But what if those doodles had a purpose? Sketchnoting, or visual note-taking, can transform those doodles into a tool that helps our students deepen their understanding of a concept. It’s a fun and brain-friendly way to organize ideas visually and makes them easy to remember.
So how can we get started sketchnoting? And how do we begin to utilize the power of visual note-taking in the classroom?
In honor of the #Sketch50 challenge happening during March-May, we decided to kick things off with a sketchnoting themed #Ditchbook chat. Moderator Mandi Tolen challenged the community to share their best tips, tools, and resources for visual note-taking.
12 ways to get started with sketchnotes in your classroom
1. Sketchnoting guru Carrie Baughcum has an entire YouTube channel dedicated to visual thinking and doodling to learn resources for you and your students.
A2: @HeckAwesome has some fab YouTube resources to help classes get started with #sketchnotes . I like to use graphic organizers too for #sketchnoting . Helps Ss get started if the paper isn’t blank. #DitchBook pic.twitter.com/tHGEfP8e85
— Lᴀᴜʀᴀ Sᴛᴇɪɴʙʀɪɴᴋ (@SteinbrinkLaura) March 29, 2019
2. Feeling less than artistic yourself? You don’t have to be an artist to begin using visual note-taking in your classroom. Check out this past post, Sketchnoting 101, for those with little artistic talent for even more tips and tools.
A2 One of my favorite #sketchnote resources! #Sketchnoting 101, for those with little artistic talent https://t.co/pAwyTTT3Z1 via @jmattmiller #ditchbook pic.twitter.com/WS2REJQ2OR
— Karly Moura (@KarlyMoura) March 29, 2019
3. Sylvia Duckworth has lots of resources available online for you (and your students) to get started sketchnoting right away. Visit sylviaduckworth.com/sketchnotefever for 21 free sketchnoting lessons! Also, be sure to read Sylvia’s guest post 5 tips for live sketchnoting if you are looking for ways to level up your skills.
A2. I love @sylviaduckworth books. They were very helpful. Her online resources and tutorials were great for Ss. We were able to pause and learn from her! #sketchnotefever #ditchbook https://t.co/YGWWEqvjQo
— Rayna Freedman (@rlfreedm) March 29, 2019
4. Sometimes starting at a blank sheet of paper can be daunting. A grid, dot paper, graphic organizers, or even an icon board can help students get started with visual note-taking.
A2 – I give out dot paper or grid paper or I have boxes so that kids can start to organize their ideas. Blank paper can be scary. #ditchbook #sktech50
— KerryParrish (@KerryParrishArt) March 29, 2019
5. There are many fantastic educators on social media who are sharing lots or resources, tips, and tools to help guide you. You can find many by following hashtags like #sketch50, #sketchnotefever, or #sketchnotes on Twitter or Instagram.
A2 part 2: I also love to follow @Kdmiller4, @manuelherrera33 @sylviaduckworth, @wterral, and @mospillman on Twitter and/or Instagram. @HeckAwesome
has some super fun Idea Floods and monthly sketch and chats which I never seem to be able to make 🙁#ditchbook— Mandi Tolen (@MandiTolenEDU) March 29, 2019
6. Middle school teacher Heather Mashall uses sketch quotes in English class to help her students capture their thinking while reading a novel. You can make a copy of her Sketch Quotes: A Visual Notetaking HyperDoc Lesson and adapt it for your class.
A2.b Check out this incredible #HyperDoc on #Sketch Quotes by @MsMarshallCMS!https://t.co/H3Jc7XV3hU
#ditchbook pic.twitter.com/tFk3lBm15Z— Karly Moura (@KarlyMoura) March 29, 2019
7. Sketchnotes can be a great way for students to plan out something in design class, writing, video creation or other subject areas using a storyboard. In his December 2018 #DitchSummit presentation Manuel Herrera recommends using a storyboard to plan out writing. Begin by just drawing it out as you retell the story orally. Students can even use emojis to add emotions to pictures that you will include in your story!
