Biomimicry as an Interdisciplinary Pedagogical Model for Teaching Physics and Biology: The Case of Frogs in Tena, Ecuador
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70577/b98ywj10Keywords:
Interdisciplinary approach; Biomimicry; Educational innovation; Biology; Physics.Abstract
Traditional approaches to teaching the experimental sciences, in which content is delivered separately by subject, have limited students’ ability to clearly understand natural phenomena and establish connections with everyday situations. In response to this issue, this review study aimed to analyze, based on scientific literature, how the characteristics of frogs found in Tena can be integrated with the principles of classical physics to develop an interdisciplinary pedagogical approach grounded in biomimicry. Specifically, the study examined the theoretical contribution of biomimicry to interdisciplinary teaching, identified physical and biological concepts that can be interconnected through the study of these species (Hyalinobatrachium iaspidiense and Adenomera hylaedactyla), and proposed a teaching sequence supported by the reviewed literature. To this end, a systematic and critical literature review was conducted using the Web of Science, Latindex, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases, employing descriptors in both Spanish and English and applying defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, with priority given to publications from the previous five years. The findings indicated that, according to the literature reviewed, the use of projects, prototype construction, and field trips strengthened students’ critical thinking, creativity, and environmental awareness. It was concluded that this proposal may contribute to a form of education more closely connected to the local territory by linking scientific knowledge with community knowledge and promoting new approaches to teaching in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
Downloads
References
Arnold, S. (2022). Biology: A note on forms of life. Research & Reviews: Research Journal of Biology, 10(1), 8-11. https://doi.org/10.4172/2322-0066.10.1.004
Benyus, J. M. (2002). Biomimicry: Innovation inspired by nature (2nd ed.). Harper Perennial. ISBN 978-0-06-053322-9
Bernal, H. (2022). Biomímesis: ciencia holística para potenciar la vida en armonía con la naturaleza y la construcción de civilización ecológica. Arquitecno, (19), 83-90. https://doi.org/10.30972/arq.0195963
Bryce, T. & Blown, E. (2024). Ausubel’s meaningful learning re-visited. Current Psychology, 43(5), 4579-4598. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04440-4
Coban, M. & Coştu, B. (2023). Integration of biomimicry into science education: biomimicry teaching approach. Journal of Biological Education, 57(1), 145-169. https://doi.org/10.1080/00219266.2021.1877783
Dietz, G. (2023). Multiculturalismo, interculturalidad y educación: 30 años de estados de conocimiento del COMIE. Revista Mexicana de Investigación Educativa, 28(99), 1221-1231. http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1405-66662023000401221&lng=es&tlng=es.
Fuentes, A., Umaña, J., Risso, A. & Facal, D. (2021). Ciencias cognitivas y educación: Una propuesta de diálogo. Sophia, Colección de Filosofía de la Educación, (30), 43-70. https://doi.org/10.17163/soph.n30.2021.01
Gerola, A., Robaey, Z. & Blok, V. (2023). What Does it Mean to Mimic Nature? A Typology for Biomimetic Design. Philosophy & Technology. 36, (65). 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13347-023-00665-0
Hernández, R. & Mendoza, C. (2023). Metodología de la investigación: Las rutas cuantitativa, cualitativa y mixta (2.ª ed.). McGraw-Hill Interamericana. ISBN 978-607-15-2031-9.
Kuo, M., Barnes, M. & Jordan, C. (2019). Do experiences with nature promote learning? Converging evidence of a cause-and-effect relationship. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00305
Lenoir, Y. (2023). Interdisciplinarity in basic education: Interpretations, relevance and principles. En R. J. Tierney, F. Rizvi, & K. Ercikan (Eds.), International encyclopedia of education (4th ed., Vol. 7, pp. 267-280). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818630-5.03050-5
Mejía, A., Torres, L., Prieto, V., Cabra, J. & Jaca, C. (2023). Training for sustainability through biomimicry and creative problem-solving processes. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 49, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2023.101359
Montesdeoca, Y., Hernández, M., Palma, N. & Jordán, L. (2024). La evaluación formativa como herramienta para el aprendizaje autorregulado en la educación. Polo del Conocimiento, 9(6), 340-360. https://doi.org/10.23857/pc.v9i6.7319
Pawlyn, M. (2011). Biomimicry in architecture. RIBA Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85946-375-8.
Quichimbo, F., Cabrera, T., Arichabala, J. & Verdugo, M. (2023). Proceso metodológico del modelo de educación intercultural bilingüe en el Ecuador: Construcción del diálogo de saberes, la interculturalidad y la diversidad. Revista Chakiñan de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, (20), 178-195. https://doi.org/10.37135/chk.002.20.10
Quilumbaquin, W., Carrera, A., Heyden, C. & Ortega, H. (2023). Environmental DNA and visual encounter surveys for amphibian biomonitoring in aquatic environments of the Ecuadorian Amazon. PeerJ, 11, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15455
Real Academia de Doctores. (2021, 9 de diciembre). Biomímesis y desarrollo sostenible, un concepto revolucionario. https://raed.academy/biomimesis-y-desarrollo-sostenible/
Ren, K. & Yu, J. (2021). Research status of bionic amphibious robots: A review. Ocean Engineering, 227, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2021.108862
UNESCO. (2026). Physics. UNESCO. https://www.unesco.org/en/query-list/p/physics
Valverde, J., Rivas, J., Anguita, R. & Montes, R. (2023). Pedagogical change and innovation culture in secondary education: A Delphi study. Frontiers in Education, 8, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1092793
Wu, X., Yang, Y., Zhou, X., Xia, Y. & Liao, H. (2024). A meta-analysis of interdisciplinary teaching abilities among elementary and secondary school STEM teachers. International Journal of STEM Education, 11(38). 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-024-00500-8
Xiao, J., Lin, F., Li, Y., Li, B. & Yang, X. (2021). On the kinematics of forelimb landing of frog Rana rugulosus. Journal of Biomechanics, 121, 110417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2021.110417
Zwanenburg, S., Nakhoda, M. & Whigham, P. (2022). Toward greater consistency and validity in measuring interdisciplinarity: a systematic and conceptual evaluation. Scientometrics, 127, 7769-7788. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-022-04310-z
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Jonnathan Manuel Vicuña Espinoza (Autor/a)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Eres libre de:
- Compartir : copiar y redistribuir el material en cualquier medio o formato
- Adaptar : remezclar, transformar y desarrollar el material
- El licenciante no puede revocar estas libertades siempre y cuando usted cumpla con los términos de la licencia.
En los siguientes términos:
-
- Atribución : Debe otorgar el crédito correspondiente , proporcionar un enlace a la licencia e indicar si se realizaron cambios . Puede hacerlo de cualquier manera razonable, pero no de ninguna manera que sugiera que el licenciante lo respalda a usted o a su uso.
- No comercial : no puede utilizar el material con fines comerciales .
- CompartirIgual — Si remezcla, transforma o construye sobre el material, debe distribuir sus contribuciones bajo la misma licencia que el original.
- Sin restricciones adicionales : no puede aplicar términos legales ni medidas tecnológicas que restrinjan legalmente a otros hacer algo que la licencia permite.












