Authorised cheat sheets in undergraduate biology: Using pictographic organisers to foster student creative cognition

Abstract

AbstractScience student development of creative thinking ability is not sufficiently promoted and can even be inadvertently discouraged by current methods of instruction. Aimed at addressing this issue, the present study examined an undergraduate biology course in which scientific content instruction and creative drawing were integrated through use of authorised cheat sheets (personalised visual aids that students draw to bring for consultation during course examinations). Through a mixed‐method analysis, we sought to identify the forms of student cognition that resulted, and how effective this pedagogical strategy was in promoting student creativity. Results indicate predominance of intermediary levels of student creative performance centred on the alteration of ideas and images encountered during the course (83% of drawings). In contrast, creation of original and novel images was considerably less frequent (only 6% of drawings). Authorised cheat sheets were found to be effective as a pedagogical tool for promoting student creativity in the form of structured imagination. Rather than limitless and unconstrained, the resulting student creativity was structured (constrained) by existing conceptual knowledge. Illuminating the relationship between pedagogical tools in a science classroom and students' emergent creativity, the present study underscores the critical need for educators to support student development as future creative professionals.