Abstract
This study presents the results of a year-long project focused on analysis and reflection on working with comics by Year One students in Hulu Langat districts. This study presents the use of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) comics to help children understand certain physical phenomena and try to make students interested in mathematics and science subject. Thirteen excellent teachers of science and mathematics from the Hulu Langat district were involved in the analysis of syllabus Year One science and mathematics subjects and the preparation of scripts while the STEM comic illustrator was created by two lecturers from the Faculty of Art, Computing and Creative Industry from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Perak Malaysia. The study is based on observations of changing perception of phenomena by children as a result of the use of comics. As a result, a STEM comic that contains ten series for Year One science and mathematics subjects has been successfully developed. This comic is expected to attract and enhance the achievement of Year One students in science and mathematics. Implication of this study, STEM comics can be used by teachers as science and mathematics teaching aids. Comics are proven to be a modern pedagogical strategy, which is starting to gain its popularity in teaching about mathematics and science. Comics can be very helpful tools in making science and mathematics concepts interesting, fun learning and comprehensible for a Year One children.
Highlights
IntroductionComics use pictures with words that are often combined with humour and can be found in a variety of contexts, such as newspapers
The word ‘comic’ comes from the Greek word ‘kōmōidía’ or ‘comedy’
This shows that, as a whole, most of Year One pupils are interested in comics reading. They agree that STEM comics can attract students to learn science and mathematics
Summary
Comics use pictures with words that are often combined with humour and can be found in a variety of contexts, such as newspapers. Though similar types of artistic approaches could include cartoons which usually involve drafts or animation, or graphic novels and a much more detailed story of episode. The research focus on using comics as a pedagogical tool for teaching and learning dates back to the 1940s and mostly focused on emerging literacy [1, 2]. Incorporating texts with visual representations while teaching young children to read contributed to increasing children’s attention due to novelty and incongruity, more elaborate retrieval strategies and positive emotions are associated with learning [1, 4, 5]. McVicker [4] stated that, cartoons can be used to enhance and support the learning that goes on in any classroom in versatile and creative ways
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
