Carrying Out Training Courses in Creative Graphic Design based on Design Thinking and Problem-based Learning to Increase Students’ Creative Thinking Abilities

Abstract

Background and aim: This study focuses on the influence of creative graphic design training courses based on design thinking and problem-based learning on the cultivation of the creative thinking ability of Chinese art students, expands the breadth and depth of research on students' core literacy, and contributes to the development of students' all-round ability. The purpose of this study was to compare the students’ creative thinking ability before and after learning through the creative graphic training course based on design thinking and problem-based learning. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 30 students of art majors from Xi’an University were investigated. This study used a scoring rubric of creative thinking ability given to students before and after learning through a creative graphic design training course based on design thinking and problem-based learning. Data were collected and analyzed by means, standard deviation, and t-test for the dependent sample. Results: From the study, it was found that: The mean scores of pretests of students’ creative thinking ability were 35.13, SD was 2.76, and the mean scores of post-tests were 41.53, SD was 2.83. The finding after implementing a creative graphic design training course based on design thinking and problem-based learning, post-test scores of students’ creative thinking ability were greater than pretest scores at 0.01 level of statistical significance (t=20.21, p=0.001). The average scores of this study developed increasingly higher than the pretest. The effect size of Cohen’s in this study was 3.70 it was considered to be a large effect of implementing creative graphic design training courses based on design thinking and problem-based learning on students’ creative thinking ability. Conclusion: The developed creative graphic design training course based on design thinking and problem-based learning has a significant effect on enhancing the creative thinking ability of art major students in college.