On May 19, 2023, Division of Management faculty Judy Richardson, M.D., M.B.A., and Jessica Walter, Ed.D., M.A., along with their colleague Megan McGhean, M.S., Department Administrator for Family Medicine, workshopped the use of visuals in teaching and learning at the Symposium for Educational Excellence.  

Dr. Richardson spoke of the use of metaphor to capture both ideas and emotions. “We tap into multiple parts of our brains and can collaborate more readily, whether in person or a virtual space.” Using visuals can be playful, but it can also be cathartic for a group, and help a team solve problems by seeing the landscape in a new way.  

Ms. McGhean shared how graphic facilitation moves at a speed the draws people in; they see themselves and their ideas represented. “When the pens come out, the phones goes down.” she noted of her experiences using graphic facilitation in meetings, conferences, and workshops.  

Dr. Walter encourages students to engage in their own practice using visuals to enhance learning. Moving from narrative to visuals allows us to see connections, find commonalities, and see what might be missing. We can also hold that image in our minds better than pages of text.  

As the workshop used live facilitation, the entire presentation is not available. However, we invite you to read more about the use of visuals in teaching and learning, access resources, and even try your hand at drawing people.