The Efficacy of Storified Pedagogy in Promoting Collaborative Student Engagement and Facilitating Comprehension of Interconnected Topics in A-level Biology: A Pre-final Exam Study

Abstract

An adapted, storified pedagogy approach was used to motivate biology A-level students preparing for final exams. This approach aimed to connect 107 learning objectives from 15 different course units into a story that highlights the interconnectedness between seemingly unrelated units in a creative and engaging manner. The aim of the project was to stimulate students’ enthusiasm and motivation, to work collaboratively and take ownership of their learning in a fun and memorable way, in preparation for final exams. Twenty-four grade 12 biology students from two different classes formed 9 groups, each chose their own media and presentation style, collaboratively decided on the assessment criteria  and collectively agreed on 10-minute presentations. The project took the form of a competition, with the winning group being awarded a prize. Groups were given three 40-minute lessons to plan their stories and prepare their presentations.

The result was 9 detailed stories with links to biological concepts and terminology covering various seemingly unrelated topics from grades 11 and 12 that showcased students’ insight and understanding of the interconnectedness of diverse biological processes in a fun and creative way. The stories drew on diverse skills that ranged from a ^[1]Prezi-based App, hand-drawn detailed biological diagrams, computer-generated presentations with creative acting, video editing, and photography, to very personal interpretations of friendships and sharing insight into the health condition of one student. Groups comprised of persons with greater imagination and creative flair, combined with persons with high academic ability produced stories with most connections between seemingly unrelated topics and provided memorable learning opportunities for developing deeper insight, in preparation for final exams. The timing of the project (2 weeks before final exams), amount of time given for planning, competition-based approach, creative freedom, and freedom to use any medium to communicate their understanding, are all factors which contributed to the success of the project and need to be considered in the future when planning similar projects.  The approach was expanded with the next group of students to include creative writing. This activity not only stimulated creative thinking, but provided an opportunity to practice the skill of translating creative thought into text, an essential skill for writing exams.

Keywords: Storified pedagogy, storyline, narrative pedagogy, social constructivist, A-level biology

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/15-7-11

Publication date: June 30th 2024

[1] Prezi is presentation software.