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TEACHERS’ VOICES Pencil in Hand
Mr Michael Ee Wei Wen from St Joseph’s Institution shares tried-and-tested tips on how to enhance drawing experiences in the classroom.
Mr Michael Ee Wei Wen 10-mins read
St Joseph’s Institution
I never thought I could draw. Having failed aptitude tests for elective art programmes, I often felt less capable as an art student throughout my younger years.
STAR-Post (Art) | JAN 2025
While these tests help teachers assess a student’s readiness, they might unintentionally reinforce stigmas around one’s drawing ability. Now, as a teacher, I stand by drawing as a fundamental experience that helps students gain deeper understanding of their hands, mind and their drawing tool. The revised secondary school syllabus has placed drawing as a core learning experience in our curriculum, and rightfully so, as it remains one of the most immediate ways to translate ideas into reality on paper. While modern derivations such as the Apple Pencil or Wacom stylus open up possibilities for drawing, there remains a world of exploration to be uncovered with the humble graphite pencil or charcoal stick in hand.