Use of comics in teaching mathematics

Students caught reading these books are likely to be disciplined or sent home (Toh, 2009). However, this is not the case in modern days. Most schools and teachers have realized the potential of comics as an educational tool and are encouraging their use to arouse the students’ interests in subjects such as mathematics. As children continue to grow, they are continuously introduced and exposed to different levels of learning depending on the environment they are subjected as they grow. To ensure students have a better visual understanding of mathematics, it is fundamental for parents and tutors to introduce comics in schools and at home for a better modern teaching technique. Thus, besides practicing and revising, it is critical for students to read these comic books to develop a full interest in mathematics especially with comics involving figures.

The presence of visual images to communicate directly rather than in a verbal language provides learners with detailed information and concepts for reference (Herbst & Chazan, 2011). Relevant approaches may be used in visualizing knowledge for deeper and quick remembrance; they may include the use of animations, diagrams, maps, visual metaphors and sketches. These approaches and visual explanations help students in analyzing difficult concepts which are hard to explain through the provision of inference which sparks thinking abilities. Nevertheless, educators and interested researchers should take a deeper look at the use of comics in schools to ensure only the educative and beneficial comics are used. (2007, March). Learning by communicating concepts through comics. In Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference (pp. Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE).