Sample memes that were successfully used to teach biology to Grade 11 high school students. SOURCES: Reddit.com, Twimg.com, Imgflip.com, and Pinimg.com

MANILA — Researchers from the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) found that using internet memes to teach biology could enhance learning for senior high school students.

In an ABS-CBN interview, Alyanna Nicole Carlos, a researcher from the ADMU, said that she discovered the power of memes in teaching while incorporating them into her lessons starting in 2018. 

She found that memes helped engage her students, making complex science concepts more relatable and interesting, especially for those who were initially less engaged. 

This inspired her to formally study the use of memes as a teaching tool in science education, together with her thesis adviser and co-researcher, Dr. Emmanuel Delocado.

The study involved over 200 Grade 11 students from non-STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) tracks who had to take biology. They were split into two groups: one group learned with memes, while the other group used traditional teaching methods.

“Our study specifically focused on Gen Z students, particularly those aged 16 to 18 years old since our sample population comprised of 11th-grade senior high school students. This age group, Gen Zs, were chosen intentionally because they were dubbed as the true digital natives,” said Carlos.

To assess the impact of memes on learning, they used a mixed methods approach, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data. Under the guidance of her mentor, she identified three key parameters, namely academic achievement, attitude, and self-efficacy. 

The study involved pre-tests and post-tests to measure academic achievement, along with modified surveys to assess students' attitudes and self-efficacy in a way that suited the Filipino context. Interviews and focus group discussions were also conducted to gather further insights.

Additionally, both groups studied complex topics like cellular division and genetics where they also created their own memes related to the lesson. For instance, a meme can use popular characters or phrases to explain processes like mitosis or DNA replication.

Carlos students taught with memes scored 21 percent higher on post-tests and had more positive views and increased confidence in biology.

“A higher post-test scores which manifested a stronger grasp of the subject matter compared to the control group which relied on traditional teaching methods,” she said.

However, the study also faced challenges, particularly the limited timeframe for lesson implementation, which lasted for only five weeks as part of Carlos' master's thesis. This constraint meant that the long-term effects of using memes were not fully explored. 

In line with this, Carlos recommended that future researchers extend the duration of such studies to better understand the lasting impact of memes on education. She said she also wanted to explore how memes impact different student populations, including older Generation Z and younger Generation Alpha, along with students from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

“Memes have a universal appeal, and these can turn complex ideas into digestible, relatable, and often, humorous visuals. The key is to design memes that align with the learning objectives with the educational goals of the course while still maintaining their relevance to the students,” Carlos said. 

“I would not be recommending using only memes to teach a lesson, which is why in our study, memes were only incorporated in the teachers slide decks. They were only meant to support and supplement the lesson, instruction and class discussion,” she added.

Carlos said these tools could enhance engagement and accessibility for diverse students but also recognized challenges such as excessive screen time and the need for accurate information. She highlighted the growing importance of AI in education while noting the lack of guidelines to ensure ethical use by students. 

This study was published in the Asian Journal of Biology Education and received a special citation for outstanding research during the Ateneo School of Sciences and Engineering Week 2024.

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