I suppose I have always been a doodler. But most of my doodles stemmed from boredom: circles, stars, flowers, and squiggles. I also really enjoy a handwritten list. I’ve been known to write something on my list that was already done, just so I could cross it off. I filled up post-it notes, had a cute, Pinterest-inspired, framed To-Do List, and wrote all over my reading table with whiteboard markers. All in the name of organization!
About six months ago, I took a new position as an educational technology consultant and I felt I really needed to be more digital. I mean, can you imagine sitting in a meeting with teachers and pulling out a notebook to take notes? Gasp! How embarrassing! I was supposed to be a technology expert! So I diligently kept notes in my Google docs and loyally filed it into its correct Drive folder. I got rid of my post-its and didn’t bother carrying a pen. I was committed. I started to realize, however, that I left meetings not sure of the exact course of the conversation. I was unclear of my next steps. This really puzzled me. It was unfamiliar and unsettling.
One day I was in a meeting with my team and one of my teammates happened to mention that she noticed I was doing a little bit of sketchnoting, which was one of her passion projects she was really engaged in. I hadn’t really realized I was writing or doodling, but it was like a lightbulb went off. Going ‘digital’ had limited my ability to write my thoughts, draw arrows, make lists. But I also became intrigued in the idea of sketchnoting and started to do a little research.
What is sketchnoting? This video from Sketcho Frenzy explains it.
Getting started. I started with Sketchnoting: 101. There is an extensive list of ways to get started on this site. I’m not naturally artistic and was a bit intimidated by so much sketching involved in my notes. I started by looking at sketches by other sketchnoters (see below) to get ideas of how to sketch frames, connectors (like arrows, lines), and try some different lettering types. I practiced them so they would become familiar and more automatic, although I’m not there yet!
Then, I began researching and sketchnoting what I learned. I read the research from Mueller and Oppenheimer and watched this Sunni Brown video, called ‘Doodlers, unite!‘ among other resources (see below) I found in my Google search. The benefits of sketchnoting were obvious.
- Encouraged enhanced engagement
- Allowed for personalized organization
- Increased recall AND comprehension
- Engaged active listening
- Activated creativity
- Improved communication of ideas and thought processes
- Provided opportunities for reflection and feedback
- Enjoyable!Sharing your sketchnote is important too!
I began to wonder about adding this note-taking strategy in classrooms. I found this blog about using it in a second grade classroom. I could envision these students, of all types and capabilities, excitedly sharing their drawings and explaining their thinking--not with graphic organizers, but with their own, personalized organization of ideas and thoughts. I wondered about a wall of sketchnotes in a classroom that became a timeline of learning, connecting ideas and new learning throughout a whole school year. I started imagining students coming home with a sketchnote journal each night to reflect on their learning with parents, instead of meaningless homework and worksheets that go straight to the recycling bin. The classroom possibilities are endless.
Sketchnoting is a powerful tool that I hope to see in more classrooms in the near future. Regardless of abilities, sketchnoting proves to be an effective tool for learners of all types and abilities. So...good ahead! Give it a try!
Sketchnoting is a powerful tool that I hope to see in more classrooms in the near future. Regardless of abilities, sketchnoting proves to be an effective tool for learners of all types and abilities. So...good ahead! Give it a try!
If you are looking to learn more about sketchnoting, here are a few resources to get you started.
Sketchnoting 101: How to get started
Lessons to get you started
Doodle on,
Mindy
Doodle on,
Mindy
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