Topinka, Lorie and Diane T. Sands. 2005. Sketching as a science tool. Connect. 19(1): 4-7.
Illustrators Lorie Topinka and Diane T. Sands answer this question in their article, Sketching as a Science Tool (2005). They discuss how biologists use sketches and diagrams in their field journals and explain how some initial observations are more easily captured as sketches instead of as words. They then explain how they develop observational skills in their students through sketching exercises and explain the procedure they use to grade student sketches.
Topinka and Sands’ checklist provides structure to any sketching activity and assigns points according to met criteria instead of the quality of art a student produces.
This article is accessible online through Synergy Learning.
Purchase a back issue of Connect, Vol. 19(1), September/October 2005 ($6, incl. postage).
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