The Effects of Instructional Strategy using Thinking Maps focused on Drawing in Elementary School Science

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

The purpose of this study is to develop instructional strategy which utilizes thinking maps focused on drawing as a measure to enhance science learning motivation, self-directed learning activity and science academic achievement of learners, and to examine the effects of its application. The target unit for this study is 'life cycle of plants' in the fourth grade of elementary school. Two classes of 4th grades of elementary school were selected and divided into two groups. The learners of experimental group have completed thinking map by drawing a picture to express the results to be observed and measured, and used it to arrange the learning contents. The result of this study is as follows. First, it is proven that using thinking maps focused on drawing actually helped improving the motivation of learners to study science. Second, it is proven that this strategy was effective to change their self-directed learning ability in positive ways. Third, it contributed to the improvement of learners' science academic achievement. We found out that the application of this strategy enabled them to enjoy the mapping using drawing, to be immersed in learning, to better recognize the scientific concepts and the structure of learning contents, and to have a positive awareness of the usefulness of thinking maps focused on drawing.