Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

How are you today? I hope you're feeling great.

My name is Ms. Afzal, and I'll be your art teacher for this lesson.

I'm feeling very pleased about that 'cause I love teaching art, also because today, we're looking at something quite interesting, I hope you'll find, which is annotation.

Our lesson is called Effective annotation: different ways to present ideas, and it comes from the unit of work, First sustained project: working from a theme.

So if you're ready with some energy, openness, enthusiasm, then we'll begin.

The outcome for today's lesson is "I can present annotation effectively in a variety of ways." We have some keywords in our lesson.

Let's go through them.

Concept, annotation, and digital.

So what do these words mean? A concept is a plan, an idea or intention.

Annotation, this is adding notes, labels, or explanations to show your thinking, choices and ideas.

And digital means electronic technology.

So these are our keywords, concept, annotation, and digital.

Let's look out for them.

Let's listen out for them.

They'll be coming up in our lesson today.

Today's lesson is called Effective annotation: Different ways to present ideas.

And we have two learning cycles.

First of all, exploring ways to present a concept, and then, identify different methods of annotating.

Let's begin by exploring ways to present a concept.

So what do you do when you have a concept but don't know where to begin with it? Pause here and share with someone.

Let's get some responses.

Here's Jun: "I try to draw it in rough or doodle to see what it might look like." Good thinking.

Alex: "I make notes about colours, shapes, or feelings I want to express." And Aisha: "I usually make a mind map or talk about it with someone to help figure it out." I wonder if you try any of these things or maybe something different.

There are many ways to explore an initial concept, including: storyboards, spider diagrams, mood boards, label diagrams, digitally, and mind maps.

Pause the video and share with someone any of these six things that you have used as a way to explore an initial concept.

Thanks for sharing.

I've definitely used mind maps to find those really helpful.

So let's begin with storyboards.

What is a storyboard? Pause here and share with someone nearby.

Thanks for sharing.

Here we can see a storyboard.

The storyboard is a sequence of drawings or images arranged in panels that visually tell a story or map out a process.

It's like a comic strip that plans the flow of a narrative or project before it's made.

There are different types of storyboard: film/animation storyboards.

These focus on camera angles, movement and narrative flow.

Game design storyboards show player actions, UI, user interface changes or interactive sequences, comics and graphic novels, planning the visual narrative layout.

Can you think of any other job where they would use a storyboard to develop ideas? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Let's have a check for understanding.

What is a storyboard? Is it A: a book with illustrations? Is it B: a piece of wood with a story written onto it? Or is it C: a series of sketches and annotations presented scene by scene? Pause here while you decide, what is a storyboard? Well done if you selected answer C.

Indeed, a storyboard is a series of sketches and annotations presented scene by scene.

Mood boards are another way to explore a concept.

A mood board is a visual collage of images, colours, textures, text and materials that captures the feeling, style, or concept of an idea.

And we can see a very intriguing-looking mood board on that screen here.

So why use a mood board? Pause here and share with someone.

What do you think? Thanks for sharing.

Let's get some responses.

Here's Sam: "I could use a mood board for planning colour combinations in textiles.

I could include swatches of different textures too.

Great idea.

And Sophia: "A mood board would be useful for my photography projects.

I could plan my visual direction and it would help me set the mood for my concept." Oh yes, that sounds good.

Spider diagrams and mind maps are a valuable tool when planning an idea or concept.

They often begin with a main theme or word in the middle of the page, as we can see there, "messages," with lines extending out to connect related ideas, images, or words.

So we've got related to messages, environmental, religious, narrative, communication, social, political.

And then from there, they spider off into even more ideas, into subcategories.

They can help organise your thoughts and explore different aspects of a topic or theme.

A spider diagram is a simple visual method of organising ideas by branching out from a central theme, like the legs of a spider.

They help make connections between ideas clearer and are beneficial for visual learners.

Using label diagrams to present a concept is a useful part of the creative process.

These early drawings help artists visualise their ideas, experiment with composition or layout, and problem solve before committing to a final piece.

Which industry did these initial drawings relate to? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Perhaps you said that these initial drawings relate to the fashion industry.

What kind of artists or designers might use labelled diagrams to plan or explain an initial concept? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Perhaps you said something like this.

Here's Jun: "I think sculptors would make sketches to get their initial thoughts down on paper.

They would probably label the designs with the ideas for scale and materials." Good thinking.

