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Artful Analytics with DrawCharts

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I’ve always felt a bit envious of those with a natural talent for drawing. My artistic skills are lacking and I struggle with color coordination. My attempts at drawing often result in unrecognizable shapes. The allure of a simple sketch or a grand painting is undeniable. Combining this allure with graph data could be powerful. But how to do it? Enter DrawCharts, an AI-powered tool that revolutionizes graphs as hand-drawn sketches.

Did You Know?

You can now generate and load your files into ChatGPT Plus. Connect your Google or Microsoft cloud storage. Then, turn ChatGPT Plus loose to make graphs.

Learn more now; sign up for the TCEA ChatGPT for Educators course.

How Does DrawCharts Work?

DrawCharts is a game-changer for anyone who wants to create engaging and fun visuals. You don’t need advanced artistic skills. The platform allows you to generate eye-catching charts and visuals and you can export your creations in a variety of formats, such as:

  • PNG
  • JPEG
  • SVG

Here’s a sample creation:

You can see the design screen below, which is simple:

Arranged into a Data and Design page, you can see several features are Pro only. These paid features include a CSV file import and removing the watermark. There are several hand-drawn styles that can make the graph visually appealing.

Why Use DrawCharts?

Instead of relying on pre-made graphics, you can now create a unique visual. This visual chart maker tool allows you to:

  • Illustrate stories,
  • Create informative charts for your projects, and
  • See how powerful hand-drawn sketches can be

What’s more, it can inspire you to make your own hand-drawn graphs with their prototype.

Can Students Use It?

Since you don’t need to have an account to use the free version, students can use it as well. Then they can snap a screenshot of the graph with a tool like Lightshot or use the built-in export to PNG or JPG image format. This makes it an ideal tool for Chromebooks or web browser-centric machines.

Some TEKS correlations appear below:

Math

Grade LevelTEKS Focus AreaSuggested Use of DrawCharts
Grade 6Ratios and Proportional RelationshipsCreate bar charts to compare ratios and proportions in different contexts.
Grade 7Probability and StatisticsUse pie charts and histograms to represent data distributions and probabilities.
Grade 8Linear Equations and FunctionsDevelop line charts to visualize linear relationships and functions.
Algebra IQuadratic FunctionsUse scatter plots to represent quadratic data and fit quadratic models.
GeometryGeometric RelationshipsCreate diagrams to illustrate geometric proofs and theorems.
Algebra IIPolynomial FunctionsDevelop bar and line charts to compare polynomial functions and their properties.
PrecalculusTrigonometric FunctionsUse polar charts to represent trigonometric functions and their transformations.

Science

Grade LevelTEKS Focus AreaSuggested Use of DrawCharts
Grade 6Earth and Space ScienceCreate interactive timelines of geological events and visual representations of the rock cycle.
Grade 7Life ScienceUse flowcharts to illustrate the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
Grade 8Physical ScienceDevelop charts to compare and contrast different types of chemical reactions.
BiologyGenetics and EvolutionCreate pedigree charts and Punnett squares to visualize genetic inheritance patterns.
ChemistryChemical ReactionsUse bar charts to represent reaction rates under different conditions.
PhysicsForces and MotionDevelop vector diagrams to illustrate forces acting on an object.
Environmental ScienceEcosystems and BiodiversityUse pie charts to show species distribution and bar charts for population studies.

Social Studies/History

Grade LevelTEKS Focus AreaSuggested Use of DrawCharts
Grade 6World Cultures and GeographyCreate map charts to show cultural regions and migration patterns.
Grade 7Texas HistoryDevelop timelines to illustrate key events in Texas history.
Grade 8U.S. History to 1877Use flowcharts to depict the causes and effects of major historical events like the American Revolution.
High SchoolWorld HistoryCreate comparative charts to analyze different civilizations and their contributions.
High SchoolU.S. GovernmentUse organizational charts to illustrate the structure of the U.S. government.
High SchoolEconomicsDevelop bar and line charts to represent economic data and trends.

