Why teach technical drawing/scientific illustration? Effective drawing skills improve student achievement in the science classroom across three areas of academic language, scientific process skills, and scientific content. Students that receive targeted instruction in technical drawing and scientific modeling demonstrate increased achievement and engagement. Teachers must not assume that students come to the science classroom with confidence or training in drawing skills.
This project was created as a capstone project for a Masters of Education (MAED) in STEM at St. Catherine's University in St. Paul, MN. I began with a literature review on the effects of modeling and illustration on scientific achievement in elementary school. Under the direction of an advisor, I completed this project as a capstone for my MAED. I wrote these eight lessons based on my research. I tested the lessons with a small focus group of students. I wrote a research-based defense of the lessons using my research. Finally, I hosted it all on this website and promoted it to an audience of fellow scholars and teachers.