New ideas
New thinking
Try, Try, Try again
Last week, #G2Great hosted Tanny McGregor with a lively chat about representing ideas in #sketchnotes. I participated, watched, and on Sunday dug out Paper 53 on my mini iPad.
What was my goal?
Responding to these two quotes from Tanny (and our chat) and a Facebook post by Dr. Mary Howard after her RTI keynote in St. Louis Saturday.
Here’s Draft 1 (first attempt with Paper 53, no stylus, and 0 video tips):
Here’s Draft 2 (the old fashioned way with paper and Flairs:
And here’s the same concept in an old familiar format: Google Drawings
– – – – Can Do – – – – Can Do – – – – Can Do – – – – Can Do – – – – Can Do – – – –
– – – – Can Do – – – – Can Do – – – – Can Do – – – – Can Do – – – – Can Do – – – –
This was the picture in my brain that captured many of the basic concepts from this Facebook post by Dr. Mary Howard.
What I learned?
Jumping in and using an app with just trial and error did not work. I was frustrated because I wanted a background color. Without a stylus, drawing and writing with my finger was not always legible. I’ve typed notes for over 20 years in order to make them legible so a stylus is needed.
I tried.
I watched three videos and downloaded an app to my Samsung phone. I watched two videos and entered three questions in the “help center”. The automated reply said that I would receive a response within 72 hours and between 9 to 5 when the offices were open.
I went back to paper and pencil and posted that second effort in the thread on Mary’s post. I thought about all the things that went wrong with Draft 1 and Draft 2.
I went to Google Drawings and created using a familiar format to capture basic ideas. Approximately two and a half hours on this representation of Mary’s FB post.
Stuck in that cycle
from when
my first grade teacher
tore up my paper
in front of me
because she didn’t like
my red sun
my purple sky
and flowers with green blooms.
What do you do when learning doesn’t go as planned?
How do you continue?
What helps you push past your self-doubts?
How do you teach your students to persevere?
Thank you, Betsy, Beth, Deb, Kathleen, Kelsey, Lanny, Melanie, and Stacey for this weekly forum from Two Writing Teachers. Check out the writers, readers and teachers here.
Wakelet from our #G2Great chat: Link
Jenn’s post about our chat will be on Literacy Lenses soon.
Heinemann podcast here
Resource - Full 
I so sympathize. I worked with Doug Neill and Sketchnoting at Verbal to Visual. I am just a word-girl. I would only use paper and pen, but I do love the idea of revising notes, especially using color, to truly learn something. I keep at the idea because of research and the affinity so many kids have for sketching as a tool. Maybe I don’t have to use the strategy as long as I promote it as an option? I’ll have to check out Ink and Ideas.
Thanks!
I’m pretty much a word or wordy person! I can keep trying. I was there . . . Rome was not built in a day either! LOL
I have the same relationship with sketchnoting as I do with NanoWriMo, so many failed attempts. I think they’re both great, but just not for me. Besides, I’m over 50, so you can’t make me do it.
I do admire your efforts here and your bravery in sharing them.
Margaret,
I love your rationale. I have more than 50 years of failure at art so I’m never going to get in 10,000 hours of practice. However, I will give it a GO and am happy to say that I’m looking for the “right” tools/app! I think I’m more of a “word art” type. But I also know that I get frustrated when I run out of space because I started out with pictures/designs that were TOO big!
Picky! ❤ See you soon!
I so want to do sketch notes. But I have only been successful the old school way, with a notebook and pen. I am so impressed with your determination. Perhaps I’ll try again… but I’m bringing a new notebook and pens to NCTE. Need to capture it in the moment the best way I know how… for now.
Julieanne,
Major case of stubbornness here! I still prefer words. We’ll see what I use at NCTE as tweeting and blogging are so much simpler when my notes are typed. Accelerating all communication is key!
Soon!