I use Sketchnotes in Schools to help students and teachers to visualise SCIENCE. Sketchnotes are visual notes created from a mixture of hand-drawn words and pictures which can include visual elements of typography, shapes and lines. Drawing is thinking so this technique helps to make learning and science visual. Because…“When you draw you remember more!”

The above sketchnote captures my classroom visits to Sketchnote your Science (in School) which are delivered by my alter ego Dr Suzie Starfish (thanks to the super talented Rob Dimeo for the sketchnote!!). Classroom incursion content is aligned to the Australian Curriculum for Science (usually Biological Sciences), Visual Arts and Critical and Creative Thinking and the work plans of the School. This is a novel learning and communication technique which both students and teachers (PD for Teachers) benefit from. Sketchnoting your Science provide students with the following outcomes and learnings:

• a record of science class discussions
• a visual representation of complex issues
• a tool for retention of information
• a point of reflection for later study
• a creative way to take notes and remember scientific concepts

 Furthermore, Sketchnote your Science provides Schools with new and novel ways to:

• engage with the different learning styles of the students
• provide additional communication/learning techniques for teachers
• include ‘A’ in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, ARTs, Mathematics)
• offer a new visual learning tool for science in schools

Below are some examples of my Sketchnote your Science in School visits with students and teachers from across Australia and their FEEDBACK!! Can’t wait for you to ‘sea’ what science we will be sketchnoting next!!

Exmouth District High School, Western Australia

I loved teaching the Year 8 and 9 Science students (and their amazing teacher Mr Bush!) at Exmouth DHS how to Sketchnote your Science using the life cycle of the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) as our in-class example we drew-out together!

     

“The sessions ran really well with many colourful, well laid out visual presentations on the Green Turtle. I hope to adapt this skill when studying ‘States of Matter’ or ‘Classification Systems’ and many more”, Teacher, Exmouth DHS, Western Australia

Barker College, New South Wales

What a great time I had at Barker College during National Science Week teaching the Year 9, 10 and 11 Science and Visual Arts students how to Sketchnote your Science!

    

     

Schools using Sketchnote your Science!

I’m thrilled that teachers are starting to trial and use this visual learning technique in their own classrooms after my visits! Here are some examples of the amazing work from Year 7 Science students in Western Australia who used sketchnotes to adapt 8 pages of science text about the ‘Habitats and Adaptations of Living Things‘.

Workshops

I also offer workshops in schools (and for groups) on this visual learning and communication technique for teachers as part of their Professional Development to develop new skills, knowledge and approaches to deliver world-class creative education. This program of visual learning can also be used in any group learning situation (even in break out sessions at Conferences) and does not have to focus on science, but any topic, for any age group, in any location! You can see more about my Workshops.

I was honoured to recently host an International Sketchnote Hangout (#29) to talk to the sketchnote community and educators about my experiences and journey to “Sketchnote your Science in Schools“, which you can see more at Sketchnote Hangouts.

Sketchnoting is also a great and fun way of engaging people in a social situation, like my “Drink and Draw” social meet-ups. I believe anyone can draw and if you draw you remember more!

You can find out more about my visual learning technique, school experiences and my range of in-house Workshops‎ to help “Picture your ideas” via:

• In-school sketchnoting with students and teachers
• Sketchnoting for Teachers Professional Development
• Break-out sessions at Conferences eg. science communication using sketchnotes
• Sketchnotes for visualisation eg. Journal articles, books, websites, concepts etc

for further information on how I can help you to visualise your ideas.

*Please note my images, content and graphics need to be attributed to me and remain unaltered unless written permission is given as all graphics, content and images are Copyright © 2017 Dr Sue Pillans