Changes

'''VisionWorks''' is a programme based on the methods of [[Psychology of Vision]] developed by Sue Allan, a Psychology of Vision Master Trainer from Great Britain. The programme is predominantly propagated on the German and British Newage markets. Vendors are PoV Trainers who seem to offer VisionWorks on separate websites.

'''VisionWorks''' is a programme based on the methods of [[Psychology of Vision]] developed by Sue Allan, a Psychology of Vision Master Trainer from Great Britain. The programme is predominantly propagated on the German and British Newage markets. Vendors are PoV Trainers who seem to offer VisionWorks on separate websites.

VisionWorks is devised for use in schools by teachers and students, claiming it will ''"equip young people with the key life skills that underpin a happy and successful life"''<ref name="vision-works">http://www.vision-works.net/ accessed 02/06/2014</ref>, and is propagated as a veritable cure-all for classroom problems:

VisionWorks is devised for use in schools by teachers and students, claiming it will ''"equip young people with the key life skills that underpin a happy and successful life"''<ref name="vision-works">www.vision-works.net/ accessed 02/06/2014</ref>, and is propagated as a veritable cure-all for classroom problems:

:''"Our ready-to-use, complete schemes of work shape the school in so many ways. They:<br>

:''"Our ready-to-use, complete schemes of work shape the school in so many ways. They:<br>

:''Increase self-confidence, empathy, perseverance and resilience

:''Increase self-confidence, empathy, perseverance and resilience

:''Improve relationships across the board

:''Improve relationships across the board

:''Influence the ethose of the school

:''Influence the ethose of the school

:''Contribute significantly to moving schools from 'good' to 'outstanding'."''<ref name="what-we-do">http://www.vision-works.net/what-we-do/ accessed 02/06/2014</ref>

:''Contribute significantly to moving schools from 'good' to 'outstanding'."''<ref name="what-we-do">www.vision-works.net/what-we-do/ accessed 02/06/2014</ref>

==Connections between VisionWorks and Psychology of Vision==

==Connections between VisionWorks and Psychology of Vision==

According to one vendor, relations between PoV and VisionWorks are reciprocal:

According to one vendor, relations between PoV and VisionWorks are reciprocal:

:''"VisionWorks is based on the PoV work created by Chuck and Lency Spezzano and VisionWorks is supported by PoV. In the true spirit of cooperation, this reciprocal relationship makes the work more meaningful and rewarding for all involved. And that’s how great relationships work!"''<ref>http://visionworksforlife.com/pov-and-visionworks/ accessed 02/06/2014</ref>  

:''"VisionWorks is based on the PoV work created by Chuck and Lency Spezzano and VisionWorks is supported by PoV. In the true spirit of cooperation, this reciprocal relationship makes the work more meaningful and rewarding for all involved. And that’s how great relationships work!"''<ref>visionworksforlife.com/pov-and-visionworks/ accessed 02/06/2014</ref>  

The website further emphasises the „Steps for Leadership“ programmes sold worldwide by various PoV Trainers.

The website further emphasises the „Steps for Leadership“ programmes sold worldwide by various PoV Trainers.

On the other hand, VisionWorks is also promoted on the websites maintained by Psychology of Vision<ref name="Schulprogramm">http://www.pov-int.eu/uber-uns/visionworks-%E2%80%93-das-schulprogramm/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>, and events with Sue Allen organised by PoV are also linked to events of VisionWorks, as becomes apparent on the German facebook site of VisionWorks:

On the other hand, VisionWorks is also promoted on the websites maintained by Psychology of Vision<ref name="Schulprogramm">www.pov-int.eu/uber-uns/visionworks-%E2%80%93-das-schulprogramm/ accessed 12/09/2013</ref>, and events with Sue Allen organised by PoV are also linked to events of VisionWorks, as becomes apparent on the German facebook site of VisionWorks:

:''"On May 25, 2012, a VisionWorks meeting will take place from 10-12 a.m. at Wolf-Ferrari Haus in Ottobrunn prior to the workshop with Jeff and Sue Allen."''<ref>https://de-de.facebook.com/pages/VisionWorks/216423105071885 accessed 02/06/2014</ref>

:''"On May 25, 2012, a VisionWorks meeting will take place from 10-12 a.m. at Wolf-Ferrari Haus in Ottobrunn prior to the workshop with Jeff and Sue Allen."''<ref>https://de-de.facebook.com/pages/VisionWorks/216423105071885 accessed 02/06/2014</ref>

===Courses in Britain===

===Courses in Britain===

 