Sample Science Lesson Plan for Ninth Grade Biology

Lesson Plan ComponentDetails
ObjectivesStudents will understand the structure and function of cells and viruses. Students will learn to create and interpret various types of biological charts and diagrams using DrawCharts. Students will be able to compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.Students will investigate cellular processes such as homeostasis and transport of molecules.
PrerequisitesBasic understanding of cell biology.Familiarity with using computers and web applications.
Duration2 class periods (90 minutes each)
MaterialsComputers with internet accessAccess to DrawCharts (https://drawcharts.xyz)Biology textbooksProjector and screenHandouts with instructions for using DrawCharts
IntroductionBegin the lesson by discussing the importance of visual aids in understanding biological concepts. Explain how charts and diagrams can help in visualizing complex processes and structures. Introduce DrawCharts as a tool that can be used to create these visual aids easily and effectively.
GlossaryProkaryotic Cell: A cell without a nucleus or other membrane-bound organelles.
Eukaryotic Cell: A cell with a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.
Homeostasis: The ability of an organism to maintain a stable internal environment.
Cell Membrane: The semipermeable membrane surrounding the cytoplasm of a cell.
Virus: A small infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism.
ReferencesTexas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for Science, High School Biology [12][13]Biology Lesson Plans – The Learning Hypothesis [2]8 Lesson Plan Template Resources for Biology Teachers – Biology Junction [1]Visible Biology – 3D Visual Guide to Biological Processes [9]
Applicable TEKS for 9th Grade BiologyB.4.A: Compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including their complexity, and compare and contrast scientific explanations for cellular complexity.B.5.B: Compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including their complexity, and compare and contrast scientific explanations for cellular complexity.B.5.C: Investigate homeostasis through the cellular transport of molecules.B.5.D: Compare the structures of viruses to cells and explain how viruses spread and cause disease.

Final Thoughts

Use DrawCharts to make professional-looking visuals without advanced skills. Give it a spin and see how it can transform your content. And don’t forget to let your students explore it, too. Surprise yourself with your creativity.

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Quick, Draw!
ESL/ELLGoogle Tips and Tricks

Quick, Draw! with Google

by Diana Benner
written by Diana Benner

At the recent TCEA Convention and Exposition, I learned about an experiment from Google called Quick, Draw!. Quick, Draw!, which launched last November, is a game built with machine learning. Players are prompted to sketch an object on a 20-second clock using the mouse or touchscreen. While the player doodles, the neural network throws out its best guesses of the subject, stopping mid-sketch if it guesses correctly.

How Quick, Draw Works

I gave it a try on my laptop and my iPhone. However, I have to admit, I’m not very good at it. My first time playing on the laptop, I only got two out of six. My iPhone try went a bit better, but that’s probably because the objects were fairly simple.

An interesting feature of Quick, Draw! is the insight players can gain about how the network works. After you complete a game, just select one of the drawings and you’ll see two sets of results. Let’s use my pathetic attempt at a bee as an example (try not to laugh). First, you see what kind of object the computer thought you were going to draw.

Bee

Scroll down and you’ll see the images that  the neural network thinks a bee looks like.

what does a bee look like

Give it a try and see how many of your doodles can be recognized.

Classroom Uses of Quick, Draw!

So, I asked myself, how can this be used in the classroom? I was quickly reminded of the Quick Draw strategy, where students are asked to respond to a piece of text (literary or expository) through illustrations. Students are encouraged to quickly draw as many simple sketches as possible. The notion is for students to capture as many details as they can during the time period.

I can easily see Quick, Draw! being used with English Language Learners, especially those who are at the low-beginning to mid-beginning levels in writing English as their second language.

Some ideas for classroom application include:

  • Have students summarize one of their illustrations, describing what they just drew through a voluntary share aloud or a Timed RoundRobin.
  • Ask students to screen capture one of their images and write a story about it.
  • Have students listen to the words the computer is guessing to see how many they recognize.
  • For images that weren’t recognized, have students identify and define the images the machine thought they were drawing.
  •  During whole-class sharing, allow students to speak about one of their illustrations that couldn’t be guessed and have the entire class share details of how they would have drawn the image.
  • Allow the students to explain some of their illustrations that might have special connections in their lives.
  • Let students make predictions or inferences about their illustrations.

In Conclusion

Quick, Draw! by Google is a fun and quick way for students to learn. If you are looking for more ways to incorporate drawing into your classroom, check out Drawing to Learn on the iPad for more lesson ideas.

 

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iOS Tips and Tricks

Drawing to Learn on the iPad

by Diana Benner
written by Diana Benner

In a recent free-to-member workshop on integrating iPads into the classroom, I talked about the power of using drawings and illustrations to help students master both simple and complex concepts. When I think back to my time in school, I never took an art class, which is where most drawing activities would occur. However, today, drawing can be incorporated into any subject area. 

 

The Benefits of Incorporating Drawing into Your Classroom

There are so many benefits of incorporating drawing or sketching in your classroom. For example, it helps:

  • Develop students’ visual literacy skills
  • Develop students’ observation skills
  • Encourage creativity
  • Reveal student understandings and misconceptions
  • Make connections between observations and ideas.

 

iPad Drawing Activities

During the workshop, we used the free Doodle Buddy app in order to participate in some of the drawing activities. Any iPad drawing app can be used; however, the Doodle Buddy app is a favorite among the TCEA Professional Development staff. (Peggy Reimers explains her love for Doodle Buddy in the Get Your Picasso On blog entry.)

