Scientific and Artistic Analysis of Animal Tissue Microscope Drawings by Science Teacher Candidates

Abstract

The convergence of visual arts with other disciplines is a unique topic that has been addressed only to a limited extent in the literature. This study aims to examine the drawings created by science teacher candidates on animal tissues from both scientific and artistic perspectives. The study was conducted with 12 teacher candidates enrolled in the third year of the science education department during the fall semester of the 2024-2025 academic year. The study used a case study, a qualitative research design. During the four-week process with science teacher candidates, students created drawings based on their observations of various animal tissues under a microscope. The researchers' drawing evaluation rubric and the drawing test related to the tissue topic were used as data collection tools in the study. The findings reveal that teacher candidates can convey scientific concepts about animal tissues in aesthetically appealing ways and that their performance is generally adequate. Although science teacher candidates don’t know about animal tissues, they are generally successful in conveying the formal characteristics of histological structures—such as cell layers, shapes, and connections—through drawing. However, they had more difficulty relating their microscope observations to their drawings and interpreting them. Consequently, the study highlights the potential of art-based approaches in biology education to improve observation skills and deepen conceptual understanding.