Visible Thinking uses specific cognitive routines, known as Thinking Routines, with the aim of making cognitive processes visible and supporting a culture of exploration and the development of critical thinking
Making Learning Visible focuses on the dynamics of individual and group learning and the role of documentation in supporting the development of meaningful learning within groups, in the classroom, and at school
Group learning is promoted through 5 strategies:
- Enhancing students' ability to learn together
- Designing engaging tasks from a group perspective
- Facilitating conversations – exchanging constructive feedback
- Intentionally forming groups
- Designing synergies between individual work, small group work, and whole class activities
MLTV (Making Learning and Thinking Visible) focuses on group learning: teachers learn how students think and adjust their teaching practices to make them more effective. Students become masters of their own learning path, critical thinkers, conscious arguers, competent citizens, and help the group improve.
"If teaching and learning are visible, there is a greater likelihood that students will achieve better results." (John Hattie)
"Learning and teaching are not visible, but they can become so."
"Consequently, students' cognitive skills can be enhanced to enable more effective learning."
With targeted training activities, the mind becomes more receptive and responsive.
Thinking routines: some examples
Thinking routine :
SEE THINK WONDER
It starts with the observation of an image, object, or phenomenon.
3 questions:
- What do you see?
- What do you think you know about what you are observing?
- What would you like to know more about?
When?
- To introduce a new topic.
- To consolidate and stimulate further reflections on topics covered
- To reflect on complex topics
- To stimulate curiosity.
Examples:
- Discuss the content of a book starting from the image on the cover
- Introduce a literary movement starting from a work, or a historical period starting from a photograph
- An image with a mysterious or surprising element, designed to pique the curiosity of the observer and stimulate reflection.
IMPORTANT: appropriate format of the object, a silent observation time of at least 2-3 minutes to stimulate motivation.
an example
Thinking routine : HEADLINES
Basic idea: the newspaper headline to capture the core idea, the essence of an event, topic, or concept.
QUESTION:
If you had to write a headline for this topic/theme, capturing the most important aspect to remember, what headline would you choose?
How has the chosen headline changed based on today's discussion? How does it differ from what you would have said yesterday?
WHEN?
At the end of a class discussion, after gathering information and forming opinions on a particular topic, after a reading
EXAMPLE
Thinking routine :
CIRCLE OF VIEWPOINTS
Valuing the plurality of viewpoints (empathy and diverse learning)
WHEN?
- To introduce a new topic using multiple and diverse perspectives.
- To tell a text from a different perspective.
- To explore opinions on stimulating topics
An Example :
Conclusion
Project Zero’s core philosophy is that critical thinking is not an innate skill but a habit of mind that can be taught, nurtured, and developed through intentional practices. Below are some of their guiding attitudes and principles toward fostering critical thinking:
. Through tools like thinking routines, PZ helps learners to:
- Ask better questions
- Identify evidence and use it effectively
- Develop reasoned arguments
- Recognize and challenge assumptions
- Consider alternative viewpoints
- Make connections across ideas, disciplines, and contexts
Project Zero has collaborated with educators, schools, museums, and organizations worldwide to bring its principles into practice. Its resources, such as the Visible Thinking framework and thinking routines, have been adapted across a variety of cultural and educational contexts, making it a cornerstone of 21st-century education.
Bibliography
MLTV: Making Learning and Thinking Visible; a cura di E. Mughini, S. Panzavolta; Ricerche Indire, Carocci editore, 2020
INDIRE - MLTV: rendere visibili pensiero e apprendimento: https://innovazione.indire.it/avanguardieeducative/integrazione-mltv
https://pz.harvard.edu/thinking-routines toolbox
http://www.pz.harvard.edu/resources/circle-of-viewpoints
http://www.pz.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/Headlines_2.pdf
https://pz.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/See%20Think%20Wonder_3.pdf
Credits:
Created with an image by athree23 - "board idea drawn"