On June 18, the University of Białystok Branch in Vilnius hosted a workshop with Lucyna Cwiach, a Polish illustrator, trainer, and advocate of visual thinking known online as "Rysująca Ręka" ("The Drawing Hand").
The meeting was framed around the question: can drawings and symbols make learning more effective than traditional notes? Methods based on handwritten, visual note-taking are gaining increasing popularity, helping to better organize knowledge, memorize information faster, and boost engagement in the learning process.
The facilitator noted that handwritten note-taking activates different areas of the brain, supporting concentration, memory, and creativity. She also emphasized that visual thinking does not require artistic talent — its main purpose is to convey information simply and effectively through drawings, symbols, and short phrases.
The workshop was attended by students of pre-school and early-school education. During the session, they learned the fundamentals of visual thinking and practiced drawing simple icons, figures, and symbols. They also learned how to create compositions, frames, and how to use color consciously in visual notes.
The workshop culminated in participants preparing their own visual notes on a chosen topic. The session allowed students to gain practical skills they can use both in further education and in their future teaching careers.
Photo: Dominika Liplańska
