توسعه مهارت آموزش زیست شناسی با استفاده از جدول کلمات تخصصی متقاطع

This study was conducted to examine the feasibility and application of crossword puzzles in teaching biology topics.
The vast volume of material and the extensive use of specialized terminology in biology curricula pose a significant challenge for students regarding learning and retention. Addressing this challenge requires the application of strategies that not only strengthen and expand the vocabulary found in textbooks but also facilitate its review and memorization. As an interactive educational tool, the crossword puzzle has the capacity to activate long-term memory and enhance students' mental engagement with the content. In biology education, designing crossword puzzles centered on specialized terminology can foster the development of cognitive skills, technical language proficiency, and conceptual understanding.
The scope of the study encompassed all experimental science textbooks for the first secondary level and biology textbooks for the second secondary level. The research employed a field-based approach involving 60 undergraduate students majoring in Biology Education at Farhangian University. Each participant selected specific biology topics and created a crossword puzzle—including the design of the accompanying clues—without the use of software.
The results of this study indicate that the educational content of biology textbooks lends itself to the creation and use of various types of crossword puzzles—including standard, irregular, and coded formats—covering specific topics or reviews of various subject areas. Depending on the teacher's creativity, this method can be employed for assessment, review, or as a form of purposeful classroom game. The primary benefit of using crossword puzzles is that, by establishing connections between new and existing information, they foster the formation of cognitive associations and facilitate the retention of new material.
From a practical standpoint, crosswords can serve as a complementary tool in biology instruction—particularly for concept review, formative assessment, and self-directed learning. Beyond reinforcing specialized vocabulary, this tool helps students grasp the conceptual relationships between various biological terms, thereby enabling them to organize their own conceptual frameworks. Furthermore, by enhancing the appeal of the learning process through gamification, it fosters a more positive attitude toward the subject of biology.
Overall, the research findings confirm that the use of specialized-term crosswords is an innovative approach to biology education; it not only deepens learning but also fosters conceptual thinking and cognitive skills among learners. This method can also serve as an effective model for designing active learning activities in other scientific fields.