Abstract:

Arts, as an expression of the specific historical-cultural moment, offers boundless opportunities to think and learn. This experience arises in this context, and it expects a double objective: on the one hand, strengthen the pre-service teachers’ thinking and learning through works of art, improving also their aesthetic sensitivity; and, on the other hand, help students apply it in the same way with their prospective students. This experience focuses on learning to see, learning to interpret art, and connect this learning to the Pre-Primary and Primary Education curricula. The research has been carried out in the subject “Expresión y comunicación plástica y audiovisual” with two groups of students: 19 4th year students from the Teaching Degree, and 16 5th grade students of the Double Degree (Pre-primary and Primary) Program –both groups belong to the Valladolid University, in the Campus of Segovia. Two thinking routines were taken into account in the subject. The general objective was generating thinking, reasoning and reflection. Firstly, and in order to analyse children’s art, the routine called “The Elaboration Game” was conducted in groups.

This routine intends to foster and value the following thinking movements:
(1) considering different viewpoints and perspectives,
(2) observing closely and describing what is there,
(3) uncovering complexity and going below the surface of things, and
(4) building explanations and interpretation.

Secondly, and with the aim of using the power of attraction that images have to delve into the comprehension of the visual elements, the routine “I see, I think, I wonder” was accomplished individually.

This routine pretended to foster and value a more critical thinking through the following movements:
(1) observing closely and describing what is there,
(2) making connections, and
(3) wondering and asking questions.

The content of the routines carried out by the students was analysed and the presence of the mentioned thinking movements was confirmed, as well as their impact on learning.

Keywords:

Innovation, Pre-service teacher, Experiences, Art, Thinking.