Frequently Asked Questions
What is VISIE for Educators?
The name VISIE reflects how the arts contribute to learning across all areas of the curriculum, highlighting seeing as both a literal practice and a way of learning and making sense of the world.
Inspired by this approach, VISIE offers live, online professional development workshops for educators focused on creativity, critical thinking, and student-centred learning. These workshops use visual and arts-based approaches to support deeper thinking, discussion, and reflective classroom practice.
VISIE also supports curriculum and program design, as well as program evaluation, helping educators and organizations create, refine, and assess meaningful learning experiences.
Who are Visie
workshops for?
VISIE workshops are designed for K–12 teachers, arts educators, higher education instructors, and education professionals who want practical strategies to support critical thinking, creative learning, and meaningful classroom discussions across subject areas.
Do all workshops focus on art making?
No. Not all VISIE workshops involve art making. Many sessions focus on Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), using works of art as tools to support critical thinking, meaningful classroom discussions, social-emotional learning, and creative, reflective thinking. These approaches are applicable across all subject areas, not just in art classrooms.
Do I need art skills to participate?
No. You do not need any art background or artistic skills.
The purpose of VISIE workshops is teaching and learning, not producing finished artwork. The emphasis is on process-based learning, inquiry, exploration, and reflection, with strategies that are transferable to any subject area.
Are the workshops live, and how long do they run?
All VISIE workshops are live and interactive, giving participants the opportunity to ask questions, engage in discussion, and learn collaboratively in real time. Most sessions run for 60–90 minutes, depending on the topic, and are designed to balance active participation, meaningful discussion, and practical classroom application.
What makes Visie different from other professional development providers?
VISIE emphasizes small-group, discussion-rich sessions grounded in Visual Thinking Strategies and inquiry-based learning, with a focus on process over product. Workshops prioritize practical strategies that educators can use immediately and are always live and interactive—not just PowerPoint presentations. Each session is designed to be inclusive, supportive, and directly relevant to real classroom contexts.
Will I receive professional development credit or a certificate?
Participants receive a certificate of completion after attending a workshop. Acceptance for professional development hours depends on your institution or district requirements.