Drawing in education

[L. Holmes]

Interested to know how drawing, in its widest sense, is used and employed in education to demonstrate understanding and knowledge.

would love to hear about the diverse ways you are using it.

[kendra Farrell]

I am going to answer this by saying what I believe. Drawing is about paying attention and responding to the world around you. It is essential knowing. Even though I understand that art has become more conceptual I cannot let go of drawing as a practice. I also believe that when students draw unhindered by what things "should look like" and think of it as visual thinking it becomes another way to be in the universe.

[Judith Larue]

Yes, it is "essential knowing!" That's an excellent phrase, Kendra... I'm going to adopt it.

Drawing is technical, perceptual, and conceptual -- usually all at the same time.

Drawing is communicative, and in fact, is sometimes the best form of communication. (If, while conversing with another person [your friend, plumber, baker, candlestick maker, business associate, significant other, lost person seeking directions, etc.], you've drawn some little diagram or image on a napkin, old airline ticket stub, beer coaster, or the margin of a newspaper, you have used drawing for communication, when verbal or other forms of communication were not conveying the message clearly, adequately or properly. If we didn't "need" this little bit of spontaneous drawing, it would not occur. This is different from doodling, by the way.)

Drawing is mark-making. Hey, so is writing! Writing is a highly symbolic form of drawing. A letter (or number, or the symbol for pi, or your signature...) is a drawing. Writing obviously requires a specific understanding of drawn lines.

[L. Holmes]

hi, thanks so much for all the info.

I totally agree that drawing if fundamental knowing.

I'm really interested in specifically how drawing is used as a tool to demonstrate knowledge, not just within art. Also, interested to know how you ascertain a students knowledge of drawing as a subject, drawing within is widest sense, e.g. dance, gesture, digitally. 

awesomeness to all!

[Fred Croft]

Wow thats a big question?  I like your term widest sense since so often we think of drawing in a fairly uniform and rigid response.  Drawing is our currency it is our visual language that we engage in our visual world.  By using the term understanding and knowledge you allude I think to some form of assessment or at least recognition of an order. Otherwise how can we acknowledge its place.  Recently I worked with Ian Murphy who is a regular to Hong Kong....for a workshop with a difference where one can enjoy the pure pleasure of mark making I would recommend Ian to anyone.

Ian Murphy

fred

[L. Holmes]

Great thanks for the feedback I will check out the site