Cartooning in Biological Learning
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| Title: | Cartooning in Biological Learning |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Soukaina Bahsoun (ORCID |
| Source: | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education. 2026 54(2):140-155. |
| Availability: | Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 16 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Cartoons, Biology, Science Education, Science Instruction, Teaching Methods, Scientific Concepts, Constructivism (Learning), Undergraduate Students, College Science, Genetics, Cytology, Cancer, Learning Activities, Teamwork, Instructional Effectiveness |
| DOI: | 10.1002/bmb.70040 |
| ISSN: | 1470-8175 1539-3429 |
| Abstract: | Teaching bioscience subjects requires helping students understand complicated and abstract concepts. An effective method of helping students understand these abstract topics is the use of concept cartoons. Concept cartoons are cartoon-style drawings that illustrate everyday situations. In constructivism, learners create their own knowledge and understanding through exploring and interacting with the external world, reflecting on their experiences and building new knowledge on top of pre-existing knowledge. Here we demonstrate the effectiveness of using cartooning across three undergraduate biology modules at each level four to six to facilitate active learning. Students constructed and reconstructed their knowledge of genetics, cell signaling and cancer through self-generated cartoons. Seventy-nine students took part in the activity, working in teams of 2-6 members and turned a biological process into a cartoon. The evaluation of the activity involved a 10-question multiple-choice quiz and an 18-question survey using a 5-point scale and free-form comments. There was a significant statistical difference in performance when comparing cartooned and not cartooned subtopics. Student engagement scored an average of 4.8, learning scored 4.5, and understanding scored 4.2. Sixty eight percent of students stated that they preferred the cartooning activity over learning in a traditional question and answer format. In the free-form comments, students commonly cited improved understanding as a benefit to this activity. Beyond being a tool to learn the material, the cartooning activity proved beneficial in fostering teamwork among the student cohorts. Overall, cartooning proved to be an effective method in making abstract and complicated topics more approachable to students. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1500961 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
|---|---|
| Header | DbId: eric DbLabel: ERIC An: EJ1500961 AccessLevel: 3 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
| IllustrationInfo | |
| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Cartooning in Biological Learning – Name: Language Label: Language Group: Lang Data: English – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Soukaina+Bahsoun%22">Soukaina Bahsoun</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9391-8229">0000-0002-9391-8229</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mhairi+Morris%22">Mhairi Morris</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6600-9292">0000-0001-6600-9292</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elizabeth+Akam%22">Elizabeth Akam</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8784-3742">0000-0002-8784-3742</externalLink>) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Biochemistry+and+Molecular+Biology+Education%22"><i>Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 54(2):140-155. – Name: Avail Label: Availability Group: Avail Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us – Name: PeerReviewed Label: Peer Reviewed Group: SrcInfo Data: Y – Name: Pages Label: Page Count Group: Src Data: 16 – Name: DatePubCY Label: Publication Date Group: Date Data: 2026 – Name: TypeDocument Label: Document Type Group: TypDoc Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research – Name: Audience Label: Education Level Group: Audnce Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Descriptors Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cartoons%22">Cartoons</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biology%22">Biology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Science+Education%22">Science Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Science+Instruction%22">Science Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teaching+Methods%22">Teaching Methods</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scientific+Concepts%22">Scientific Concepts</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Constructivism+%28Learning%29%22">Constructivism (Learning)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undergraduate+Students%22">Undergraduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Science%22">College Science</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Genetics%22">Genetics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cytology%22">Cytology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cancer%22">Cancer</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Learning+Activities%22">Learning Activities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teamwork%22">Teamwork</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Instructional+Effectiveness%22">Instructional Effectiveness</searchLink> – Name: DOI Label: DOI Group: ID Data: 10.1002/bmb.70040 – Name: ISSN Label: ISSN Group: ISSN Data: 1470-8175<br />1539-3429 – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Teaching bioscience subjects requires helping students understand complicated and abstract concepts. An effective method of helping students understand these abstract topics is the use of concept cartoons. Concept cartoons are cartoon-style drawings that illustrate everyday situations. In constructivism, learners create their own knowledge and understanding through exploring and interacting with the external world, reflecting on their experiences and building new knowledge on top of pre-existing knowledge. Here we demonstrate the effectiveness of using cartooning across three undergraduate biology modules at each level four to six to facilitate active learning. Students constructed and reconstructed their knowledge of genetics, cell signaling and cancer through self-generated cartoons. Seventy-nine students took part in the activity, working in teams of 2-6 members and turned a biological process into a cartoon. The evaluation of the activity involved a 10-question multiple-choice quiz and an 18-question survey using a 5-point scale and free-form comments. There was a significant statistical difference in performance when comparing cartooned and not cartooned subtopics. Student engagement scored an average of 4.8, learning scored 4.5, and understanding scored 4.2. Sixty eight percent of students stated that they preferred the cartooning activity over learning in a traditional question and answer format. In the free-form comments, students commonly cited improved understanding as a benefit to this activity. Beyond being a tool to learn the material, the cartooning activity proved beneficial in fostering teamwork among the student cohorts. Overall, cartooning proved to be an effective method in making abstract and complicated topics more approachable to students. – Name: AbstractInfo Label: Abstractor Group: Ab Data: As Provided – Name: DateEntry Label: Entry Date Group: Date Data: 2026 – Name: AN Label: Accession Number Group: ID Data: EJ1500961 |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1500961 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1002/bmb.70040 Languages: – Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 16 StartPage: 140 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Cartoons Type: general – SubjectFull: Biology Type: general – SubjectFull: Science Education Type: general – SubjectFull: Science Instruction Type: general – SubjectFull: Teaching Methods Type: general – SubjectFull: Scientific Concepts Type: general – SubjectFull: Constructivism (Learning) Type: general – SubjectFull: Undergraduate Students Type: general – SubjectFull: College Science Type: general – SubjectFull: Genetics Type: general – SubjectFull: Cytology Type: general – SubjectFull: Cancer Type: general – SubjectFull: Learning Activities Type: general – SubjectFull: Teamwork Type: general – SubjectFull: Instructional Effectiveness Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Cartooning in Biological Learning Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Soukaina Bahsoun – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Mhairi Morris – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Elizabeth Akam IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 03 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 1470-8175 – Type: issn-electronic Value: 1539-3429 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 54 – Type: issue Value: 2 Titles: – TitleFull: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education Type: main |
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