How do you use sketchnotes to enhance your learning and memory?

1 What are sketchnotes?

Sketchnotes are not just doodles or drawings. They are a way of using visual language to express and structure your thoughts. You can use sketchnotes to take notes during a lecture, a meeting, a podcast, or a book. You can also use them to brainstorm, plan, or reflect on a topic. Sketchnotes are not meant to be perfect or artistic. They are meant to be personal and meaningful.

2 Why are sketchnotes effective?

Sketchnotes are effective because they engage both your verbal and visual modes of thinking. When you use words and images together, you create more associations and memories in your brain. You also stimulate your creativity and imagination, as you have to translate abstract concepts into concrete visuals. Sketchnotes also help you focus and filter the information you receive, as you have to decide what is important and how to represent it.

3 How do you start sketchnoting?

To begin sketchnoting, you'll need a pen and paper, though a tablet or digital tool can also be used. You don't need to be an artist or have a lot of artistic skills; you just need to be willing to experiment and have fun. The basic elements of sketchnoting include text, such as words, titles, labels, quotes, and keywords; images like icons, symbols, diagrams, charts, and sketches; structure using frames, boxes, lines, arrows, and connectors; and color for highlighting, contrasting, emphasizing and creating moods.

4 How do you improve your sketchnoting skills?

To enhance your sketchnoting abilities, practice and learn from others. Start by observing how others use sketchnotes to capture and communicate information. You can find examples online, in books, or in magazines. After that, try to recreate some of the sketchnotes you like or admire. This will help you learn new ways of using visual language and expand your vocabulary of images and symbols. Then, modify and customize the sketchnotes you copy or see to suit your own needs and preferences. You can change the layout, the colors, the fonts, or the images. Additionally, add your own personality and flair to your sketchnotes. Finally, make your own sketchnotes from scratch. Choose a topic or a source of information that interests you and use sketchnoting to summarize and synthesize it. Sketchnoting can also be used to explore and generate new ideas on a topic.

5 How do you use sketchnotes to generate ideas?

Sketchnotes are not only useful for capturing and organizing information, but also for creating and developing ideas. With sketchnotes, you can brainstorm, evaluate, and communicate. Brainstorming helps to generate as many ideas as possible on a topic or a problem with words, images, or both. You can also use sketchnotes to combine or modify existing ideas or to generate new questions or challenges. Evaluating allows you to compare and contrast different ideas or solutions with criteria, pros and cons, or ratings. Lastly, you can use sketchnotes to present and share your ideas with others by telling a story, explaining a process, or persuading an audience. Sketchnoting is a great way to activate different parts of your brain, improve your attention and engagement, make connections between ideas, and get feedback from others.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?