Learning through Cartoons

At present, there are various methods of teaching and learning. Capturing the attention of students, especially kids, during lessons is very difficult. The various teaching-learning methods are supposed to make the lessons easier. One of the most widespread media which is easily found is the cartoon. A cartoon can be an effective tool in this case. Not only children, people of all ages read and accept cartoon.

Eulie (1969) states that when a cartoon is used in teaching, it can encourage students to think and help them understand the issues. The cartoon is related to visualization. One learns and remember something when the person visualizes Cartooning encourages students to concentrate on difficult ideas in an amusing manner. Due to the artistic and sometimes funny nature of cartoons, they do not seem to be burdened when one looks at them. And the same is the reason why youths feel comfortable to learn through this media.

One of the good things about the cartoon is that a person can read and learn from educational programs on public television, newspaper, magazines, and comics etc. Because of an entertaining nature, children like the cartoon. Children can be taught about issues of gender, health, social inequality, cleanliness, and helping others from the program like Meena cartoon in South Asia.

Sometimes it becomes strenuous for the teacher to teach something like science. It’s really tough to transfer complex scientific information and ideas from one mind into someone else’s mind, and tougher in case of children. Teaching and learning need new strategies and ideas to make the task easier. In this case, the cartoon can be an effective tool.

A cartoon comic story itself lot of characters. A teacher can teach through each of the characters to the student. Keogh and Naylor (1999) found that concept cartoon approach in teaching science enhance motivation, provides a purpose of practical works, and enable finding out students ideas prior to teaching. So teaching through cartoon alleviates misconceptions and enhances the level of understanding.

Cartoons have been abundantly used from the very beginning of human history. It can have more impact on education than it ever had. So in the age of stressed education, the cartoon can be a boon. Time for us has come to understand that cartoon should not only the medium of entertainment but also a vital part of student-friendly education.