The use of Science Comics as a New Means to Promote Science in Adult Education: A Case Study

Technical subjects in science may be difficult to understand because of the abstract nature of the relevant concepts. Alternative forms of teaching material are used to overcome this. One such form is comics, a popular art form providing a more relaxed environment, which has been used in various education setups with encouraging results. Although such novel forms are generally attractive to younger generations familiar with visual information, few studies have focused on their effect on adult learners. In this paper, several instances of the use of science comics in various setups are presented, showing that comics can provide a useful alternative way of education. One such attempt was made to introduce adult students to the subject of Database Systems using only a specialized science comic book. The study took place in the third grade of an Evening Vocational High school, a public adult (18+) vocational education setting. The students were able to perform equally well to a group of students learning the same content using standard class materials. Furthermore, their interest in learning other science subjects was enhanced and they expressed increased preference for an extended use of science comics in their education.