Sketchfu in the Classroom
Sketchfu is a Web 2.0 tool that allows you to draw something and then watch the process
of how it was drawn. This simple application seems like it might not have
much educational value, but I have
found it to be useful for many subjects. Because the tool plays back the
drawing, teachers can use it to show
a scientific process, to see students’
thinking when solving a math problem, or even to depict different events
in history or in a story.
It’s simple. Create an account at
sketchfu.com and then select the color
and size of the line. I find it helpful to
start off with the big line and quickly
fill in the background first. Next,
select a different color and a smaller
line size and begin your drawing.
An Undo button allows you to erase
mistakes. Once you are finished, you
hit the Publish button and title your
illustration. Now you can watch how
your drawing was created at different
speeds.
Here are some ways the program
can be used in the classroom:
• English: Depict imagery in a poem,
show the events in a novel, depict
vocabulary
• Foreign language: Create a story
with a dialogue, depict vocabulary
• Math: See students’ thinking on a math
problem, depict a word problem
• Science: Show a process
• Social studies: Depict a timeline of
events, recreate a historical event
You can share your drawings by
e-mailing them to someone or embed-
ding them in blog, wiki, or social net-
working website. Sketchfu also lets you
comment on other people’s drawings.
I like to comment on students’ work
attacking other users, especially minors, is not allowed.
Another concern is that Sketchfu is
not advertisement free, and ads cannot be turned off.
But the benefits outweigh the
drawbacks. First, it appeals to visual
learners. Second, it allows teachers to
see students’ thinking. Third, it is an
easy way to create a digital storybook.
Fourth, it is just plain fun. And finally,
it’s free!
Find sample lessons for using
sketchfu in the classroom at http://
sketchfu.wikispaces.com.
and encourage them to comment on
each other’s work. Comments allow
students to see perspectives on the
same material.
There are some drawbacks to using
Sketchfu. The first is that the website
can be slow, which can be frustrating
when using it during a lesson.
Sketchfu also has no privacy features, so anyone can see a student’s
drawing, and anyone who has signed
on to Sketchfu can comment on any
drawing. However, you can report
posts that do not comply with the
Sketchfu Community Guidelines,
which help to set a positive tone for
the tool. The guidelines specifically
state that sexually explicit content
is forbidden, but artistic nudity is
allowed. Harassing or personally
—Autumn Fabricant, MA, is the site coordinator
for a 21st Century Community Learning Center
grant at Eastern Michigan University. She also
implements after-school programming at
Willow Run High School in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
By Autumn Fabricant