Can we assess pupil's science knowledge with animated cartoons?

Abstract

The present paper concerns the use of animated cartoons as an assessment tool in teaching science regarding students of elementary education. Different instructional strategies are presented whereas with the aid of two sets of questions with animated cartoons, the teacher is able to: (i) find out and evaluate what students already know about specific science concepts or (ii) evaluate students’ knowledge and understanding of science concepts which are normally difficult to comprehend and often cause misconceptions to them. Concepts that have been chosen to be studied were those of mass volume and density, as well as dissolving, melting, and disappearing.