Keeping students interested in their work and on track to achieve positive outcomes is a top priority for teachers – but this can prove challenging at times. Recently, however, research has shown that the simple act of incorporating colour into lesson materials can bring you and your students one step closer to these goals.

We take a look at what the research tells us to understand how you can use this effective strategy in your lesson plans.

Why use colour in the classroom?

It may seem too simple to be true, but colour does in fact influence the quality of a student’s education. According to one study, subjects performed five to 10 per cent better on standardised pattern recognition tests printed in colour compared to those printed in black and white. Similarly, research into the effect of colour on comprehensive thinking methods such as memorisation, calculation and logical reasoning showed that it can positively influence the outcome of students’ test scores.

The reason for this is relatively straightforward: different colours are thought to trigger particular emotional responses – such as calmness or creativity – while also increasing concentration on the task at hand.

This research is valuable for educators who are looking for innovative ways to not only keep their students engaged and motivated, but to improve their ability to learn and retain new information.

How to Maximise the Use of Colour in Education

While some innovative classroom techniques can be expensive to implement, such as using tablets, colour printing is an easy, affordable and incredibly versatile strategy suitable for a wide range of students.

Some easy yet effective ways for teachers to use colour in their classwork include:

• Colour coding information.
• Presenting graphs, charts and diagrams in colour.
• Printing photographs in colour as opposed to monochrome.
• Design posters and other learning graphics in colour.
• Using coloured paper for tests instead of the traditional white.

With so much research showing that students respond positively to the use of colour in classroom materials, there is an exciting opportunity for teachers to optimise learning outcomes by adopting this strategy.

Try including some colour in your lessons to see whether your students show better engagement and testing outcomes. And if your school doesn’t currently have a fleet of colour printers, then perhaps it’s time to consider an upgrade.