Drawing on Education - Collection
Steps for collecting student drawings
In research, we aim to be consistent in how we collect data and
information. Below are a few steps that can help guide teachers to
consistently and efficiently collect student classroom drawings.
Teachers and researchers have conducted drawing exercises with
students ranging from Kindergarten to graduate-level courses, so it
may be necessary for you to adapt the directions for your context as
needed.
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Schedule about 15 minutes to conduct the drawing exercise with each
class. We know some students will complete the activity quickly
while others might work on it for much longer. So, depending on your
classroom culture, it may be helpful to set a timer for your
students or provide students encouragement to use the allotted time
effectively.
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Briefly explain to your class they are going to participate in a
student drawing activity. You can explain that this is not a graded
assignment and students should feel comfortable to respond to the
prompt however they wish. They are no right or wrong classroom
drawings! If it is helpful, you may wish to introduce the drawing
exercise by bringing up the larger context of all the different
teaching and learning activities that happen in school. Teachers
would then encourage students to imagine themselves in their math
class for a few moments before they settle on their idea and begin
their drawing. Students should work individually on their drawing so
that every student produces their own unique image of math class.
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Print copies of the
blank drawing form.
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Decide if you want students to include their names or other
identifying features on their drawing. In our research, we typically
collect anonymous drawings without student names, but this is the
entirely at the discretion of each teacher.
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Write the drawing prompt “Draw a picture of your Math class” on the
board for the class and read it aloud. Then, provide each student
with a blank drawing form (and pencil). Students can use crayons,
markers, or colored pencils if they wish, but pencil-made drawings
are most typical and perfectly acceptable. Students may ask about
what to draw, so try your best to refer them to the drawing prompt
and refrain from suggestions that will influence their drawings or
planting any specifics in their heads☺
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If needed during the exercise, students should be encouraged to do
their best regardless of their artistic ability. If necessary,
please ask students to try and label anything important that are not
immediately obvious. Remind students that this is not group work and
every student should try and come up with their own personal
depiction. Students can be reminded that this activity is not graded
and that all artistic abilities are just fine…“stick figures” are
perfectly acceptable! Encourage students to use as much of the 15
minutes as possible to complete their drawing.
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Collect the drawing(s) trying not to offer individual commentary or
judgment. Kindly thank the students collectively for their
participation.
» Download these steps for collecting student drawings
Additional Student Drawing Prompts
The above example uses the prompt “Draw a picture of your math class”.
Other drawing prompts solicit different images from students, so
teachers may wish to customize or try their own prompt. Some prior
examples include:
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Think about the teachers and the kinds of things you do in your
classrooms. Draw a picture of one of your teachers working in his or
her classroom.
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Think about all of the different things you do when you read. Draw a
picture of what a camera would see when you are reading.
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Think about the steps you take when writing a paper for school. In
the space below, draw a picture or series of pictures that reflect
your writing process.
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Think about the teachers and the kinds of things you have done in
your class today. Draw a picture of your teacher teaching and
yourself learning.
- Draw a picture of yourself taking the big test.
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Think about the math work and activities you do outside of school.
Draw a picture of yourself learning math outside of school.
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Think about the work and activities you do in math class. Draw a
picture of yourself learning math in school.
