I was recently asked to contribute an article about visual note-taking to "Primarily English", a print magazine for primary school teachers put out by the Victorian Association for the Teaching of English. Rather than write the article, I thought it made sense to sketch it. The result was this four-page comic strip.

1. SKETCHNOTING They’re used in hollywood ... ... and in design.
THE ART OF VISUAL NOTE-tAKING
2012 Matthew Magain
sketches have been
used for centuries as ... in architecture ...
tools for exploring
and communicating
KITCHEN
BEDROOM NO.1 M U LT I P U R P O S E
ideas...
DISHWASHER
ENTRY
SLIDING DOOR
Sketching is a fantastic way to Unfortunately, sketching is While Written notes can form a
express yourself — even if frowned upon by some, Most good reference, they’re not
you’re not an accomplished commonly, when it occurs necessarily great for recall.
artist. during class.
pay attention!
because Taking notes is best
done using words, right? RIGHT? Plus they look kind of boring!

2. D.C. Comics
A global movement, known as Sketchnoting uses a combination of:
sketchnoting (visual note-
taking) is gaining popularity, Comics!
particularly at tech conferences.
Marvel Comics and
... which makes it similar to that
other frowned-upon art form ... Like the one you’re reading now!
Firstly, A Sketchnote is not strictly sequential — There are no panels
A Sketchnote differs from a to indicate sequence. Instead the sketcher captures the essence of
comic in at least two ways: the talk and arranges it as she chooses, in a form of personal curation.

3. Secondly, There are less bad Sketchnoting requires you to However, You don’t need to be an
guys in a sketchnote (unless multi-task, which means you’re accomplished artist to create a
it’s from a talk about comics!) often listening, processing, good sketchnote. Sure, it helps,
and drawing at the same time. but really You just need to be able
to draw basic shapes.
GRRR!
Marvel Comics
So, why create a sketchnote? Doing so forces you to pay In addition, The finished sketch
attention. it’s not mindless makes a useful reference, a
doodling, it’s capturing nostalgic keepsake, or even a
information creatively. unique gift for the presenter.
It can improve your
retention of the material.
Sketchnoting can turn
an otherwise boring
presentation into a fun
learning experience.

4. The next time you’re sitting in Throw in a few quotes, and
SO, How does one get started? a talk, start writing down concepts maybe draw a speech bubble or
that resonate with you. Arrange stylized quotes around them.
the words, on the fly, in an
interesting way, with personality.
Start experimenting with
different shapes that
reinforce the message, and
work up to sketching objects.
Don’t worry about capturing For lots of examples, visit If you’re feeling confident, why
everything — you’re not sketchnotearmy.com or check not share your sketchnotes
creating a definitive reference. out Eva-lotta lamm’s forthcoming online? I’d love to see some
And remember, It takes practice. book on the topic. of your creations!
over time your sketchnotes
will improve, and so will your
listening skills.
you can order Matthew’s latest children’s book, charlieweatherburn and the flying machine, from charlieweatherburn.com