CREATING GRAPHIC NOVELS

(MAY 11, 2021)

“It has been said that 80% of what people learn is visual.”

Scientists have ascertained that the human brain is capable of absorbing 36,000 visual images every hour. Visual learning is an important part of the vision of the NEP, leading to more application-based learning. Mr. Sandeep Sethi, the Director Education M.S.M.S II Museum Trust, Jaipur who first developed a graphic novel on the French Revolution was invited to speak to teachers on the methods of developing a course based graphic novel on May 11, 2021 via Google Meet.

Mr Sethi said that the NEP 2020 favours educational methods such as Graphic novels as they can be used effectively to teach topics not covered in text books. Graphic novels are a unique way to take up application-based teaching. Mr Sethi explained that images can use humour and dialogues to teach moral values and ethical concepts along with the academic material that is being transacted.  Graphic novels can make it easier for students o learn difficult or abstract concepts easily. Moreover they can help to implant new thoughts by portraying fathers as home-makers and mothers as engineers.

Mr Sethi mentioned that the learning objectives of the graphic novel must be clearly defined and must be in accordance with the guidelines of the NCERT. Graphic novels, according to him, are always a team effort with subject teachers working in tandem with the art, language and the IT teachers. He talked about the challenges of creating a graphic novel and how intricate team work was required to create a good graphic novel. Mr Sethi also took questions from teachers and was happy to answer all of them. He also expressed his pleasure at the interaction saying that the session at GDGPS, Sector 48 was one of the best he had attended.