Middle School Students' Perceptions about Global Environmental Problems using Drawings

그리기를 활용한 중학생의 지구 환경 문제에 대한 인식 조사

The purpose of this study was to investigate middle school students' perceptions about global environmental problems using drawings. The study was involved the collection of drawing data from 112 ninth grade students from a middle school in Daegu Metropolitan City. The environment task was administrated to students drew a drawing of an global environmental problems and explained their drawing in their own words. Also, students was asked to write what he or she can do to solve global environmental problems. The results are as follows: First, air pollution is the most important global environmental problem, followed by water pollution, global warming, sea level rise, deforestation, waste, loss of biodiversity, and so on. Second, the students' drawings were characterized into two aspects: One is a macroscopic viewpoint and the other is everyday viewpoint. Third, the students' practical action plan to do solve global environmental problems were walk, public traffic, do not throw trash, plant trees, etc. Educators should take into account the perceptions of global environmental problems and teaching-learning strategies to enhance students' understanding of global environment.