Development of Digital Interactive Comics for Grade 8 Learners in Cell Division

This study developed a digital interactive comic for Grade 8 learners in cell division. The developed interactive cell division comic is an instructional material which will provide meaningful experience and for learners to have active involvement in the process of teaching and learning enhancing learners’ understanding of the topic. In the study, Successive Approximation Model (SAM) design was used in development approach of the instructional tool including needs assessment, designing, and developing. The needs assessment of science teachers and grade 9 students has shed light about teaching and learning about cell division which presents numerous challenges, including difficulty in understanding complex concepts, unfamiliar terminology, struggles with visualization, and issues with retention. The needs assessment has proved the need for creative teaching methods in cell division education. This signaled the development of an instructional tool that is interesting, student-centered, engaging and support a deeper understanding of the lesson cell division and meet the needs of 21st century learners as a whole. Five science education experts evaluated and rated the developed digital interactive comics in terms of its content quality, instructional quality, technical quality, and other aspects using the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Evaluation Rating Sheet for Non-Print Materials. The developed material was highly recommended and approved for possible use in classrooms as it passed factors for content quality (38.8 out of 40), instructional quality (38.6 out of 40), technical quality (50.8 out of 52), and other findings (16 out of 16). Evaluators’ comments and recommendations were incorporated. Continuous improvement and modification are essential to further enhance the developed interactive digital comics for teaching and learning cell division, maximizing the full benefits of these kind of instructional tools in science education.