Why is it that some of us feel most secure when the steps of a particular subject are laid out for us, while others of us find this type of instruction boring and tedious? It is a fact almost every homeschool family is keenly aware of: people learn in different ways. In the first half of the 20th century two very different teaching approaches emerged from studies on how people learn, and both are practices in education that are still with us today. E.L. Thorndike, working  from 1901-1940, developed an educational theory that claimed the most effective form of teaching would result from breaking a school subject into minute parts. Drill was based on these minute details of a topic. Educational experts applied this theory to all subjects, including drawing classes which required children to copy adult models of small objects that were drawn on a page. Due to poor results from this method,   many children were told that they had no skill in drawing. The Gestalts, working in the 1940's  formed experiments which proved the opposite was true. Learning, they claimed, came from seeing the whole of the subject, and the parts derived their meaning from seeing how they were connected to the whole.  Children that learn best this way are usually attracted to art as a subject. Children are drawn to subjects that best fit their preference for learning. Certain subjects like math and writing need drill and repeated practice in the early stages of learning. Those working under Thorndike's theory would continue to teach these subjects by input and output of facts, copying, and memorizing. Working on Gestalt theories these subjects would be practiced by introducing their use in real world examples. We should not be surprised when creative or whole picture thinkers need the experience of creating a book or exposure to math games which give a larger purpose to the drills.

Whole picture learners prefer to start their learning experiences by seeing the possibilities, the products of others that are rooted in the real world. They are inspired by open ended assignments that only suggest the possibilities. They gather pieces of knowledge from the whole, often on their own, but also love to be shown new processes and information that they can use in their creative efforts. Applying this gathered knowledge to the tasks they set before themselves, the whole picture learner is like a sponge. They take in all types of information and then have it readily available to be used at opportune moments during a creative endeavor.  This learner thrives on vast and varied learning experiences and exposure to subject areas outside the limited structure of the grade-level school material. Time and space are also requirements for his chosen projects. 

Are some of your children whole picture learners? If so we have the type of open-ended art projects that are sure to instruct and inspire.