A3: Uses for sketchnoting:
Recapping/reviewing learning
Brain dumps
Organizing new material
Storytelling/storyboarding
Visual vocabulary listI use them to take notes during the sermon at church on Sundays. (For real, at church! Right @karlyb?)#DitchBook
— Matt Miller (@jmattmiller) March 29, 2019
8. Even our youngest learners can use sketchnoting in the classroom. Try giving students some post-it notes while reading or a copy of the text for them to sketch on.
A3: I have used sketchnoting with my second graders while we are reading stories. Sometimes they can sketch whatever comes to mind, other times we sketch the different parts of the story! #ditchbook
— Elizabeth McCartney (@mccartney2grade) March 29, 2019
9. A library of icons can help you and your students by giving you a place to begin. If you want to go digital with visual note-taking resources like The Noun Project can help you collect icons to create your own library.
I created this set of ideas for a teacher interested in #sketchnoting a while back. It’s good to create a little library of icons for your students to make it easier for them to sketch on the go. #ditchbook pic.twitter.com/YsIooPqWgT
— Omar Lopez (@OmarLopez0207) March 29, 2019
10. Using sketchnoting to teach vocabulary is a great way to get started. How about using the sketches your students create as Kahoot questions to review vocabulary? Heather Marshall explains how she uses this mashup in her class in this blog post and shares how you can too.
Too bad I’ve missed the #ditchbook chat. I love talking #Sketchnotes Check out this post I wrote about a #sketchnote #eduprotocol mash up. My kids love this one. https://t.co/HWwzJEkXkM pic.twitter.com/8G86FIbcjA
— Heather Marshall (@MsMarshallCMS) March 29, 2019
11. There are lots of books available for anyone who wants to get started with sketchnoting. Here are just a few to check out.
- How to Sketchnote: A Step-by-Step Manual for Teachers and Students by Sylvia Duckworth
- Ink and Ideas: Sketchnotes for Engagement, Comprehension, and Thinking by Tanny McGregor
- The Sketchnote Handbook by Mike Rohde
- The Doodle Revolution by Sunni Brown
A2: From the #ditchbook blog: https://t.co/mSiNyCyP0O
Also book by @sylviaduckworth https://t.co/zZDP31UpNN
book by @TannyMcG https://t.co/gsQ27zuFqo
book by @xLontrax https://t.co/k0hE624xLR#ditchbook
— Mandi Tolen (@MandiTolenEDU) March 29, 2019
12. Hone your sketchnoting skills with the Sketch50 challenge! A 50 day event running from March through May. Visit sketch50.org/resources-2 for everything you need to get started. Also check out Sketchnotes: A mini-course and #Sketch50 challenges with resources, tips, and ideas from last year’s event.
Thanks for joining us tonight. Don’t forget to check out #sketch50 and follow grow your PLN with ditchers and sketchers.#ditchbook pic.twitter.com/M7QnmPfTi0
— Mandi Tolen (@MandiTolenEDU) March 29, 2019
Want to get in on the next #DitchBook Twitter chat?
- They happen every Thursday at 7 p.m. Pacific / 8 p.m. Mountain / 9 p.m. Central / 10 p.m. Eastern.
- They often run for 30 minutes. Many times, moderators will offer bonus questions for those that want to continue chatting.
- Check out what’s happening on the #DitchBook Twitter chat by clicking here. (Even if you don’t have a Twitter account!)
- New to Twitter? Want to know the basics? Check out our Beginners Guide to Twitter for Educators free ebook.
- Want to sign up for Twitter? Here are the directions.
Having trouble? Still unclear on how a Twitter chat works? Feel free to tweet to these #DitchBook ambassadors and they’ll help — Karly Moura @karlymoura, Sean Fahey @seanjfahey, Sandy Otto @sandyrotto, Rachel Marker @rachelmarker, Evan Mosier @emosier3, Mandi Tolen @TTmomTT, Craig Klement @craigklement, Tara Martin @taramartinedu, Krista Harmsworth @zonie71, Anne Kamper @annekamper, Rayna Freedman @rlfreedm, Lance McClard @drmcclard, Stephanie DeMichele @sdemichele or David Platt @herrplatt!
For notifications of new Ditch That Textbook content and helpful links:
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Interested in having Matt present at your event or school? Contact him by e-mail!
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The concept of strategic doodling intrigues me. I like the whole idea.
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