Draw Your Thinking
The Science and Practice
of Visual Notetaking
Why draw to learn + think?
For the past 15 years, I’ve taught visual notetaking (also known as sketchnoting, visual facilitation, and graphic recording) to college students, corporate leaders, professors, teams, K-12 classrooms, and teachers. The reaction is almost always the same: once people get over their initial fear of drawing, they say this should be taught to everyone.
This semester, in just the first week of classes, I received reports from colleagues that my freshmen were already using the method in their other courses. That’s not unusual – it happens every year. Once students unlock this way of working, they don’t want to stop. It changes how they learn, how they listen, and how they think.
But don’t just take my word for it, there’s powerful science behind why visual notetaking works.
Some of the science behind visual notetaking
Dual Coding Theory (Paivio, 1971)
Our brains process information through two channels: verbal and visual. When both are activated, retention skyrockets. Sketchnoting leverages this by pairing words with images, symbols, and spatial organization.
Picture Superiority Effect
Research consistently shows that pictures are remembered far better than words. A simple icon or diagram can anchor a concept in memory far longer than text alone.
Embodied Cognition
Drawing is not passive. It’s kinesthetic. The hand moves, the body engages, and cognition deepens. Making marks on a page literally wires the body into the learning process.
Continuous Partial Attention vs. Full Presence
In a world of constant digital distraction, sketch noting requires sustained focus. You can’t scroll and draw at the same time. The act itself becomes a mindfulness practice, creating a rare state of single-tasking.
Neuroscience of Learning
When students create their own representations (rather than just copying) neural connections strengthen. Psychologist Richard Mayer’s work on multimedia learning shows that active integration of visuals + text increases transfer of knowledge into long-term memory.
What students say
Across years of teaching, the refrain is remarkably consistent:
“This should be required for all freshmen.”
“I never thought I could draw, but this changed how I learn.”
“I understand complex concepts faster now.”
“I finally feel like I can see the big picture.”
The teachers I’ve trained have said it helps their students pay attention, and even reduces classroom management problems because kids are absorbed in the act of drawing their notes.
How to start: build a visual vocabulary
Visual notetaking isn’t about art. It’s about clarity. Here’s the pathway I teach:
Start with Simple Icons
Choose 10–20 universal symbols to start: lightbulb (idea), book (knowledge), arrow (movement), clock (time).
Practice drawing each in 5 seconds or less.
Remember: clarity beats artistry.
Use Connectors
Arrows, lines, brackets, and containers show relationships.
Try mapping cause/effect, comparisons, or flow using connectors alone.
Experiment with Lettering
Headings: bold and blocky.
Keywords: underlined or highlighted.
Supporting text: small and neat.
Lettering hierarchy instantly makes your notes readable.
Organize with Containers
Boxes, circles, banners, bursts, and speech bubbles group related ideas.
Think of containers as “paragraphs for the eyes.”
Play with Layout
Columns, radial diagrams, paths, and mind maps give you options beyond the linear page.
Layout choice influences how you interpret information—try shifting it to see new patterns.
From sketchnotes to visual facilitation
As skills grow, sketch noting can evolve into larger practices:
Sketchnoting: Notes for yourself, often in a sketchbook, notebook, or tablet.
Visual Facilitation: Capturing ideas during a meeting or workshop on flip charts or whiteboards.
Graphic Recording: Live, large-scale documentation of conferences or events by turning entire talks into wall-sized maps.
Each level deepens your ability to think, listen, and synthesize visually.
Daily practices to sharpen your skills
Sketch a Podcast: Take notes on a 10-minute podcast using only images and keywords.
One Icon a Day: Add a new symbol to your vocabulary each day.
Redraw Once: After class or a meeting, redraw your notes in a clearer format. The act of revision strengthens memory.
Teach It: Explain a concept to someone else using only your sketchnotes as your guide.
Thinking through your fingers
Our lives are dominated by screens and words, but the human brain evolved to see, draw, and map the world. Visual notetaking reconnects us with that innate skill. It’s not about being an artist. It’s about being a better learner, thinker, and communicator.
Once you begin, you’ll notice it everywhere: your notes get more engaging, your memory sharper, your thinking more creative. And the best part? You’ll finally give yourself permission to doodle with purpose.
Take a peek at my personal practice:
Hi there! I’m Pattie Belle Hastings.
But you can call me PB. I am a speaker, facilitator, designer, content creator, and professor. I facilitate teams and groups as well as design & lead workshops and courses on creative industry topics. I would love to design and facilitate your company’s creative breakthroughs.
