. For the linguistic structures, there was a significant increase in the use of subordinate clauses and cohesive devices, indicating an increase in sentence complexity and cohesion of the narratives. The results suggest that VTS may stimulate more frequent use of linguistic features associated with critical thinking, reasoning and general observation skills in students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cognitive psychologist Abigail Housen focuses on what people think while they are looking at a piece of art through the inevitable relationship between thinking and language. In this context, from the five viewer patterns, Housen and Yenawine developed a curriculum named Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) which is for the first two viewer patterns called as Beginner Viewers. Current study aimed to examine the visual thinking processes and interactions of the students in a learning environment where VTS are implemented. As a case study, 6th grade students participated in a total of 10 sessions of VTS practices. The data was analysed using the content analysis and three themes named accountive viewer, constructive viewer and interaction were constructed. Beginner viewers’ characteristics, increasing interaction, and interest to the works of arts were observed among the participants. Future studies might examine the development of various skills in the settings where VTS is implemented.

Background: During university many healthcare students face high stress that can lead to depressive symptoms, worst academic outcomes and socio-relational difficulties. It is necessary to prevent distress and improve quality of life among students teaching them skills to build resilience as observational capacities, critical thinking, work in team and empathy. Methods: The present work describes the protocol of a field trial that contemplates to improve visual literacy skills, decrease stress, promote active listening and work in-group among medical students. The intervention group will be involved in art sessions according to the visual thinking strategies (VTS) method while the control group will not take part in art activities. Scores about stress level (SL), empathy (EM), and skills related to VST (SKvts) will be measured. Questionnaires will be handed out to both groups at the beginning and at the end of the study. Univariate analysis, spearman correlation and multivariate analysis will be applied to analyze the outcome scores among the intervention and control groups. Conclusion: The use of art in medical training is widespread worldwide, but it is an innovation in the Italian university medical curricula. It is fundamental to teach observational skills, improve psychosocial abilities and lower stress in order to educate professional and resilient future healthcare workers.

This study examines how educational interventions involving art viewing affect students' art-viewing behaviors and their evaluations of artworks. We focused on Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), a typical intervention implemented in schools and museums, and examined its educational effect by comparing it to another common intervention: lectures on art history. To conduct this experiment, we recruited a sample of undergraduate students who were then assigned to a VTS condition or a lecture condition. The participants viewed 10 specific artworks both before and after receiving the educational intervention, and their eye movements and evaluations of each picture were measured and contrasted. The results showed that the participants who were assigned to the VTS condition increased the amount of time they spent viewing the artworks, whereas the lecture interventions had no observable effect on any measurement. The participants' favorability toward the artworks was not affected by either intervention. These findings reveal a new aspect of the effects of employing VTS in art education regarding art viewing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the effectiveness of Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) in medical education curricula, a pretest–posttest experimental study design was used to evaluate the impact of participating in VTS workshops on first-year medical students. A total of forty-one intervention and sixty comparative students completed the study which included the analysis of clinical images followed by a measurement of word count, length of time analyzing images, and quality of written observations of clinical images. VTS training increased the total number of words used to describe clinical images, the time spent analyzing the images, and the number of clinically relevant observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is a methodology designed to teach critical thinking, communication, and visual literacy. The Fine Art of Health Care is a VTS-based educational program that brings students from various health-care disciplines to the Lowe Art Museum at the University of Miami in Florida. Twenty-six nurse anesthesia, medical, physical therapy, nursing, and psychology students participated in the workshop during the 2016 fall semester. The students completed an anonymous survey to evaluate their experience. All participants agreed or strongly agreed that VTS helped them understand how to hone their observational and listening skills; 92% agreed that looking at and discussing art has merit with regards to collaborative practice; 96% agreed that VTS helped them improve their communication skills; and 93% found value in the VTS workshop because it provided opportunity to meet and have discussions with students from other disciplines. The arts and humanities have long been recognized as important tools for building multidisciplinary collaboration in health education. There is growing evidence that integrating the arts into the nursing curriculum can have powerful outcomes. These capabilities proved useful in the nurse anesthesia curriculum by allowing skillful conceptualization, and