Instructional Comics: Are They Effective for Self-Paced Learning?

Instructional designers are often challenged with coming up with innovative learning solutions or revising dated instruction with a new approach. Unfortunately, L&D professionals often discard the idea of using the comic medium in adult learning, seeing it as either an unacceptable medium or too costly both in time and budget. These misconceptions can lead to bypassing an effective and proven medium for learning. Using comics for learning has a long history of telling stories to teach concepts and processes. A one-page comic scene can describe a complex process, or a comic scenario with characters and dialogue can help explain more difficult subjects. But is choosing the comic medium the right approach? Can a story told through the comic medium maintain instructional value?

In this session, we will explore and discuss some of the research into what makes for an effective learning comic, the differences between a printed vs. digital comic, the effective uses of the emerging interactive graphic novel for instruction, and see successful comics for learning implementations. Having more evidence-based knowledge about comics will give you a better understanding of how to have conversations and potentially use the comic medium approach in your organization.

Handout(s)

Session Video

July 8, 2020