Session Goals
In this session, participants will (1) learn how to use Modified Visual Thinking Strategies to focus the visitor’s attention on science practices, (2) examine the facilitation framework that helps facilitators make decisions about how to work with visitors to further their interaction with an exhibit, and (3) brainstorm in a group how they might change a visitor's engagement category and expand the visitor's use of practices.
Notes to Instructor
This session will be organized into five segments: an improv warm-up, an activity focused on Modified Visual Thinking Strategies, an introduction to the facilitation framework, an activity focused on facilitation moves, and a debrief discussion:
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Improv warm-up
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Modified Visual Thinking Strategies
Break -
Introduce Facilitation Framework
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Activity - Facilitation Moves
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Debrief
Session 3
Activity Slides (link)
Improv Warm-up
If the participants have completed at least one session of improv, ask them to select and play an improv game that they have learned in the applied improvisation training as a fun warm-up activity.
Activity - Modified Visual Thinking Strategies
Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) was developed for art education. It consists of looking at an image and asking three questions:(1) What do you think is going on in this picture? (2) What do you see that makes you say that? and (3) What more can we find?
We have modified the VTS prompts and use them as a facilitation tool. We ask (1) What do you notice? (2) What do you think is going on? (3) What makes you think that? and (4) What more can we find? Modified VTS focuses on the practices of making observations (what do you notice?), developing tentative explanations (what do you think is going on?), and supporting explanations with evidence (what makes you think that?). However, the questions are general enough that they may elicit different types of responses.
Introduce modified VTS to the participants and then have them practice with a set of images of science phenomena. Have participants take turns facilitation the VTS discussion.
Science phenomena images (link).
Break
Introduce Facilitation Framework
So far we have considered the exhibit, the visitor, and the potential outcomes. The facilitation framework helps facilitators make decisions about how to work with visitors to further their interaction with an exhibit. In Module 1, we introduce the first two of three pathways of the framework:
1. Change engagement by encouraging the visitor to change the way in which they are engaging with the exhibit from one category to another.
2. Expand practices by getting the visitor to engage in a practice they might not already be using.
Have participants divide into groups and brainstorm the variety of ways in which each practice can be implemented. Have them share their results with the group and then show them the ways in which previous workshop participants have envisioned the implementation of practices.
Activity - Facilitation Moves
Participants should refer back to the engagement categories they developed for a specific exhibit during Session 2. Have them consider a visitor at each engagement categories and brainstorm in a group how they might:
1. Change the visitor's engagement category
2. Expand the visitor's use of practices.
3. Optimize the use of a specific practice.
Debrief
Discuss as a group how they might modify the basic framework of VTS to encourage practices beyond observation.
Homework Activities
In Session 2, participants developed a set of Engagement Categories for an exhibit. Have the participants use the list they created or trade with another group so that they have a set of engagement categories for a new exhibit.
Participants should spend time on the floor observing visitors and trying to identify the engagement category that the visitors are using.
Then ask them to try to facilitate at least one interaction by (1) Asking a question that would prompt the visitors to engage in a different engagement level and a second interaction by (2) Asking a question or set of questions that would help the visitors add a practice they aren't already using.
Have them reflect on this experience and write up what happened during their facilitation attempts.