MATING DANCES

” When the hand is thinking…. ” : The influence of drawing on visual perception and understanding processes biology class. Master- Thesis, Anna Hubner, 2015, University of Graz, Institute for Didactics in Biology Education

Read the fullversion of the publication http://unipub.uni-graz.at/obvugrhs/download/pdf/762455?originalFilename=true&nbsp

The work is about the connection of biology and creativity, and how this can lead to an artistic approach to scientific topics. Based on the principles of perception psychology and the constructivistic approaches to theories of learning and action it was examined, to what extent drawing can be used as a tool for acquisition of knowledge and aesthetic education processes.

Therefore the teaching concept MATING DANCES “The mystery of the flamingos” (concerning behavioral biology, in 6th/ 7th grade of AHS) was developed. This served as a basis for a comparative study, where the influence of drawing on the visual perception and its potential impact on understanding and memory performance was tested. It also has been analysed, whether the medium of drawing promotes aesthetic involvement, which previous experience are necessary in order to use drawing as a learning method and means of expression, and if interest and priorities of perception are noticeable in the drawings.