Thinking Through Art

Recognizing teachers as the levers of change, Thinking Through Art brings together educators from across Boston to learn about and through the Gardner and its collection. Thinking Through Art is a graduate-level course on teaching and learning that uses a student-centered discussion method called Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS). By prioritizing students’ observations and prior knowledge during these conversations, students of all ages and abilities measurably improve their ability to reason with evidence and think flexibly. They build confidence communicating in conversation and in writing, develop cohesion as a classroom community, and an appreciation for the unique perspectives that each individual brings to a work of art. Thinking Through Art uses culturally and linguistically sustaining practices and art from around the world to empower students to explore visual art and make meaning on their own terms. Plus the Gardner provides buses for participating classes to come to the Museum! 

Since 1992, the Gardner Museum has partnered with Boston Public Schools to build relationships with teachers and students, focusing on aligning with BPS standards and curricula with the process of learning to look at art. A recent study demonstrated the power of Thinking Through Art for teacher and student outcomes. We invite teachers and their students to join us and connect with the Gardner Museum as a resource and respite.

Step into the magic of Thinking Through Art. Boston Public Schools students and teachers engage in conversations about art in the classroom and at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and Anthony Beatrice, Executive Director of the Arts for Boston Public Schools, discusses the importance of art in students’ lives. (3 minutes) 

Video by Bearwalk Cinemas

Learn to facilitate open-ended discussions of works of art using Visual Thinking Strategies, a method proven to develop students’ critical thinking skills and promote social and emotional learning. You and your students will experience the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum as a place of learning, inspiration, and community.

BENEFITS 

For teachers: 

• Dual/Household Gardner Museum membership 
• Digital curriculum of visual art to use throughout the year 
• 30 PDPs or 2 graduate credits (for additional $150) 
• Learn applicable skills proven to increase culturally responsive instruction 
• Community of teachers from all subjects and grade levels 
• Support from the Gardner Museum and its educators throughout the entire program and beyond 

For students: 

• Field trips to the Gardner Museum with transportation included 
• Access to the Museum for students and their families 
• Experiences in the classroom and Museum proven to increase social-emotional learning and critical thinking  
   

REQUIREMENTS

Throughout the program, teachers will: 

• Attend professional development workshops
• Bring at least one class
• Lead six classroom Thinking Through Art lessons during the school year, each including 2-3 works of art
• Write a one-page reflection following each classroom lesson
• Write a 5-7 page paper following final Museum visit (for graduate credit)

Fee 

$100 materials fee per teacher, plus $150 for teachers seeking to earn graduate credit. 

Boston Public Schools teachers and students describe partnering with the Gardner Museum and the joy they experience as part of Thinking Through Art. (3 minutes) 

Video by Bearwalk Cinemas

Through rigorous professional development and a supportive community of educators, deepen your facilitation skills and become an advocate for student-centered teaching and arts integration within your school. Build on your expertise with Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) as a peer mentor, and use the Museum as a resource for designing lesson plans and student assessments that cultivate open-ended inquiry in your classroom.
 

BENEFITS 

For teachers: 

• Dual/Household Gardner Museum membership 
• Digital curriculum of visual art to use throughout the year 
• 20 PDPs or 1 graduate credits (for additional $75) 
• Learn applicable skills proven to increase culturally responsive instruction 
• Community of teachers from all subjects and grade levels 
• Support from the Gardner Museum and its educators throughout the entire program and beyond 

For students: 

• Field trips to the Gardner Museum with transportation included 
• Access to the Museum for students and their families 
• Experiences in the classroom and Museum proven to increase social-emotional learning and critical thinking

REQUIREMENTS

Teachers must have completed Thinking Through Art Level 1 to be eligible for Level 2. Throughout the program, teachers will: 

• Attend all professional development workshops
• Bring at least one class to the Gardner Museum
• Lead four classroom Thinking Through Art lessons during the school year, each including 2-3 images
• One-page reflection following each classroom lesson 
• Design and implement a Thinking Through Art Extension Project
• Write a 5-7 page paper about the Extension Project including an evaluation of the Project design (for graduate credit)

FEE

$100 materials fee per teacher, plus $75 for teachers seeking graduate credit. 

The Gardner Museum has conducted many studies on the effect of multiple-visit, discussion-based programs in Boston. Our research with elementary, middle, and high school students shows that students who participate in regular Visual Thinking Strategies discussions with works of art double their critical thinking skills, including supported observations and flexible thinking, compared with peers who do not participate.

Gardner Museum staff discuss findings from the 2023 study that demonstrated the https://www.gardnermuseum.org/organization/education/researchimpact of Thinking Through Art on teacher practice and student outcomes, as Boston Public Schools teachers describe how they became more student-centered and their students developed critical thinking, curiosity, confidence, and a classroom culture of collaborative learning. (4 minutes) 

Video by Bearwalk Cinemas