An Introduction to Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS)
February 3, 2026 – 10am – 12:00pm – In person at The College of New Jersey – Ewing, NJ
For Educators who work with students in grades K-12
Fee: $150.00 per person
Register at: https://TCNJpd2526.eventbrite.com
Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is a discussion-based teaching method where students analyze an image and answer open-ended questions that promote close reading of the image. While VTS began in art education and museum studies, VTS benefits all K–12 classrooms by strengthening critical thinking, language skills, attention to detail, and inclusive participation. It can be applied to any subject area that requires students to notice and interpret what they are examining. Participants will learn about VTS and how to facilitate VTS discussions with their own students. Applications in subject areas like language arts, science, history, and math will be examined as well as considerations for using VTS with English Language Learners.
Instructors:
Heather Osowski has over 20 years of experience in Deaf Education and holds a B.S. in Psychology, an M.A.T. in Deaf Education, and an Educational Leadership Certificate from The College of New Jersey. She is certified in Elementary Education, Teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, and Supervision. Her background includes serving as a high school instructor and transition coordinator at the state school for the Deaf and later as Project Director for the New Jersey Center on Deafblindness (NJCDB). She now works as Project Coordinator for the Campaign for Language & Literacy Excellence (CLLE), supporting statewide initiatives in partnership with TCNJ and the NJ Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. A fluent ASL user, Heather is also an adjunct professor and clinical supervisor in TCNJ’s Teacher of the Deaf program and serves on the Katzenbach Parent and Staff Education Foundation board
Matthew Hall received his Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning with a focus on Literacy Instruction from New York University in 2013. His research examines how youth make meaning when interacting with multimodal texts, shifting relationships between writers and audiences in digital, networked spaces, and how to best integrate these new practices in educational settings. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses focused on literacy instruction with a particular emphasis on elementary and middle school. Prior to pursuing his doctorate, Matthew Hall worked as a literacy coach and a public school teacher in New Jersey. He holds certifications in General Education, Special Education, Education for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and as a Reading Specialist.
Register at: https://TCNJpd2526.eventbrite.com