At business school, I gained a reputation among classmates as “that guy who doodles during case discussions.”
An item in the current issue of Business Week notes, “Often viewed as a sign of a wandering mind, doodling may actually help us absorb information.” A study out of the University of Plymouth found that doodlers retained 29% more than their peers.
My pal and cognitive science tyro Clark Quinn affirmed the finding. Doodling helps one stay focused.
Ex-GM exec Bob Lutz says, “I can look at sketches done in meetings 40 years ago and experience sudden recall of the room, the table, the voices.”
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I am reminded of Bill. I still remember vividly a class in UC Berkeley (about 6 yrs ago) that I was sitting in, in which Bill Verplank (Ineraction Design expert) was a guest speaker. He was talking about sketching and generally taking notes. His notebooks are a pleasure to see and his sketches and his notebook was awesome.
Just looking at it was enough for me (or anyone) to recollect everything that happened in the class discussion that day. I wish I could sketch and doodle like Bill.
So, I can clearly vouch and agree that it increases retention.
Bill Verplank’s indicative sketch of Interaction Design explained in a single simple sketch.
http://www.billverplank.com/Lecture/
Then, you’ll enjoy the blog ‘Back of the Napkin’ and website of the same name by Dan Roam. Check it out…
http://digitalroam.typepad.com/digital_roam/
http://www.backofthenapkin.com
Ooof – that hurt – Clark’s more a maven than a tyro!
In terms of doodling, I wonder if doodling keeps the creative side of the brain occupied so the linear-cognitive can focus more on the discussion.
But also, let me point out that there’s doodling and there’s visual mapping. The doodler may just not realized that he/she’s a visual thinker who hasn’t yet come over from the dark side into the light.
I do something that many people consider doodling, but in fact I record the discussion in visual form rather than linear textual form. Being a visual thinker, I find that this focuses my thoughts and leads to -visually represented- conclusions, far faster and more clearly than using linear thought and printed/typed words.
I’m blogging this thought up right now. I’ll get back with the URL.