The Science of Drawing and Memory

drawing is better than reading or writing because it forces the person to process information in multiple ways

process information visually

process information kinesthetically

process information semantically

several ways that teachers can incorporate drawing to enrich learning

Assessing learning through art

create travel journals as a visible record of their learning

Student-created learning aids

Instead of buying or printing posters that reinforce learning—maps, anchor charts, or diagrams—have students create them.

Data visualization

visualizing concepts in math, analyzing classical literature, and exploring fractals

Interactive notebooks

One side of their notebooks can be used for written notes, the other for drawings, diagrams, and charts

Bookmaking

create their own books to visually represent topics in subjects ranging from science to English language arts. Students can also create comics books to tell stories or describe events

You don't have to be a perfect artist to be able to practice this technique

"the benefits of drawing were not dependent on the students’ level of artistic talent, suggesting that this strategy may work for all students, not just ones who are able to draw well."

The Science of Drawing and Memory

drawing is better than reading or writing because it forces the person to process information in multiple ways

several ways that teachers can incorporate drawing to enrich learning

You don't have to be a perfect artist to be able to practice this technique

"the benefits of drawing were not dependent on the students’ level of artistic talent, suggesting that this strategy may work for all students, not just ones who are able to draw well."

When drawing out information, you are putting more attention into what you are learning.

"...drawing forces students to grapple with what they’re learning and reconstruct it in a way that makes sense to them."