Enhancing Students' Creative Thinking and Expression of the Visual Arts in School-Based Curriculum: A mixed-methods study of one Chinese secondary vocational school

Abstract

In order to equip students with 21st century competencies of critical thinking, problem solving, creative thinking and collaborative working skills. A popular strategy used by governments and schools around the world is to move from a less formal to a more engaging school environment through school-based curriculum development (SBCD). Given the acceptance of micro-videos by millennial students and the creativity demonstrated in many of them, some educators have also begun to integrate micro-videos into their classrooms. Secondary and higher education institutions in the West have begun to use micro-videos in educational contexts as a means for students to express their creativity and master subject matter, However, less attention has been paid to micro-video as a visual art form in art education in China. This study reports a case study of a secondary vocational school in China that used micro-video to develop an art school-based curriculum aimed at cultivating students' creative thinking skills and expressive abilities. The study used a mixed-methods design that allowed for the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data. The curriculum development was based on Wheeler's curriculum development model. Data collection tools included the Torrance Creative Thinking Test, teachers’ and students’ interview forms. The results showed that the activities significantly improved students' creative thinking skills and expressiveness. Students' interest in learning, creativity, collaboration, and artistic literacy improved.