PHOTOGRAPHS AND SKETCHES IN TANDEM: A MULTIFACETED APPROACH TO FOCUSING THE UNTRAINED EYE (Invited Presentation)

Geologists have a long tradition of sketching and photography to record observations made during fieldwork. Recently, handheld digital devices such as cameras, smart phones and tablets have further transformed the way in which geologists document features and processes in the field. While there are great benefits to photography, drawings capture information that is not apparent in a photograph or which can’t easily be described in words. Moreover, sketching is a powerful practice that engages both body and mind in the learning processes, helping to deepen powers of observation, reveal reasoning, clarify thoughts, and communicate understanding in a way that permits meaningful exchange between others, including peers and instructors. Our presentation focuses on the combined use of sketching and photography with two groups of students in two settings: (1) an undergraduate course team-taught by an geoscientist, artist and geoscience educator that sought to prepare students for future fieldwork (classroom setting); and (2) 120 rising 12^th grade students who participated in UT’s summer 2018 weeklong GeoFORCE field program (outdoor setting). We describe the activities implemented with students, provide examples of their work and share evaluation findings. In general, the undergraduates appreciated the opportunity to learn basic drawing techniques from an artist and felt the exercises helped them to focus on geologically important aspects. They noted the value in using their drawings as the basis for discussions with peers. During GeoFORCE fieldwork, the instructor often sketched on top of photographs on a tablet before having students make individual sketches, which helped draw untrained eyes to the most salient details. Together these practices highlight the symbiotic relationship that sketching and photography can have, and underscore their value in teaching and learning with students who may become geologists, geoscience faculty, and teachers.