originality and leveling of the playing field for all health-care students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The skills needed in the medical and nursing field are considered both for the cognitive and the personal and interpersonal aspects. There are many studies that suggest using artistic practices and pedagogical methods such as Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) or Artful Thinking in the medical education. The main aim of this research is to validate a grid to evaluate impact of art activities for improving skills in medical education sector. Methods. The VTSkill grid was created by research group of Sapienza University, selecting the relevant dimension on the basis of literature analysis. To evaluate the validity and reliability, the grid was used in a quasi-experimental study involving the pediatric ward personnel, the nursing and medicine course students of Sapienza University of Rome. This analytic rubric was used to evaluate the written assessment form, composed by open-ended basic question related to the VTS method, administered in association with two images, a work of art and a clinical image. The Number of responders of the validation study was 105. Results. Although obtained from a small sample, both construct validity and reliability analysis showed coherent and statistically significant results. On one hand, the construct validity results showed a relationship path consistent with the hypothesised one derived from previous literature, with relevant p-values (n = 78). On the other hand, the VTSkill reliability was first analysed through the inter-rater evaluation data. This reliability coefficient showed a high degree of convergence of judgments between different evaluators on both image data (n = 55), with statistically significant values ranging from good (r = .77) up to excellent for objectively observable items (r = 1). Similarly, the test-retest reliability coefficients calculated for both clinical and artwork image data resulted statistically significant (n = 95), although ranging from weak to adequate entity (up to r = .77). Conclusions. Taking into account the high degree of coherence and the stability of measurement of VTSkill in combination with its consistent construct validity, this study suggest the opportunity to implement this measurement tool to research the effect of VTS protocol in future investigations on the field. Therefore, the results of this study will constitute the basis to collect further evidences on how arts-based learning methods can contribute in medical education to improve skills suitable to the health professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is a student-centred curriculum designed to engage students in examination and discussion of pieces of art/images. Recent studies have identified the use of VTS as an effective tool in improving observation, critical-thinking and problem-solving skills among undergraduate healthcare students. To date, research regarding VTS within healthcare training has focussed primarily on student outcomes. We are not aware of any research investigating facilitators' beliefs and experiences of facilitating VTS.The aim of this study was to gather qualitative, descriptive data exploring facilitators' and students' experiences of VTS in the health disciplines of one Irish University. It was conducted in one higher education institution in Ireland where VTS is delivered as part of the undergraduate programmes within medicine and health disciplines. Eight facilitators and seven students participated. A qualitative research design was employed. Oneto- one, semi-structured interviews using open-ended questions were conducted. Descriptive thematic analysis was employed to analyse the participants' responses. Four main themes emerged from the data: VTS as a teaching method, student engagement with VTS, potential of VTS to transfer to clinic and the future of VTS within medicine and healthcare settings. Facilitators reported belief in the potential of VTS, however, expressed concerns that this potential is not yet being reached. Student data supports the use of VTS for development of clinical skills. Timing of delivery of VTS in relation to clinical practice was identified as a key consideration to increase opportunities for clinical transference, thus improving client outcomes. The need for curriculum embedment, further research and resources were identified as important factors contributing to further development of VTS within healthcare curricula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The humanities have been increasingly incorporated into medical school curricula in order to promote clinical skills and professional formation. To understand its current use, we reviewed the literature on visual arts training in medical education, including relevant qualitative and quantitative data. Common themes that emerged from this review included a focus on preclinical students; instruction promoting observation, diagnostic skills, empathy, team building, communication skills, resilience, and cultural sensitivity. Successful partnerships have involved local art museums, with sessions led primarily by art educators employing validated pedagogy such as Visual Thinking Strategies or Artful Thinking. There is evidence that structured visual arts curricula can facilitate the development of clinical observational skills, although these studies are limited in that they have been single-institution reports, short term, involved small numbers of students and often lacked controls. There is a paucity of rigorous published data demonstrating that medial student art education training promotes empathy, team building, communication skills, wellness and resilience, or cultural sensitivity. Given these concerns, recommendations are offered for fostering more robust, evidence-based approaches for using visual arts instruction in the training of medical students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]