Sketchpad Review

Sketchpad is a free online drawing application for all ages. It can be used to create digital artwork to share online and export to popular image formats JPEG, PNG, SVG, and PDF. A link to the application is available here: Sketchpad

Sketchpad would, and is encouraged, to be used in class our outside of class for a variety of purposes such as a school project. It can also be used for recreation.

After evaluating Sketchpad with the SAMR model, we found that it fulfills three out of four levels. 

Substitute – acts as a direct tool substitute with no functional improvement.

Students are substituting a pen/pencil and paper.

Augmentation – acts as a direct tool substitute with functional improvement

            The technology augments assignments by offering features such as ClipArt, Crop, Zoom, & Layers.

Modification – allows for significant task redesign

            Allows for sharing of sketchpad designs with peers and supervisors.

Redefinition – allows for creation of new tasks

            There is no redefinition as far as this product goes, no task is made uniquely possible with the use of this technology that isn’t mentioned in the modification level.

Sketchpad is a relatively easy online application to make use of. It works very well in a classroom setting when coupled with the Google Classroom platform. A video tutorial can be found here:Using Sketchpad in a Google Classroom Assignment

Sketchpad is a great addition to any Google Classroom lesson. Creators are looking to make it compatible with a pen and tablet in the future. The desktop app version can be purchased for just $4.95. The online version is free.