How can I use Visible Thinking Routines?

Project Zero (at Harvard) defines a thinking routine as a set of questions or a brief sequence of steps used to scaffold and support student thinking. Thinking routines are designed to deepen students’ thinking and to help make that thinking “visible.” Visible thinking refers to any observable representation that documents and supports the development of a learner’s ongoing thoughts, questions, reasons and reflections. Examples include mind maps, charts, lists, diagrams, worksheets — anything that reveals learners’ unfolding ideas as they think through an issue, problem or topic.

Adult learners bring a wealth of life experience but also unique challenges (such as fear of failure due to past schooling experiences, or gaps in foundational skills). Thinking routines offer a supportive framework that respects adult learners’ perspectives and promotes active learning, rather than the passive, lecture-driven methods some adults may recall from school.

In these workshops we looked at how visible thinking routines can be incorporated into adult literacy instruction. Using existing instructional materials, these routines can enhance learners’ ability to activate prior knowledge, make connections and predictions, retain information, think critically, and more.  We explored ways that educational technologies can enhance the impact of these strategies and make lessons more engaging.  

You can find links to all the resources we used in the workshops in this document.

What are visible thinking routines, how do they help learners, and what do they look like in action?

How can educational technologies enhance visible thinking strategies?

How can I utilize visible thinking strategies with my existing resources?

This resource from AlphaPlus was created by Tracey Mollins after a workshop series called Enhancing Literacy Skills with Visible Thinking Routines.