INTEGRATING ART-BASED STRATEGIES IN THE DESIGN PROCESS FOR COMPLEX PROBLEM-SOLVING IN JAPANESE HIGH SCHOOL

This study aims to identify the key factors for integrating art-based strategies to help high school students gain a holistic understanding of problems within a design-based complex problem-solving project. Art-based strategies use artistic forms and processes to expand perspectives, deepen understanding of complex concepts, and facilitate problem-solving. Based on an inquiry-based cross-disciplinary program at a public high school in Japan, which uses design thinking to foster problem-finding and solving, this study found students struggle to identify research issues and often remain at a superficial understanding level. To address this, the study integrates art-based strategies into design process to improve students’ problem comprehension and identification skills. Two research questions are posed: how familiar are teachers with integrating art-based strategies? what challenges may they face when integrating these strategies? The study focuses on Fukusho High School, with four teachers participating in a focus group to evaluate the strategies for clarifying their familiarity, feasibility, and acceptance of integrating art-based strategies into the project.