This document summarizes a presentation on using visible thinking routines in museums. It introduces Claire Bown and Gundy van Dijk, who developed thinking routines to help museum guides facilitate discussions. Common challenges for guides are addressed, such as knowing content and questioning strategies but lacking facilitation skills. Visible thinking routines from Project Zero provide simple steps for focusing discussion using open-ended questions. Examples of routines explained are 5x2, Step Inside, and See-Think-Wonder. Using routines can develop valuable skills for both guides and visitors and create an in-depth learning experience through discussion. Training workshops are available to teach applying visible thinking in museums.

1. Visible
Thinking in the
Museum
07 NOVEMBER 2017
Claire Bown @thinkingmuseum
Gundy van Dijk @gundyvandijk

2. Claire Bown
Founder, Thinking Museum
@thinkingmuseum
thinkingmuseum.com
UK-born
Moved to Amsterdam, 2007
Masters in Museology, 2010
Tropenmuseum, Stories Around the
World 2011
Thinking Museum, 2013

3. Gundy van Dijk
Project Leader Education, Scheepvaartmuseum
gvdijk@hetscheepvaartmuseum.nl
Founder, Thinking Education
@gundyvandijk
Project Leader Education
Het Scheepvaartmuseum
Thinking Education, 2014
Tropenmuseum, Van Gogh Museum,
Cobra Museum
Museum Studies University of
Amsterdam

4. What is Visible Thinking?
How and where can we use it?
Why do we use it in the museum?
Q & A
Schedule

5. Museum Guides Now: Expectations
be knowledgeable...but to know when & how to add this info
know a variety of questioning strategies...but are often unsure as to whether
they are asking the ‘correct’ questions
Know how to facilitate and to shape a conversation with their group...but
lack training in facilitation skills
Be up to date with all current museum education methods...but don’t have
time to implement whilst they are doing back-to-back tours

6. New engagement techniques place extra demands on
museum guides to develop suitable questioning techniques &
facilitation skills, whilst also remembering to add suitable
levels of content as and when necessary.
training may cover some of these techniques in detail but not all….

7. A new way...
What if we approached our docent
training in a different way?
What if we taught museum guides
simple routines to help focus the
conversation alongside key museum
education practices that would bring
out the best discussion from a group?

8. What is Visible Thinking?
From Harvard’s Project Zero
‘A broad and flexible framework for enriching
learning’
Since 2000
Developed in schools with teachers and students
Key Elements
Explain & articulate thinking out loud,, listen to
others articulate their thinking, engage in
discussions while forming understanding

9. Using VT in the museum
1. Use thinking routines with
open-ended questions flexibly and
naturally
2. Be a good facilitator
3. Document the process (where
possible)
4. Encourage group to work together

10. Thinking Routines (Video)
Video

11. Thinking Routines
Routines can be used at any level / age /
subject area
Short, have only a few steps
Are easy to teach and learn (and
remembered)
Get used repeatedly
Can be used by individuals or groups in a
variety of contexts.
Targets a specific type of thinking

12. Thinking Routines
HOW?
Groups
Small groups
Individually
Multi-modal: written, spoken, drawing,
acting
Low-tech: post-its, worksheets,
whiteboard
Hi-tech: iPads, apps

13. Why do we use VT in the
museum?
Developing valuable transferable
skills
Time to slow down. An in-depth
experience.
Social, active approach - participants
learn from one another and build
upon their theories.
Equal involvement through multiple
interpretations and no prior
knowledge is required.

14. See-Think-Wonder
5x2
Step Inside

15. 5x2
Slow down
Careful observations
Describing
Push beyond first glances/obvious
description

16. 1. Look at the image quietly
for 30 seconds. Let your
eyes wander.
2. List 5 words or phrases
about any aspect of your
image.
3. Repeat steps 1 & 2: Look at
the image or object again
and try to list five more
words or phrases.
5x2

18. Step Inside
Explore different perspectives and
viewpoints
Imagine things differently
Open up thinking
Good to combine with other routines e.g.
5x2

20. 1. What can the person or
thing perceive, see,
observe or notice?
2. What might this person
or thing know about,
understand or believe?
3. What might the person
or thing care about,
value, hold dear?
Step Inside

22. See-Think-Wonder
Careful observations
Thoughtful interpretations
Stimulate curiosity

23. 1. What do you see in this
image?
2. What does it make you
think about?
3. What does it make you
wonder?
See-Think-Wonder

24. What are you wondering about?
Q&A

25. Be flexible. Combine,
adapt, find your own
way.
Trainings:
1. Visible Thinking in the Museum
(1 or 2 days)
2. Creating a Culture of Thinking
(1 day)
3. Custom-made trainings
www. thinkingmuseum.com