Can You Draw It

The next way to apply the core Content Mastery method is to draw it.

Seriously, anytime you can visually illustrate a concept do it. You don’t have to be a great artist, this is not about showing off your Artistry skills. This is just about helping students to visualize what’s going on in a certain situation. I am not a great artist, in fact. here’s how I would draw skeletal traction. Here’s the bed, and here’s the foot. And…there’s a pin in the leg – goes to a pulley, and weights hang off of it. Yep – that’s it. Nothing crazy. Honestly – this is how we draw the heart and the heart chambers most of the time… Super simple, but it makes everything more visual.

So the whole goal here is to guide their eyes. You want lots of white space to give you room to draw or write things. If there aren’t pictures to draw, then circle important words as you say them. Underline main points, draw arrows to parts of an image or to key points! Even writing words as you say them can help bring it to life. The goal is that they would be looking at the same thing you’re teaching about. If nothing is moving on the screen, chances are they will not be looking at the same thing you’re talking about – ESPECIALLY if you have too much on the slide! We have worked super hard to pick out the most important information and plan the lesson – so we want them to follow us as we teach

So – if you can visually illustrate it – do it! Now, go out and be your best self today. And, as always, happy nursing!