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From Directed Drawing to Creative Expression

Shapegrams encourages students to recreate existing pictures. You might be thinking, “Why limit a student’s creativity?” and “Do we really want cookie cutter drawings?”

In order for students to gain specific digital drawings skills, I highly recommend inviting students to first try to recreate the existing picture. They’ll need to put into practice specific techniques and do some problem solving to make their picture match the original.
 
I’ve found that sometimes students will take “creative” shortcuts in order to avoid learning to use a new drawing tool or technique. For example, the Distribute function is introduced in Shapegrams 06. A student could avoid using Distribute and make the water flat instead of wavy. Consequently, the next time a picture requires the use of Distribute, the student won’t have had the practice.
 

After students have done their best to replicate the picture in a Shapegrams document, then I suggest encouraging them to put a creative spin on their pictures. 

You might consider having students preserve their recreations before making their own modifications. Here are three ways students can retain their recreations before making creative changes:
 
  • Invite the students to copy their pictures from the Shapegrams documents and paste them into new documents. Then modify their pictures in the new documents.
  • Direct students to click File → Version History → Name current version. Enter a name like “Recreation.” Then invite students to modify their pictures inside the Shapegrams document.
  • Direct students to click File → Make a copy from within their Shapegrams document. Name the new copy something like, “My Version of Shapegrams 06.” Invite students to modify their picture in the new document.
I love seeing the creativity genius that students infuse into Shapegrams. I’m thankful that teachers are tweeting photos of what their students have come up with. 

As students gain digital drawing skills, techniques, and practice through Shapegrams, they’ll be equipped to make their own creations from scratch. It’s empowering to make your own pictures, icons, diagrams, and clipart for use in your own productions and projects!

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