Open Journal of Social Sciences, 2016, 4, 187-198
Published Online March 2016 in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/jss
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jss.2016.43024
How to cite this paper: Saka, A., Ebenezer, J., Çakır, I. and Saka, A.Z. (2016) Pedagogy of Creative Drama in Biology. Open
Journal of Social Sciences, 4, 187-198. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jss.2016.43024
Pedagogy of Creative Drama in Biology
Arzu Saka
1
, Jazlin Ebenezer
2
, Ilknur Çakır
1
, Ahmet Zeki Saka
1
1
Fatih Faculty of Education, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey
2
Curriculum and Instruction Programme, Collage of Education, Wayne State University, Detroit, USA
Received 24 February 2016; accepted 21 March 2016; published 24 March 2016
Copyright © 2016 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Abstract
Creative drama grants students not only an opportunity to display their thoughts physically, orally
and written but also enables them to interpret the expressions of peers. Characteristic of learning
through creative drama is the development of shared meaning through the social construction of
knowledge. The primary purpose of this study is to develop seventh-grade students’ conceptual
understanding of some genetic concepts, attitudes toward biology learning and awareness of foren-
sic science. The pedagogy of creative drama consisted of determining blood types and differences
in human fingerprints. Twenty students took part in this study. Data sources consisted of student
journaling, classroom observations, students’ responses to attitude survey and subject evaluation
forms. Students learned that within the scope of creative drama activities, how the blood group
determination and the cause of people’s fingerprints were separate from each other. In everyday
life, they realized how important biology is, especially in criminal work. Changes in students’ atti-
tudes toward biology indicated a positive direction because of the extraordinary teaching method.
All of the participants contribute the creative drama activity keenly. Students’ attitudes toward the
pedagogy of creative drama suggest that students should be approached with this sort of learning at
an early age.
Keywords
Biology Education, Creative Drama
1. Introduction
Creative drama is an idea, concept or event that uses theater techniques or play-like processes [1]. Creative
drama creates a learning environment that enables students to access new knowledge and skills based on their
prior experiences. Students often actively participate in courses that integrate drama. Students also construct
their knowledge with the help of their teacher [2]-[4]. Creative drama activities can help to form new con-