The effectiveness of using science fiction films to foster creativity in a biological context

The use of science fiction resources to enhance creativity is an innovative approach that is gaining international attention. This study combines science fiction films (SFFs) based biological learning with the Creative Problem Solving (CPS) model to offer the Biology in Science Fiction Films course in high school. During the course, we assessed students' creative thinking propensities using the Creativity Assessment Packet and evaluated creativity in students-created micro-science fictions (micro-SFs) by the consensus assessment technique. The results showed that after the theme-based instruction: (1) the students' creative thinking propensities produced a significant increase in the overall (p = 0.005), with highly significant increases in the imaginative dimension (p = 0.004) and the challenging dimension (p = 0.030); (2) Students' scores on micro-SFs created in the post-test improved over the pre-test, but their pre- and post-test gaps have not yet reached the level of significant difference. The study indicates that the course has the potential to offer a new avenue for the development of students' creativity. Collaborating across disciplines may be able to enhance students' creativity in a more comprehensive manner.