An Exploration of Elementary School Students' Conceptions of Learning: A Drawing Analysis

The aim of this study is to investigate elementary school students' conceptions of learning in Taiwan by way of drawings. A total of 101 elementary school students (51 boys and 50 girls, ages 10-12) in southern Taiwan participated in this study. The participants were asked to draw a picture about how they conceptualize learning. Students' drawings were analyzed based on a checklist, and a "traditional" conception of learning was mainly obtained. Sitting in a classroom in a traditional setting and listening to the teacher's lectures was illustrated by most of the elementary school students in this sample. Moreover, with the increase in learning experience, students' conceptions of learning became less diverse. Some students also expressed negative feelings toward learning in the drawings. Through this preliminary study, drawing might be a potential approach to investigating students' conceptions of learning and their affective issues.