In Great Britain, teachers can book a two-hour ''"Induction Training"'' either as a tutor team or a whole staff group: ''"What does it do? It introduces the VisionWorks model of teaching Emotional Wellbeing in schools"''; this two-hour training comes with a price of BP 400.<ref name="staff-training">www.vision-works.net/staff-training accessed 02/06/2014</ref> The ''"INSET Training"'' for tutor teams or whole staff groups lasts one day: ''"What does it do? It explores the VisionWorks programmes in depth"'' at the cost of BP 600, with the promise: ''"How will it help? Training will embed the principles within year groups and staff teams, enhancing the effectiveness of the programme so that the 5 domains of emotional intelligence become an integral part of your school ethos"''.<ref name="staff-training" />

In Great Britain, teachers can book a two-hour ''"Induction Training"'' either as a tutor team or a whole staff group: ''"What does it do? It introduces the VisionWorks model of teaching Emotional Wellbeing in schools"''; this two-hour training comes with a price of BP 400.<ref name="staff-training">http://www.vision-works.net/staff-training accessed 02/06/2014</ref> The ''"INSET Training"'' for tutor teams or whole staff groups lasts one day: ''"What does it do? It explores the VisionWorks programmes in depth"'' at the cost of BP 600, with the promise: ''"How will it help? Training will embed the principles within year groups and staff teams, enhancing the effectiveness of the programme so that the 5 domains of emotional intelligence become an integral part of your school ethos"''.<ref name="staff-training" />

Further courses offered are ''"School Inset: Emotional Wellbeing - a vital key for learning"'' and ''"Managing behaviour - a better way"'', of variable length between evening courses, half a day and day courses at between BP 400 to BP 600. Both are described with claims such as:

Further courses offered are ''"School Inset: Emotional Wellbeing - a vital key for learning"'' and ''"Managing behaviour - a better way"'', of variable length between evening courses, half a day and day courses at between BP 400 to BP 600. Both are described with claims such as:

===Courses in Germany===

===Courses in Germany===

The German VW course system is arranged for different age groups, one being advertised for children ''"..aged 7 to 10, i.e. from grade 4, in particular for grades 5 and 6"''.<ref name="was-ist-vision-works-programme">http://www.vision-works.org/was-ist-vision-works/was-ist-vision-works-programme/ accessed 02/06/2014</ref> While the age group of 7 to 10 will in fact be found at elementary schools, students in grades 5 and 6 are above the age group mentioned. The other programme aims at students in ''"grades 7 to 9"'' and ''"age group 10-15"'' in all levels of secondary education, but ''"may also be applied with older students"''.<ref name="was-ist-vision-works-programme" /> Both descriptions display this surprising error in ascribing age groups correctly to the respective grades which is particularly remarkable as the website claims: ''"The authors are teachers themselves..."''<ref>http://www.vision-works.org/was-ist-vision-works/beratung-und-fortbildungen/ accessed</ref>, but then so are the various typographical errors and misspellings. The German site advertises its products as customisable.<ref name="was-ist-vision-works-programme" /> German VisionWorks also makes a point of including participants into a network offering further workshops and network meetings.<ref>http://www.vision-works.org/was-ist-vision-works/visionworks-netzwerk/ accessed 02/06/2014</ref>

The German VW course system is arranged for different age groups, one being advertised for children ''"..aged 7 to 10, i.e. from grade 4, in particular for grades 5 and 6"''.<ref name="was-ist-vision-works-programme">www.vision-works.org/was-ist-vision-works/was-ist-vision-works-programme/ accessed 02/06/2014</ref> While the age group of 7 to 10 will in fact be found at elementary schools, students in grades 5 and 6 are above the age group mentioned. The other programme aims at students in ''"grades 7 to 9"'' and ''"age group 10-15"'' in all levels of secondary education, but ''"may also be applied with older students"''.<ref name="was-ist-vision-works-programme" /> Both descriptions display this surprising error in ascribing age groups correctly to the respective grades which is particularly remarkable as the website claims: ''"The authors are teachers themselves..."''<ref>http://www.vision-works.org/was-ist-vision-works/beratung-und-fortbildungen/ accessed</ref>, but then so are the various typographical errors and misspellings. The German site advertises its products as customisable.<ref name="was-ist-vision-works-programme" /> German VisionWorks also makes a point of including participants into a network offering further workshops and network meetings.<ref>www.vision-works.org/was-ist-vision-works/visionworks-netzwerk/ accessed 02/06/2014</ref>

The German website does not provide any information as to the course fees. However, the person responsible for client contact exploits her professional position at a German university to promote VisionWorks by publishing her office address<ref>http://www.vision-works.org/wer-wir-sind/ansprechpartner-und-visionworks-trainer/ accessed 02/06/2014</ref> which is not in accordance with regulations for persons in public service.

