Four Ways in Which Animation Assists Learning

Animation is now a firmly entrenched presence in the field of education. From engaging characters to interactive animation, the art form is proving to be an effective method for teaching students of all ages. There are a number of ways in which animation can enhance your next educational presentation. Following are a just a few of these ways.

Animation facilitates concentration One of the necessary ingredients for effective learning is the ability to concentrate on the subject at hand. This ability allows the student to hear, understand, and remember more of the material than is possible when they are distracted. One of the primary obstacles to concentration, however, is boredom. For instance, a lecture on solving algebra equations, or a lengthy discussion of new workplace policies, may create disinterest in students who are not naturally inclined to enjoy those topics. That loss of interest may translate into a loss of concentration and inefficient learning. As a result, finding ways to engage students' interest through the presentation can help the teacher to improve their concentration and their learning. Animation, because it is naturally engaging, can be an effective tool in capturing students' interest. The movements, characters, colors, and stories present on the animated screen add a new layer of interest to the topic. Even a short animated clip can help refocus students on the discussion at hand. As a result, education animation created by animation studios can facilitate concentration in students by making the subject more engaging. This improved concentration, in turn, leads to a more efficient and enjoyable learning experience.

Animation clarifies complex concepts Another reason that animation serves an important role in the educational field is because of its ability to clarify complex concepts. For instance, a scientific discussion of the molecular interactions during a chemical reaction or a training course on a new piece of workplace software may leave students confused. In these cases, lectures or diagrams alone may be insufficient to describe the material. Animation, on the other hand, may be just what is needed to shed light on the topic. Animation's ability to clarify difficult subjects lies in its ability to visually represent them. For instance, those molecular interactions can be displayed through an animated explainer video. The result is a clarification of the concept in a way that students can understand, leading to more efficient learning and less frustration.

Animation improves retention of knowledge Most people's minds are designed to retain visual information, and some people learn best when the material is presented visually. In fact, visual explanations can sometimes serve as a more effective way to communicate information than reading or lecturing. The pictures encourage students to remember the information they need to know and therefore enhance their learning.

The power of the picture is one of the reasons that animation is such a useful educational tool. The best education animation utilizes visual representations of the concepts being discussed and makes them fun and engaging. Even adults who view an animated cartoon or other educational program will be more likely to remember what they saw, because the pictures and design make the content easier to recall later. Any skilled animation studio, whether in California, Texas, or elsewhere, can provide you with an animated product that is visually appealing, memorable, and explanatory. As a result, this product from your animation partner can encourage your students to learn more and remember it longer than they would have through lecture alone.

Animation provides interactive opportunities Interaction is a key component of successful learning. In fact, some people learn best through hands-on activities that allow them to participate directly in the material they are absorbing (for instance, by actually repairing a car, or actually using a new piece of technology, rather than just having those projects explained to them). In fact, many people, even if hands-on learning is not their preferred style of learning, tend to remember more when they interact with the subject matter being discussed. This type of hands-on learning allows students to absorb more than just facts. It sparks their imaginations, teaches them problem-solving skills, and increases their concentration on and interest in the material. A carefully designed animation production can help to meet students' need for interaction. In fact, many education animation products allow the students to interact with the material as they learn. A common method of building interaction into the animated experience is to allow students to create some of their own animation in order to bring a concept to life. Alternatively, animated games or other materials that require action from the participants can also facilitate learning. Even animated programs that do not allow students to directly create animations of the subject material can require a degree of interaction that will help them to learn and remember the topic at hand. There are many ways to utilize animation in education. Regardless of how it is used, however, this type of animation provides an exciting way to facilitate concentration, improve retention, and provide opportunities for interaction with the material. In addition, because animation can be designed to target people of all ages, education animation can assist the learning of students of all ages and professions. Professionals in 2D animation in California can help you to create animated material that will assist your students in absorbing information and feeling the excitement you want them to have about the topics you teach them. Powerhouse Animation is a traditional 2D animation studio based in Austin, Texas with offices in Burbank, California. Since 2001, Powerhouse has been making ideas come to life through animation, illustration, and motion graphics. With a staff of 35 in-house artists, animators, videographers and designers, Powerhouse works on a wide variety of projects and has created animation for companies including Disney, Sony, Marvel, DC, Old Spice, Coca Cola, Miramax, the USO and more. To learn more about some of these projects visit PowerhouseAnimation.com.