New understanding is realized by creative learning where students are involved in meaningful learning, ownership of learning, control of learning processes and innovation. In order to produce learning situations where creative learning is achieved, teachers have to create trustful atmospheres where students are allowed to think and discuss without critical evaluation from the teacher. It is also important to create practical exercises in which theoretical models are processed and connected to observations and subject matter. During several years we have developed courses in science with the goal to promote students to become independent learners and explorers out of their own prerequisites as future professional teachers. We have investigated different methods and designs of teaching; conceptual understanding and conceptual change theory, discourse-based understanding and Dewey’s view of learning. In this study we are focusing on exploring the variation of students creative learning through a chemistry course. Permitting the particulate subject matter of chemistry to demonstrate as universal dramaturgical framework for conceptual learning and embodied experience. Chemistry involves considerable amounts of abstract conceptual thinking, molecular understanding and language. The focus of our study is the exploration of how conceptual abstract molecular understanding of phenomena in nature emerges through different teaching approaches, and imagination transformed into universal understanding, which provides the students with a sense of empowerment and a positive outlook on their future profession as teachers.

Courses and modules within undergraduate programs should be developed and implemented in a way that the students experience deepens and contributes growth of knowledge. Therefore, as teachers we must create a variation of different learning possibilities in order to challenge, motivate and enhance the understanding of theories and abstract models in science and their impact on everyday life experience and conditions. Södertörn University has experience of combining aesthetic expression with science in pre-service teacher program for about fifteen years where we have seen the benefits of embodying abstract theories through art for a better understanding of science subject matter. The integration of science and aesthetic forms of expressions is supported by the Swedish curriculum both for preschool and compulsory school. We use an interdisciplinary knowledge based environmental teaching, basing part of the reflection process with a frame in phenomenology and art-based intermodal theory. Intermodal theory coined by professor emeritus Paolo Knill starts with amodal-perception. Perception as “the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses” while observation is described as “the action or process of closely observing or monitoring something or someone” were observe is to “notice or perceive (something) and register it as being significant” [1]. Thus, observation is a more complex action where it is necessary to interpret the gathering of what has been paid attention to by perceiving without judgment and putting it into a coherent context. Here we present integration of Aesthetic learning process with science subject matter in order to enhance and deepen students understanding. This was performed in a ten-week science course with a total of 54 pre-service preschool teacher students. We worked with and created two- and three-dimensional images and kinetic-aesthetic sculptures parting from phenomenon such as friction and gravity, the phases of Venus and the moon, different materials isolation and conductive qualities etc. Nearly two years after completed science-course the students answered a questionnaire demonstrated several perspectives of understanding.

Teachers have to create a variation of learning situations to increase the understanding for theories andabstract models in science. We have experiences of combining aesthetic expression with science in pre-serviceteacher programme for more than ten years and have seen the benefits of embodying abstract theories withdance, art, music or drama and better understanding of science subject matter. The integration of science andaesthetic forms of expressions have support in the Swedish curriculum both for preschool and the compulsoryschool and it is therefore important to include exercises using aesthetic expression in the teacher educationprogram. The purpose of the workshop was to give examples of how art can be used to study phenomena inscience. The workshop was divided into three parts. In the first part the participants were doing differentexercises embodying concepts in physics and creating relations with each other. In the second part theparticipants in groups constructed a kinetic mobile. In the third part, the participants reflected and discussedtheir experience and understanding of phenomena during the workshop. Examples of assessments of theconstruction process were presented. Here we also present the planning and theoretical background to thework with aesthetic expression of science.