The German website does not provide any information as to the course fees. However, the person responsible for client contact exploits her professional position at a German university to promote VisionWorks by publishing her office address<ref>www.vision-works.org/wer-wir-sind/ansprechpartner-und-visionworks-trainer/ accessed 02/06/2014</ref> which is not in accordance with regulations for persons in public service.

==Critical Aspects==

==Critical Aspects==

===Further aspects===

===Further aspects===

Both German and British websites are not definite in their descriptions of the programme and largely offer commonplace statements, like ''""... programmes provide young people with important abilities which are useful for themselves, their school, and the entire society"''<ref name="Schulprogramm" />, which in the English version becomes a somewhat more modest ''"... the whole community"''. <ref> http://vision-works.net/benefits/ accessed 02/06/2014</ref>

Both German and British websites are not definite in their descriptions of the programme and largely offer commonplace statements, like ''""... programmes provide young people with important abilities which are useful for themselves, their school, and the entire society"''<ref name="Schulprogramm" />, which in the English version becomes a somewhat more modest ''"... the whole community"''. <ref>vision-works.net/benefits/ accessed 02/06/2014</ref>

These abilities remain a claim not substantiated at the websites. While this is not surprising with programmes designed for sale, it also renders the claims vague. Customers thus cannot make informed decisions beforehand, but are sought to be attracted by the alleged effects of the programmes. Whether a teacher or school in fact agrees with the particular methods and abilities taught are aspects they are only able to decide in retrospective.  

These abilities remain a claim not substantiated at the websites. While this is not surprising with programmes designed for sale, it also renders the claims vague. Customers thus cannot make informed decisions beforehand, but are sought to be attracted by the alleged effects of the programmes. Whether a teacher or school in fact agrees with the particular methods and abilities taught are aspects they are only able to decide in retrospective.  

===Vendors on the British Market===

===Vendors on the British Market===

VisionWorks is said to have been developed by Sue Allen who is a high-ranking member of Psychology of Vision, in fact one of five persons to be labeled as "Master Trainer" on PoV websites. The Allans also publish a website promoting their PoV activities with the name of "VisionWorks for Life", but the VisionWorks aiming at schools is promoted by a different website, "VisionWorks.net".<ref name="who-we-are">http://www.vision-works.net/who-we-are.php accessed 02/06/2014</ref><br>

VisionWorks is said to have been developed by Sue Allen who is a high-ranking member of Psychology of Vision, in fact one of five persons to be labeled as "Master Trainer" on PoV websites. The Allans also publish a website promoting their PoV activities with the name of "VisionWorks for Life", but the VisionWorks aiming at schools is promoted by a different website, "VisionWorks.net".<ref name="who-we-are">www.vision-works.net/who-we-are.php accessed 02/06/2014</ref><br>

This website is a cooperation of four persons:<br>

This website is a cooperation of four persons:<br>

Sue Allen is portrayed as a former ''"Head of history and Head of Year 12 ... until she joined VisionWorks full time in 2001"''; it gets pointed out that she has co-developed the VisionWorks programmes. The site further claims VisionWorks was being used ''"sucessfully in schools all over the UK for the last six years"''; Allan is also said to teach ''"emotional intelligence to adults"''.<ref name="who-we-are" /><br>

Sue Allen is portrayed as a former ''"Head of history and Head of Year 12 ... until she joined VisionWorks full time in 2001"''; it gets pointed out that she has co-developed the VisionWorks programmes. The site further claims VisionWorks was being used ''"sucessfully in schools all over the UK for the last six years"''; Allan is also said to teach ''"emotional intelligence to adults"''.<ref name="who-we-are" /><br>

Janet Grant is portrayed as a former primary and secondary school teacher, a teacher of ''Emotional Wellbeing'', a ''"co-author of VisionWorks for schools"'', and active in teachers' training.<ref name="who-we-are" /><br>

Janet Grant is portrayed as a former primary and secondary school teacher, a teacher of ''Emotional Wellbeing'', a ''"co-author of VisionWorks for schools"'', and active in teachers' training.<ref name="who-we-are" /><br>

