To Doodle or Not To Doodle

Doodling is defined by Oxford Dictionary as scribbling absentmindedly. Although some people may view doodling as a mindless distraction, it has been shown in recent studies to help students retain information.

Educational Researchers from several Australian universities participated in a joint study and concluded that doodling is also linked to increased enjoyment and engagement, particularly in science classes, according to PBS. Some individuals even encourage the use of doodling both in the educational and professional world.

Sunni Brown was deemed one of the “100 Most Creative People in Business” by Fast Company. She is also the founder of a creative consultancy and a global public speaker. Sunni Brown is also the leader of “The Doodle Revolution.”

This effort encourages doodling and extending past normal visual thinking, according to PBS. “The Doodle Revolution” is explained in a written manifesto. The official Sunni Brown website says, “The Doodle Revolution is a global campaign for visual literacy. It’s not for cash. It’s not for glory. It’s for you and the generations that follow.”

Focus and concentration are improved by doodling because it reinforces your brain’s attention span, according to a study conducted by professor Jackie Andrade, School of Psychology, University of Plymouth, UK.

Jesse Prinz, philosophy professor at University of New York Graduate Center, tells The Wall Street Journal, “When you are doodling, your mind hits that sweet spot where you can’t over think, and your mind doesn’t wander too much.”

Doctor Lori Hilt, an assistant professor of psychology at Lawrence University in Wisconsin says, “When you’re over thinking, you’re going round and round in a loop instead of moving forward and problem solving.”

According to the Wall Street Journal, Prinz favors drawing heads in order to pay attention during lectures. He later looks back at the drawing and can reconstruct what information he had heard. Prinz compares it to looking back at a postcard and recalling more specifics about that trip.

Arrowhead senior, Angie Cermele says,  “I doodle during presentations and notes.” She claims it is helpful because when looking back she recognizes what the discussion was about, especially is the topic was expanded further.