Our education system caters to learners who have a strong ability to learn text. These learners score high grades and are academic toppers. According to Linda Silverman’s research, nearly 75 percent of the population have a complete or partial ability to learn or retain learning visually. By this, I do not mean that they have to be shown videos or a demonstration. Well. I’ m not against that. But in my attempt to explain doodle4eduaction, I mean allowing students to express themselves visually, put down their thoughts and ideas, logically organise their information on paper or digitally scribble them.

Researcher Melissa Mead from the University of Waterloo, proved that drawing is better than writing. When you draw, you filter information from a number of texts and create your own personalised image through lateral thinking, for storing that information. Hence, it is more powerful for memory retention.

When we talk about art integrated education, we give a very cliched message about Art and tend to frighten those who think they are not good at art. Art was never taught in our schools with basic strokes, memory drawing is still largely prevalent. How do you help students to express their learning?

The words doodle itself means to scribble. With doodle4education, I hand hold the participants with basic strokes, shapes and how they can conceptualise the icons they need for their learning and storing information in their notes.

In my endeavour to empower students, I realised that unless educators were not aware, it would not reach their students. I started the Visual Thinker’s Club in the month of Dec 20 and offered free courses/workshops and contests to motivate them and hep them overcome their inhibitions towards drawing. Over six months now, we have successfully held nearly 10 free workshops. Along with a few educators who understand the concept and wanted to stand in solidarity with me, I have launched the doodle4education series 1 from 27 May to 25 June.

The series covers all aspects of basic lettering, strokes, word doodles, doodle integration in the Pre primary classroom, Primary classroom, English Classroom, Math Classroom, Note-making and digital tools for Middle school and senior schools.

Through EdEnhance, I want to reach out to every school in India with the awareness of the benefits of purposeful doodling that can be a huge asset in education. I call it doodle4education. I hope that doodle4education will have its place in our system soon and therefore empower our students to use their strengths of visual learning to the fullest.

Sheila Lewis

Founder EdEnhance Eduskill Enhancer

Visual Thinking Enthusiast