Ruthie Alexander-Morgan also is portrayed as having worked in education and seems to have been into Special Needs before. She is described as a ''"qualified teacher of Mindfulness meditation for young people"'' working in a Young Offenders Institution.<ref name="who-we-are" /> Alexander-Morgan also maintains her own website selling VisionWorks and so-called mindfulness.<ref>http://mindfulnessforyoungpeople.com accessed 02/06/2014</ref><br>

Ruthie Alexander-Morgan also is portrayed as having worked in education and seems to have been into Special Needs before. She is described as a ''"qualified teacher of Mindfulness meditation for young people"'' working in a Young Offenders Institution.<ref name="who-we-are" /> Alexander-Morgan also maintains her own website selling VisionWorks and so-called mindfulness.<ref>mindfulnessforyoungpeople.com accessed 02/06/2014</ref><br>

Suzanne Corrywright is another teacher having worked both in the USA and in UK and now a tutor for GSCE and A-level students, as well as a co-author of VisionWorks programmes.<ref name="who-we-are" /><br>

Suzanne Corrywright is another teacher having worked both in the USA and in UK and now a tutor for GSCE and A-level students, as well as a co-author of VisionWorks programmes.<ref name="who-we-are" /><br>

The German website, VisionWorks.org, provides different information, so e.g. Alexander-Morgan is not mentioned there, while Grant gets portrayed as a teacher of 25 years' experience and a headmaster of 14 years' experience. Corrywright, on the other hand, is called a "private teacher" there which may be due to faulty translation.<ref>http://www.vision-works.org/wer-wir-sind/visionworks-autorinnen/ accessed 02/06/2014</ref>

The German website, VisionWorks.org, provides different information, so e.g. Alexander-Morgan is not mentioned there, while Grant gets portrayed as a teacher of 25 years' experience and a headmaster of 14 years' experience. Corrywright, on the other hand, is called a "private teacher" there which may be due to faulty translation.<ref>www.vision-works.org/wer-wir-sind/visionworks-autorinnen/ accessed 02/06/2014</ref>

===Vendors on the German market===

===Vendors on the German market===

At least one of the vendors was registered as a non-profit organisation; the person named as a contact also provides a postal address at the University of Frankfort/Main where she seems to be responsible for a „studium digitale“.<ref name="wer-wir-sind">http://www.vision-works.org/wer-wir-sind/ accessed 02/06/2014</ref> The text explains:

At least one of the vendors was registered as a non-profit organisation; the person named as a contact also provides a postal address at the University of Frankfort/Main where she seems to be responsible for a „studium digitale“.<ref name="wer-wir-sind">http://www.vision-works.org/wer-wir-sind/ accessed 02/06/2014</ref> The text explains:

:''“Claudia Bremer takes care of your inquiries with VisionWorks, sends out programmes, and does respective teachers' training programmes in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In her „everyday job“, she oversees teachers' training, a training in coaching and oversees organisations, in particular educational institutions, with their development. She is the director of an institution of training and service at Goethe University in Frankfort.“''<ref name="wer-wir-sind" />

:''“Claudia Bremer takes care of your inquiries with VisionWorks, sends out programmes, and does respective teachers' training programmes in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In her „everyday job“, she oversees teachers' training, a training in coaching and oversees organisations, in particular educational institutions, with their development. She is the director of an institution of training and service at Goethe University in Frankfort.“''<ref name="wer-wir-sind" />

Bremer thus exploits her professional position to further sales of her VisionWorks activities. On the other hand, Bremer avoids mentioning any PoV involvement in her professional environment, as e.g. on her respective website<ref>http://www.bremer.cx/ accessed</ref>, but material available online shows she at least participated in one seminar held by Chuck and Lency Spezzano in May 2012, and the wording suggests her participation in prior PoV events:  

Bremer thus exploits her professional position to further sales of her VisionWorks activities. On the other hand, Bremer avoids mentioning any PoV involvement in her professional environment, as e.g. on her respective website<ref>www.bremer.cx/ accessed</ref>, but material available online shows she at least participated in one seminar held by Chuck and Lency Spezzano in May 2012, and the wording suggests her participation in prior PoV events:  

:''"I also look forward to the days in the castle, the environment, the time with Chuck and Lency and most of all to spend these days with you, to meet many friends, to meet new people and to spend some wonderful days with you there!"''<ref>https://www.facebook.com/events/368318006540989/?source=1 accessed 02/06/2014</ref>

:''"I also look forward to the days in the castle, the environment, the time with Chuck and Lency and most of all to spend these days with you, to meet many friends, to meet new people and to spend some wonderful days with you there!"''<ref>https://www.facebook.com/events/368318006540989/?source=1 accessed 02/06/2014</ref>

