Children learning to sketch: sketching to learn
Information and Learning Sciences
ISSN: 2398-5348
Article publication date: 15 July 2022
Issue publication date: 15 August 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to understand children’s sketching behavior while they engage in interest-driven design activities. Particularly, the authors examine their information sharing practices and the learning opportunities that may occur when they engage in a sketching activity.
Design/methodology/approach
The data collection is based on a participatory design approach, cooperative inquiry. For analysis, the authors used the ethnographic case study approach, which allowed us to consider the particularity and complexity of sketching and its affordances within each distinct design activity.
Findings
The authors found children share information about their expectations, experiences, beliefs and knowledge via their sketches. Additionally, through sketching activities, they were engaged in multiple learning opportunities including how to label sketches, build on ideas, sketch in collaboration and innovate on ideas.
Research limitations/implications
The findings demonstrate sketching can be used to gather information about the broader contexts of children’s lives which can be leveraged to identify their needs and improve the design of future technologies for children. Additionally, participating in sketching gives children opportunities to develop their sketching skills, a useful multimodal skillset for both design and personal expression.
Originality/value
This empirical research is original in its context of focusing on children sketching experiences in an interest-driven design environment occurring virtually in the informal setting of a library.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the Doctoral Student Research Award from the College of Information Studies, University of Maryland. The authors also want to acknowledge the support of the Clifton Park – Halfmoon Public Library in New York for hosting this project. Most of all, the authors want to acknowledge the children who participated in the research.
Citation
Shokeen, E., Katirci, N., Williams-Pierce, C. and Bonsignore, E. (2022), "Children learning to sketch: sketching to learn", Information and Learning Sciences, Vol. 123 No. 7/8, pp. 482-499. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILS-03-2022-0023
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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