And Laura: "Architects would probably have many labelled designs showing different viewpoints and angles." Good thinking.

Digital software is another way to present an initial concept.

You could: use digital creative platforms to gather images, colours, and textures to express your concept.

Arrange them visually to explore ideas and themes.

You could create a digital mind map with a range of software tools.

Here's Lucas: "I've made a digital mind map which I can continue adding to.

I can also remove or change things easily." I love this digital mind map of Lucas' with all these different artists.

Video recordings and slideshows are a dynamic way of presenting a concept.

You can use: sketches, photos, or digital images related to your area.

Digital presentation tools to edit and present slideshows.

Simple visual formats which can be enhanced by voice recording.

Digital video editing, or a phone's camera to record.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? Mind maps are the only way of presenting a concept.

Pause here and decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected false.

And now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause here while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this.

Quick sketches, storyboards, and diagrams are also a useful method of recording thought processes at all stages of development.

Artists known for using sketches as a key part of their preparatory work include: Rachel Whiteread, who uses detailed preparatory sketches to plan out large-scale works, often combining architectural detail with expressive mark-making.

Beatrice Milhazes who uses detailed sketches and notes in her exploration of vibrant patterns and abstract forms. Takashi Murakami uses extensive hand-drawn sketches and digital planning to develop characters and large artworks.

And Leonardo da Vinci whose preparatory sketches are artworks in their own right, full of anatomical, mechanical, and compositional studies.

So we can see many artists use sketches as a key part of their proprietary work.

Quick sketches or diagrams can be used to illustrate concepts visually, making complex ideas more accessible.

Annotations help to explain thoughts, processes, or decisions related to specific elements of a design.

Spider diagrams present multiple ways to initially explore a concept or theme, such as "A walk." Izzy, Alex, and Andeep are discussing their initial responses to the concept "A walk." Here's Alex: "My walk home from school takes me through the local town every day.

I know that route like the back of my hand." Izzy: "I went on a walk through a forest at the weekend so I can draw what I remember." And Andeep: "I went on a walking holiday abroad with Scouts, so that could be a starting point." There are many different ways to approach a concept.

This example records initial responses to the concept "A walk." Spider diagrams might record connecting imagery, sounds, objects, memories, textures, colours, and emotions.

I love seeing these different categories related to a walk.

Forest, beach, charity walk, dog walk, urban walk, mountain walk and home.

And now it's time for your first task.

I would like you to present an initial response to a concept.

Choose from either the concept, "A walk" or a concept of your choice.

Select one of the following methods: Make a mind map or spider diagram.

Make a comic strip with descriptive commentary.

Make quick sketches with brief annotation.

Create a physical or digital mood board.

So pause here while you present an initial response to a concept, either concept of "A walk" or a concept of your choice.

I'll see you when you're finished.

All right, it's good to be back with you.

How did you get on with presenting an initial response to a concept? Here's Izzy: "I made a storyboard by dividing my walk into six panels.

I included drawings of the key things that I remember from my walk." Oh, I love this.

I could really get lost in this walk of yours, Izzy.

Here's Alex: "I sketched my walk home from school.

I focused on the buildings and structures that stand out to me when I'm walking." All right, really interesting.

Perhaps some office buildings or apartments on the left, shopping centre and a coffee shop.

And Andeep: "I made a digital mood board.

I gathered imagery and made notes about some key elements linked to the walk I did with Scouts and layered the imagery, playing with opacity." Really creative thinking there.

And now we're onto our next learning cycle.

Identify different methods of annotating.

So why do we annotate in art? Pause the video and share with someone.

What do you think? Thanks for sharing.

Annotation is a way of communicating what your artwork is about, how you're developing it, and why you're making certain decisions.

Annotation can provide the artist with a record of their artistic journey and could include: inspiration for the artwork; connections to artists, themes or personal meaning; different stages of development; media and techniques which have been successful or unsuccessful; the intention.

Annotation doesn't have to be full paragraphs.

It can be short notes, labels, or bullet points that clearly explain your ideas and choices in a simple, direct way.

So why is annotation important? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Annotation helps to develop your ideas on a deeper level.

It shows your creative journey and not just the outcome.

And it supports assessment as teachers and moderators can see your thinking.

And we can see an example of annotation on the screen there.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Annotation in an art context might be used for: A: recording thoughts, processes, and decisions.

B: writing your name on your individual studies.

C: making notes about your favourite art lessons.

Pause here while you decide what annotation in an art context might be used for.

