Douglas Olsen
Many students find it difficult to focus in class, and some have found that drawing can help them pay attention. While some teachers may consider it disrespectful or a sign that a student is not listening, research has shown that drawing can help students remember concepts and details of a topic better. Drawing has been shown to tap into multiple modalities—visual, kinesthetic, and linguistic—which is superior to tapping into just one. This means that information is processed in three different ways, creating more connections across the brain's neural network and leading to deeper learning.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Attention to detail | Drawing helps students to focus on details such as shapes, angles, sizes, and colors, which is useful in subjects like Science, Math, and Geography. |
| Memory retention | Drawing improves memory retention by forcing the drawer to process information visually, kinesthetically, and semantically. |
| Stress relief | Drawing relieves psychological stress, which can help students stay calm and focused during class. |
| Engagement | Drawing involves physical activity, which helps students stay engaged and supports memory retention. |
| Creativity | Drawing allows students to express their creativity, which can make subjects more enjoyable and help them stand out in class. |
| Observation skills | Drawing improves observation skills and helps students see and understand details that may otherwise be missed. |
| Emotional expression | Drawing helps students express their feelings, especially those who struggle to put their emotions into words. |
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What You'll Learn
Drawing helps students to focus and relieve stress
Research has shown that drawing while listening helps with focus and memory. For example, a study of 40 people who listened to a monotonous voicemail showed that those who doodled while listening recalled 29% more information. This may be because drawing taps into multiple modalities—visual, kinesthetic, and semantic—which is superior to relying on just one. When students draw something, they process it in three different ways, learning it three times over.
Drawing also helps to relieve stress. This benefit was discovered as early as 1938, when researchers found that spontaneous drawings helped relieve psychological stress. Drawing can be an outlet for students to express their feelings, especially for younger children or those with learning challenges who may struggle to put their emotions into words. Teachers can gain a better understanding of their students through what they choose to draw and how they illustrate emotions.
Drawing also helps students to develop their observational skills. It causes students to see more detail and with greater understanding. Drawing requires attention to detail and students naturally build concentration and patience while drawing. It teaches students to observe and understand shapes, angles, sizes, and colors, which is useful in subjects like science, math, and geography.
Incorporating drawing into the classroom can be done in several ways. Students can create their own learning aids, such as maps, anchor charts, or diagrams, rather than relying on pre-made posters. Interactive notebooks can be used, with one side for written notes and the other for drawings, diagrams, and charts. Teachers can also encourage students to collect, analyze, and present data in visual form, such as through graphs, charts, or hand-drawn representations.
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Drawing aids memory and information recall
Drawing has been shown to aid memory and information recall in students. This is because drawing taps into multiple modalities: visual, kinesthetic, and semantic. When students draw something, they process it in three different ways, enhancing their memory of it.
A study by Andrade (2010) found that participants who doodled while listening to a monotonous voicemail recalled 29% more information than those who didn't. Similarly, researchers at the University of Waterloo's Cognitive Neuroscience Lab found that participants who drew items from a word list recalled those words better than those who wrote them down.
Drawing also helps students express feelings they might struggle to put into words, and can aid in relieving stress. It teaches students to observe details such as shapes, angles, sizes, and colors, which can be beneficial in various subjects.
Teachers can incorporate drawing into the classroom in several ways, such as having students create their own learning aids, using interactive notebooks, and encouraging data visualization. Drawing is a powerful tool that can enhance students' memory and engagement with the material.
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Drawing helps students express feelings
Drawing is an excellent tool for students to express their feelings. It provides a medium for self-expression and helps students communicate their thoughts, ideas, and emotions when they may struggle to put them into words. Drawing can also help students calm down when they are feeling angry, frustrated, or nervous.
Art activities can be used in the classroom, at home, or as a therapeutic activity. They are a fun way to challenge students to think differently and focus on their thought patterns. Drawing allows students to freely express their ideas and transform their thoughts into visual art. It nurtures creativity and builds confidence.
Through drawing, students can express their desires, fears, issues, and distress. It can help them visualize their thoughts and feelings, and it can spark their creativity and imagination. Drawing also allows students to showcase their interests and emotions in a fun and engaging way.
Students can be given ideas for what to draw, such as their favorite animal, a happy memory, or a place they want to visit. This can help spark their imagination and inspire them to express themselves. It is important that students feel safe and comfortable sharing their drawings and that they are encouraged to support each other's art and praise each other's creativity.
By drawing, students can express their reactions, opinions, and needs. Caregivers and teachers can gain insight into how a student perceives and interprets their thoughts and experiences through their artwork. Drawing helps students express their feelings and can be a powerful tool for emotional growth and self-awareness.
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Drawing encourages active learning
Drawing also relieves stress. Researchers found as early as 1938 that spontaneous drawings helped relieve psychological stress. Drawing can also help students express feelings they might struggle to put into words, especially younger children or those with learning challenges. Teachers can understand students better through what they choose to draw and how they illustrate emotions.
Drawing teaches students to observe details—shapes, angles, sizes, and colors—which is useful in subjects like science, math, and geography. Visual learners especially benefit when they sketch diagrams or mind maps. Drawing adds a fun, engaging element to the classroom, and students enjoy subjects more when creativity is involved.
There are several ways that teachers can incorporate drawing to enrich learning. For example, instead of buying or printing posters that reinforce learning, such as maps, anchor charts, or diagrams, teachers can have students create them. Teachers can also ask students to collect, analyze, and present data in visual form to deepen their understanding of a topic.
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Drawing helps students to observe details
Drawing has been shown to help students remember concepts and details of a topic. It is a powerful tool for learning, allowing students to understand content better and retain information more effectively. This is because drawing taps into multiple modalities: visual, kinesthetic, and semantic. When students draw something, they process it in three different ways, learning it three times over.
Research has shown that drawing can help students remember details of a topic, even if they sketch while taking written notes. Canadian researchers found a direct link between the process of drawing and improved memory. In a series of experiments, participants were asked to either write or draw items from a word list, and the results showed that those who drew the items recalled them better.
Drawing also helps students observe details more closely and with greater understanding. Becoming comfortable with attentive observation will bolster one's technical ability. Looking at things to understand their design and form gives one knowledge of how they are made, helping to draw them with greater accuracy. Drawing causes us to see more detail, and the practice of drawing an item requires anyone, regardless of their learning style, to put the subject in a different form. This "translation" and "elaboration" on the subject through drawing embeds it in the memory.
There are several ways teachers can incorporate drawing to enrich learning. For example, instead of buying or printing posters, teachers can have students create their own learning aids such as maps, anchor charts, or diagrams. Students can also be asked to collect, analyze, and present data in visual form, deepening their understanding of a topic. Drawing can also be used to help students interpret historical events or make mathematical concepts more accessible.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, drawing while listening helps students pay attention and focus better in class. Drawing has been proven to help students remember concepts and details of a topic better. It also relieves stress and helps students stay engaged in class.
Drawing taps into multiple modalities—visual, kinesthetic, and semantic—which is superior to tapping into only one. When students draw something, they process it in three different ways, in effect learning it three times over.
Teachers can incorporate drawing in various ways to enrich learning. For example, instead of buying or printing posters, teachers can ask students to create their own learning aids such as maps, anchor charts, or diagrams. Teachers can also encourage students to take interactive notes by combining written notes with drawings, diagrams, and charts.
