Imagine (Independent Learning)

OVERVIEW

Through visual imagery, students can create their own ideas. Imagery is effective as a creative supplement to collaborative learning. It can also serve as a springboard to an independent project that may initially seem overwhelming to students.

PROCEDURES

1.  Introduce the topic that will be covered. Explain to students that the subject requires creativity and that the use of visual imagery may assist their efforts.

2.  Instruct the class to close their eyes. Introduce a relaxation exercise that will clear current thoughts from the students' minds. Use background music, dimmed lights, and breathing to achieve results.

3.  Conduct warm-up exercises to open the mind's eye. Ask students, with their eyes closed; to try to visualize sights and sounds such as a rosebud, their bedroom, a changing traffic light, or the patter of rain.

4.  When class members are relaxed and warmed up, provide an image for them to build upon.

Suggestions include:

• A future experience

• An unfamiliar setting

• A problem to solve

• A project that lies ahead

For example, a teacher is helping students prepare for a job interview. Students are asked the following questions:

• What are you wearing?

• What time of day is it?

• What does the office look like?

• What kind of chair are you sitting on?

• Where is the interviewer sitting?

• What does the interviewer look like?

• How do you feel ?

• What does the interviewer ask you? How do you respond ?

5.  As the image is described, provide regular silent intervals so that students can build their own visual image. Build in questions that encourage the use of all senses, such as:

• What does it look like?

• Whom do you see?

• What are they doing?

• What do you feel?

6.  Conclude guiding the image and instruct class members to remember their image. Slowly end the exercise.

7.  Ask students to form small groups and to share their imagery experiences. Ask them to describe to one another the image using as many senses as possible. Or ask them to write about it.

VARIATIONS

1. Now that students have rehearsed in their minds how they would act in a specific situation, invite them to plan out how they might actually act on their thoughts.

2. Conduct an imagery exercise in which students experience failure. Then have them imagine a success.