Well done if you selected answer A.

Indeed, it could be used for recording thoughts, processes, and decisions.

Recorded voice annotation is a great alternative to written notes and can support diverse learners.

Thinking may be recorded verbally instead of, or alongside writing.

Recording voice annotations develops confidence in explaining ideas.

What is digital annotation? Pause here and share with someone.

What do you think? Thanks for sharing.

Digital annotation is the process of adding notes, highlights, comments, drawings, or media directly onto digital content, like digital sketchbooks.

And we can see a great example of some digital annotation on the screen here.

And why use digital annotation? Pause here and share with someone.

Perhaps you said something like this: Digital annotation combines text, visuals and audio.

It can be edited, updated, or shared easily, and it supports students with writing or processing difficulties.

There are a wide variety of software tools that can be used as an annotation method in art.

Examples include: digital art and illustration applications; web-based image editing software; vector graphics editing software; and digital whiteboards.

How could digital annotation benefit you in art? Pause here while you answer this.

Thanks for answering.

Here's Andeep: "I would be able to edit images and type the text as I go along.

I could even record a voiceover during the development stage." And Izzy: "Making a digital mood board would enable my ideas to be adapted much quicker than a physical one." Really great responses there.

And have you used digital annotation before? And how has it benefited you? There's Sofia.

"I like how the software tools enabled me to annotate directly onto my images.

It was much easier to change something." That was a great example of some digital annotation there on the screen.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? Software tools can only be used as an annotation method by artists who create graphics.

Pause here and decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected false.

And now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause here while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this: Software tools as an annotation method can be used by artists who make many types of art, including installation, sculptures, textiles, photography, and film.

Many artists are known for their use of sketchbooks, annotations, and conceptual development, including: Zarina Bhimji, who uses sketchbooks and photographic notes to document themes of displacement and memory.

Anni Albers, who created detailed design sketches and notes on weaving patterns, colour theory and structure.

Hassan Hajjaj, who uses sketching and notes in conceptualising his colourful photographic and mixed media works, blending pop culture and tradition.

And David Hockney, who keeps detailed sketchbooks and often annotates ideas visually and verbally.

He uses digital tools as well as traditional media to document artistic decisions.

So we can see there are many artists known for their use of sketchbooks.

For the next part of the lesson, you will need: your initial presentation of a concept, a pen or pencil, some audio recording equipment, that's optional, and some digital software, it's also optional.

So pause here while you gather what you need.

There are many ways to annotate the initial response to the concept, including: written notes, typed text, audio recorded voice notes.

And now it's time for your next task.

I would like you to annotate your response from Task A.

Include the following information: what have you included in the initial response to a concept and why? Why did you choose this approach to presenting a concept? How could you develop this idea further? So pause here while you annotate your response from Task A, taking into consideration these questions.

All right, how did you get on with annotating your response from Task A? It could look like this: I have included six boxes with sketches of the forest walk I went on.

During the walk, I was interested in the trees and foliage.

I took lots of photos whilst I was on the forest walk.

These lended themselves to a storyboard format to create a visual narrative.

I could develop this idea further by focusing on the mushrooms and fungus as I found these forms interesting.

They really are intriguing.

And here's another response: For my initial response to the concept, I included the main buildings and structures that I noticed on my walk home through town.

I enjoy drawing buildings, so chose to focus on sketching an urban walk and capturing perspective.

I noticed the lack of artwork in my town, so could develop my concept into planning a community artwork.

What a lovely idea.

And here's some more annotation.

I chose to base my initial concept on a walk I did with Scouts.

I like working digitally and enjoyed making a mood board with some of the key images from my walk.

I chose a digital mood board as I wanted to layer the different aspects of the walk to create a sense of memory.

I'm interested in developing the concept around memories and journeys.

Oh, what fantastic themes In our lesson Effective annotation: Different ways to present ideas, we've covered the following: There are different ways to present and develop a creative concept.

Artists and designers use sketching, annotation, and visual thinking tools like mind maps, spider diagrams, storyboards, and mood boards to present ideas.

Annotation helps to explain ideas clearly, provides opportunity to reflect on choices, and helps to plan how to develop ideas further.

Well done, everyone for joining in with this lesson.

It was great to explore different concepts with you.

I love the concept of the walk and then seeing how you annotated your concept and reflected on the choices you've made.

I've really enjoyed this lesson, I hope you have too, and I look forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

Until then, stay creative.