1. Visualisations
A Cross-Curricular Approach
Culham St. Gabriel's Teacher Weekend 30th September 2012,
Wokefield Park, Reading.
Emma McVittie & Paul Smalley
@EmmaMcV @PabloPedantic

2. Humble Beginnings
Teacher Weekend 2010
Visualisations
Cross curricular Teaching and Learning
Two ‘strands’
@EmmaMcV @PabloPedantic

3. The Theory Behind the Practice
The project draws on a variety of theoretical
constructs which were used to structure the
project activities and examine the findings
• Visualisation techniques
• Spirituality and Spiritual Literacy
• Psychosynthesis
• Physical literacy
@EmmaMcV @PabloPedantic

4. Visualisation, guided imagery or fantasy
Origins of ‘guided imagery’
– Desoille (1938) ‘rêve-éveillé’
Hammond, Hay et al (1990)
Apparent use in TEFL /TESL
@EmmaMcV @PabloPedantic

5. Visualisation, guided imagery or fantasy
Stone (1995) a visualisation is the use of the
imagination where the person takes an active role
in the story.
Raban (1987) sees guided imagery as 'a
directed method of tapping creative, therapeutic
and spiritual potentialities of the imagination'
(115).
@EmmaMcV @PabloPedantic

6. Looking Deeper - Spiritual Dimensions
Looking within
Looking to others
Looking around
Looking beyond
(Based on Fisher 1998, Ingersoll 1998 and Elton-Chalcraft 2002)
@EmmaMcV
@PabloPedantic

7. Mapping the spiritual experience
Hay and Nye (1996) Young children
Here and now, tuning, flow
Ingersoll (1996) Counselling
Connectedness, mystery, present-centredness,
meaning
@EmmaMcV @PabloPedantic

8. The ‘whole’ child
Whitehead (2010) Physical Literacy
Psychosynthesis (Assagioli, 1911) – roots in
psychology and counselling.
@EmmaMcV @PabloPedantic

9. Looking Deeper - Structure
Relaxation and preparation exercises
Visualisation with sensory cues
Discussion
Reflective activity
Interviews 5-10 minutes with 6 pupils.
Follow up with the same 6 pupils
“Making meaning at a profound level through personal
narrative.......providing these spaces for children to ask
'bigger questions' and enabling them to respond and reflect
upon their learning.” (Binder, 2010:22)
@EmmaMcV @PabloPedantic

10. Looking Deeper - The Garden
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11. Looking Deeper – L’excursion
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12. Discussion
Looking Within Haye and Nye (1996)
Concerned with personal spirituality and Here and now
inner-thoughts
Tuning
Looking To Others
Flow
Thinking about social and moral aspect
of spirituality and the influence on Ingersoll (1998)
relationships
Connectedness
Looking Around
Mystery
The world around us and how this can
instil, influence and spark our spirituality Present-centredness
Looking Beyond Meaning
The transcendental aspect of
spirituality. Looking beyond ourselves
@EmmaMcV @PabloPedantic

13. Future Plans
Secondary Pilot
Large scale study – October 2012
Primary and secondary schools nationwide
Develop a linked series of visualisations
Expand curricular ‘range’
@EmmaMcV @PabloPedantic