One activity we did centered around drawing conclusions. The participants in the workshop were to gather all available information as I read to them, reflect on past experience or knowledge to see if there was a connection with the present information, make inferences, and use the sum of what they knew to make a judgment about the situation. They then drew their conclusions using the Doodle Buddy app.App-Tasktic Cards

I created “App-Tasktic” cards for each of our activities, which contained the teacher lesson, as well as the student activity. You can view the sample cards of the drawing conclusions activity here. I think these will spark other activity ideas for you.

 

iPad Drawing Apps

As I mentioned earlier, Doodle Buddy isn’t the only app you can use. There are several iOS apps that can be used to incorporate sketching or drawing in the classroom. Below are a few:

 

TCEA iPad Resources

Don’t forget about some of the other iOS resources that TCEA has available for our members such as:

  • iPad App List – Find recommended apps for every subject area and concept.
  • iPad in the Classroom Group – In the TCEA Social Community, you can become a member of the iPad in the Classroom Group. Then, each day, you’ll receive an email with educational iOS apps that have gone free or on sale that day. You can save hundreds of dollars a year with this great member benefit.
  • App Evaluation Rubric – This rubric will help teachers evaluate apps they are considering for the classroom and is available to everyone.

 

What are some lesson ideas for your classroom that incorporate drawing apps? Please share in the comments below.

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Google Tips and Tricks

Wondrous Ways to Use Google Drawings

by Diana Benner
written by Diana Benner

During a recent Get Your Google On webinar, I shared some ways Google Drawings can be used in the classroom. I truly believe Google Drawings is a very powerful, but yet very under-utilized tool.

If you are not familiar with Google Drawings, it is free, web-based diagramming software developed by Google. It allows users to collaborate and work together in real-time to create flowcharts, organizational charts, concept maps, and many other types of diagrams. Drawings can be inserted into other Google documents, sheets, or presentations.

Accessing Google Drawings

You can access Google Drawings via your Google Drive. Once you are logged in to your Google Drive, you can create a new drawing as follows:

  1. Click the Create button in the top left corner.
  2. Then click More and Google Drawings from the drop-down menu.
  3. Your blank drawing will now open.

Google Drawings is also available as a Chrome app on the Chrome Web Store.

Ways to Use Drawings in the Classroom with Students

There are endless ways to use Google Drawings in the classroom. Below are just a few:

  • Graphic Organizers – Have students create graphic organizers or concept maps with Google Drawings. This will help them organize their ideas and make logical sequence of concepts. Make use of connector lines in order to let students show relationships among different concepts. Here are ten great examples ready to use.
  • Comic Strips – Let students create an autobiographical comic strip talking about themselves and summarizing important events in their lives. They can incorporate speech bubbles in order to experiment with different languages, sentence structure, or vocabulary in a meaningful context.
  • Posters – Have students create posters for a classroom project or have them create posters that can be used around school. For example, create a poster on being a good digital citizen or how to stay safe online.
  • Annotate Images – Students can upload their own images and tag important features, make comments, or highlight key concepts.
  • Timelines – Have students create timelines and add information for the different dates, along with images and text. Timelines can be used to record events from a story or a history lesson in a sequential format. They can help students keep events in chronological order as they write summaries or help them make connections and recognize patterns in a series or process.
  • Tutorial Graphics – Let students create a Google Drawing that explains how to do something or defines a concept. This is a great way students can show understanding and teach someone else at the same time.
  • Infographics – Students can create infographics in order to communicate information or ideas. This is a great way to communicate visually with others, as well as assess students’ understanding of a topic.
  • Word Webs – Have students who might be struggling with vocabulary words create word webs. The word webs can illustrate how key words or concepts are related to one another through graphic representations.

All the above activities can be done as a whole class, in small groups, or individually. However, by using Google Drawings, students can easily collaborate with one another in real time. In addition, drawings can also be published online as images or downloaded in standard formats such as JPEG, SVG, PNG, or PDF.

More Ways You Can Use Google Drawings

Google Drawing is not just for students. There are many ways you can use it, too:

  • Create badges to award to your students.
  • Create a custom signature  for your email.
  • Document what you learned at a conference – Check out this Google Drawing created by one of our members about her takeaways from the TCEA 2016 Convention.

Give It a Try

If you have never used Google Drawings before, I challenge you to give it a try. I usually recommend starting with an “All About Me” drawing. Enter text, images, and links that tell about you, where you’re from, where you work, your interests, your hobbies, etc. Once you are done, save it as a JPEG and upload it to this All About Me Padlet.

The next time you need to cover standards where students must explain, diagram, justify, develop, plan, or describe, consider using Google Drawings. If you are already using Google Drawings, we’d love to hear from you. Share in the comments below.

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