Draw.io

Description: Drawing tool that allows creation of templates (i.e. concept maps, Venn diagrams, and specialty diagrams-engineering), free drawing tools, and image insertion to create activities for educational or business purposes.

Cost: Free and can be used with Google accounts to access stored files.

Demo: To learn more about this technology and how to use it as a teaching tool, watch my demonstration of Draw.io.

UDL

Draw.io fits UDL guidelines across all principles; however, it best fits as part of action and expression. Depending on how it is used in the curriculum, it can also fit representation as well.

Representation: Using Draw.io to create activities where students can examine images or diagrams (like concept maps, flowcharts, etc) allow students to make complex connections and comprehend how terminology fits with the concepts through alternative visual/kinesthetic activities. This fits UDL guidelines with providing options for comprehension, language expression, and perception.
Engagement: The interactive possibilities for using this as a formative assessment tool allows students to be more engaged in the lesson. This will also allow students feedback to develop self-assessment tools to determine their own understanding of the concepts. This fits UDL guidelines with providing options for self-regulation and sustaining effort and persistence.
Action & Expression: Using Draw.io as a method for creating assignments, such as concept maps, Venn diagrams, and flowcharts, allows students flexibility in showing their knowledge of content in a visual format. This tool when used as a formative assessment in a synchronous class helps students monitor their progress as well. This fits UDL guidelines with providing options for executive functions, expression, and physical action.

For specific areas that Draw.io fits the UDL principles, please see infographic below with highlighted areas showing the specific integration of Draw.io with UDL guidelines.

Curriculum and Example

This tool has limitless applications in the classroom. It can be used for students to create assignments, for formative assessments in a synchronous setting, and to deliver content. The template feature allows students access to Venn-diagrams, flowcharts, and concept maps to create their own connections to concepts in the class. It can also be used for instructors to create an interactive activity where students identify structures in an image as a formative assessment or a way to deliver content, depending on the application.

I haven't used this in my class, but I have already thought of multiple ways to utilize the power of this tool in my pedagogy strategies. One way I plan to use this tool is to have students identify structures or tissues in histology images as a type of formative assessment so that I can determine how well they are able to identify the structures and correct mistakes as we are working with the interactive activity.

Example: For the urinary system, students need to identify the type of tissue for the different ducts and organs and recognize types of tissue within. I created this example for students to identify parts of the histology for the urinary system.

URINARY HISTOLOGY PRACTICE

SWOT Analysis

Context: Online/hybrid college science (anatomy and physiology) course, but can be used in other courses.

S- Free, shareable and links with Google accounts. Has a variety of preset shapes, text boxes and templates to create a variety of activities. Can incorporate images and draw or add text to images.

W- Complex to use at first due to all the available tools and options.

O- Allows formative assessments in synchronous classes if used to create interactive activities. Interactive activities can increase student engagement in the lesson. Students can use templates to create flowcharts, diagrams, label images, or other activities to show mastery of content in an assignment or assessment.

T- Due to the complexity of the tool, it can be difficult for students to create assignments or assessments.

Comparison to Other Tools

Draw.io can be compared to Google Jamboard and Google Drawing. All three are free tools that can be used with Google accounts. Google Drawing is similar to Draw.io in that both are drawing platforms; however Draw.io has more drawing flexibility with more shapes and icons and can also utilize templates for flowcharts, Venn-diagrams, concept maps, and other educational designs that do not exist in Google Drawing. Google Jamboard allows you to create activities by inserting images, but the drawing features are limited to a pen, sticky note, or text box. Draw.io allows you to include images and also draw, add text, or shapes to the image or document. All three features can be shared with a URL into any platform for student interaction with the activity.

Reflection

This tool has a lot of versatility for one program and is a great way to incorporate drawing, text, and images together in one activity. It essentially combines the features of Google Drawings and Google Jamboard into one tool. While this is a great way to create a document, it can also be a little challenging for students to interact with due to so many tools available. I will use this tool in the future for activities where I would like students to show me locations of histology tissues and structures in images as a way to better gauge their learning of the subject. I think this tool when used effectively can definitely add to the learning experience for students and keep them engaged while providing formative assessments for the instructor in synchronous classes.

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