I just read this article which really interested me because I am an artist, and therefore, I tend to draw while I sit in lecture or study. This article gave me ideas on how I could use the drawing skills I have in the classroom setting. Actually, you don't even really have to be good at drawing for this to work (to a certain extent...)
Here is the link before I start gushing about how much I love this concept:
VISUAL NOTE-TAKING IN THE CLASSROOM
I love the term Sketchnoting! As I was reading through the article, many concepts and ideas we have been studying in classes for the past few weeks came together and everything made so much sense. I feel like a mega nerd feeling all excited about learning, but that's just another awesome teacher quality we have, right?
The article talked about how we could have sketches and diagrams prepared before class and just use them as visuals, but there are many benefits to drawing the pictures in front of the class. Drawing illustrations while discussing a topic helps engage a different part of the brain, not to mention, students will love the goofy looking pictures you come up with! Personally, I have experienced moments when I pull out a blank piece of paper and start drawing, and all the students want to come watch. They were always so attentive and interested in the story I was making up right there on the spot!
I appreciate that not everyone is confident with their drawing skills, but I still stand by my belief that even stick people can be used effectively! I really think we need to challenge ourselves continually so if you've mastered stick people, time to take it up a notch!
The teacher in the article discovered that while she was doing all this sketchnoting, she was learning more than the students! As beneficial as it is for her, the same can benefit her students. In order to encourage students to take the risk and draw pictures even if they feel they "aren't good," she suggested giving a time limit of a minute so they can quickly sketch down their ideas in a more reflexive way.
At the end of the article, she listed 5 main reasons why sketchnoting works:
1. It exercises student's kinesthetic, auditory, linguistic, and verbal skills,
2. Visuals can be a formative assessment teachers can interpret immediately and build upon knowledge,
3. It can generate a dopamine surge and lower stress,
4. Visuals help the brain make connections, and
5. It's a lot of fun and can give the brain a "break" while still reviewing what was learned.
Obviously there will be times when sketchnoting is not the best method for teaching, and it certainly shouldn't be the only method used. As we've learned in Evaluation and Assessment class, we need a variety of teaching methods and formative assessments to make sure students are learning what we need them to learn. I'm excited to try and use this strategy in a classroom setting. I think I will try this with one of the projects/presentations which are due very soon....
As an aside, I've noticed recently that when I procrastinate, I'm reading more education related articles. :P
Here is the link before I start gushing about how much I love this concept:
VISUAL NOTE-TAKING IN THE CLASSROOM
I love the term Sketchnoting! As I was reading through the article, many concepts and ideas we have been studying in classes for the past few weeks came together and everything made so much sense. I feel like a mega nerd feeling all excited about learning, but that's just another awesome teacher quality we have, right?
The article talked about how we could have sketches and diagrams prepared before class and just use them as visuals, but there are many benefits to drawing the pictures in front of the class. Drawing illustrations while discussing a topic helps engage a different part of the brain, not to mention, students will love the goofy looking pictures you come up with! Personally, I have experienced moments when I pull out a blank piece of paper and start drawing, and all the students want to come watch. They were always so attentive and interested in the story I was making up right there on the spot!
I appreciate that not everyone is confident with their drawing skills, but I still stand by my belief that even stick people can be used effectively! I really think we need to challenge ourselves continually so if you've mastered stick people, time to take it up a notch!
The teacher in the article discovered that while she was doing all this sketchnoting, she was learning more than the students! As beneficial as it is for her, the same can benefit her students. In order to encourage students to take the risk and draw pictures even if they feel they "aren't good," she suggested giving a time limit of a minute so they can quickly sketch down their ideas in a more reflexive way.
At the end of the article, she listed 5 main reasons why sketchnoting works:
1. It exercises student's kinesthetic, auditory, linguistic, and verbal skills,
2. Visuals can be a formative assessment teachers can interpret immediately and build upon knowledge,
3. It can generate a dopamine surge and lower stress,
4. Visuals help the brain make connections, and
5. It's a lot of fun and can give the brain a "break" while still reviewing what was learned.
Obviously there will be times when sketchnoting is not the best method for teaching, and it certainly shouldn't be the only method used. As we've learned in Evaluation and Assessment class, we need a variety of teaching methods and formative assessments to make sure students are learning what we need them to learn. I'm excited to try and use this strategy in a classroom setting. I think I will try this with one of the projects/presentations which are due very soon....
As an aside, I've noticed recently that when I procrastinate, I'm reading more education related articles. :P