Disciplinary Dream-Drawings. An Innovative Methodology to Uncover Students’ Emotional Bottlenecks

Emotional bottlenecks significantly impede learning but are often overlooked in higher education. This paper explores the use of the Disciplinary Dream-Drawings (DDD) methodology, an adaptation of Mersky's Social Dream-Drawing, within the Decoding the Disciplines framework to uncover these hidden emotional challenges among first-year Computer Science students. Through a pilot study at a South African university, students created dream drawings and narratives reflecting their academic experiences. Analysis of the visual and narrative data revealed eleven primary emotional bottlenecks, including family and financial pressures, self-imposed expectations, feelings of inferiority, and stress related to coding activities. The findings highlight the complex interplay between personal and academic spheres and underscore the need for educators to address emotional barriers proactively. The paper discusses the potential pedagogical implications of implementing the DDD methodology and offers reflections on its execution, emphasizing how it can be utilised by educators to better support their students' emotional and academic development.