Another person named on this site is Hedlen Zirngibl who is a resource teacher at a Bavarian school; she is also named at the website of Psychology of Vision as a contact for courses and seminars in 2012 and 2013.<ref>http://www.pov-int.eu/termine/?ee=526   accessed 02/06/2014</ref> She is also a member of a non-profit organisation providing aid for children in Sri Lanka and did a teachers' training for local teachers there.<ref>http://www.future-for-children.info/chronik/381-chronik-2008.html accessed 02/06/2014</ref>

Another person named on this site is Hedlen Zirngibl who is a resource teacher at a Bavarian school; she is also named at the website of Psychology of Vision as a contact for courses and seminars in 2012 and 2013.<ref>www.pov-int.eu/termine/?ee=526 accessed 02/06/2014</ref> She is also a member of a non-profit organisation providing aid for children in Sri Lanka and did a teachers' training for local teachers there.<ref>http://www.future-for-children.info/chronik/381-chronik-2008.html accessed 02/06/2014</ref>

As all programmes, DVDs etc. provided by this organisation are priced between € 140-160, with prices for seminars and courses not being specified on the website, the status of a non-profit organisation is somewhat surprising.  

As all programmes, DVDs etc. provided by this organisation are priced between € 140-160, with prices for seminars and courses not being specified on the website, the status of a non-profit organisation is somewhat surprising.  

Another vendor, Gerd Kühnen, is situated in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg where he runs an enterprise offering coachings for management and personnel <ref>http://www.gerd4u.com/Gerdsberatung/Willkommen.html accessed 02/06/2014</ref> and another company offering services as developers of applications. The company apparently developed two applications as of yet, one for „Cards of Love“, the other for „Cards of Enterprise“, both complete with a link to Psychology of Vision.<ref>http://www.bg-creative.com   accessed 02/06/2014</ref> In 2013, Kühnen also offered Steps for Leadership seminars advertised on the PoV website.<ref>http://www.pov-int.eu/termine/?ee=393 accessed 02/06/2014</ref> He also is the former registrant of vision-works dot org which is now registered by Claudia Bremer (cf. above)<ref>http://www.whoismind.com/whois/vision-works.org.html accessed 02/06/2014</ref>, and is furthermore named as a contact for the VisionWorks programme at the PoV website.<ref name="Schulprogramm" /> Kühnen is married to a paediatrician whose name seems to be connected to Psychology of Vision, too.<ref>http://the-truth-about-chuck-and-lency-spezzano.com/ accessed 02/06/2014</ref>

Another vendor, Gerd Kühnen, is situated in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg where he runs an enterprise offering coachings for management and personnel <ref>www.gerd4u.com/Gerdsberatung/Willkommen.html accessed 02/06/2014</ref> and another company offering services as developers of applications. The company apparently developed two applications as of yet, one for „Cards of Love“, the other for „Cards of Enterprise“, both complete with a link to Psychology of Vision.<ref>www.bg-creative.com accessed 02/06/2014</ref> In 2013, Kühnen also offered Steps for Leadership seminars advertised on the PoV website.<ref>www.pov-int.eu/termine/?ee=393 accessed 02/06/2014</ref> He also is the former registrant of vision-works dot org which is now registered by Claudia Bremer (cf. above)<ref>http://www.whoismind.com/whois/vision-works.org.html accessed 02/06/2014</ref>, and is furthermore named as a contact for the VisionWorks programme at the PoV website.<ref name="Schulprogramm" /> Kühnen is married to a paediatrician whose name seems to be connected to Psychology of Vision, too.<ref>the-truth-about-chuck-and-lency-spezzano.com/ accessed 02/06/2014</ref>

==Clients of VisionWork==

==Clients of VisionWork==

The British website publishes a list of some 21 schools in various towns in England who participated in VisionWorks courses, among them five schools in Bristol and four in Wiltshire.<ref>http://www.vision-works.net/evidence/links-schools/ accessed 02/06/2014</ref>  

The British website publishes a list of some 21 schools in various towns in England who participated in VisionWorks courses, among them five schools in Bristol and four in Wiltshire.<ref>www.vision-works.net/evidence/links-schools/ accessed 02/06/2014</ref>  

The German website does not mention any particular schools. However, one school mentions their implementation of one of the VisionWorks programmes in their fifth grades and comment:

The German website does not mention any particular schools. However, one school mentions their implementation of one of the VisionWorks programmes in their fifth grades and comment: