Concepts: Smarter Sketching & Design

Concepts: Smarter Sketching & Design is a sophisticated app that allows users to draft precise drawings. After launching this app, users are presented with an interactive workspace, and they can tap the “Gear” button to access advanced options, which include paper type, paper size, grid type, and grid display, among other options. By enacting the grid display, it provides users with a background of graph paper, which allows users to make precision drawings. To access the drawing tools, users can tap the “squiggle” lines to choose different options that allow them to draw lines of different colors, thicknesses, and opacity. To create shapes, users must tap the “dotted” button on the main menu and then choose the shape they wish to draw, which include lines, arcs, angles, ellipses, and rectangles. (Please note: Users must make an in-app purchase to draw any shape other than arcs.) After they have created their drawing, users can tap the “up arrow” and select the “JPG” option and “export” button to email their work. There are several advanced options that can be accessed after making an in-app purchase, and the app offers users a detailed tutorial when first launched.

Instructional Ideas

1. When learning about different geometric shapes, teachers can have students draw them in this app. Teachers can have students enact the graph paper option and require them to draw the geometric shapes to a specific specification.
2. For advanced students, teachers can have them draft a common household object (e.g., a broom, chair, or oven) and replicate it in this app. As part of the replication, students can scale it to size using this app.
3. Before creating an image to be produced in Auto Cad, students can draft it in this app and experiment with different designs, sizes, and shapes. Once complete, students can email it to their teacher with a description of what the image is and what it is intended to do. The teacher can then post the image and description to a class website. Once posted, fellow students can post feedback about the image. Finally, the students who created the image and wrote the description can read the feedback and make any adjustments necessary.
4. Teachers can instruct students to enact the grid paper option in this app and draw four quadrants. Teachers can then use this app for students to plot points on the grid or teach about vectors and quadrants.

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