Holistic Approach in Education to Promote Critical Thinking and Creativity

This study explores the impact of a holistic education approach on enhancing critical thinking and creativity among undergraduate students. A within-subject repeated-measures design was employed, with 84 firstyear students enrolled in an Educational Psychology course. The study used two primary assessment tools: The California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI) and the Composition Creativity Scale. The CCTDI measured dimensions of critical thinking, including truth-seeking, openmind, analyticity, systematic, inquisitiveness, self-confidence, and cognitive maturity, while the Composition Creativity Scale assessed creativity across fluency, flexibility, originality, elaboration, and sensitivity. Paired sample t-tests were used to compare pre-test and post-test results, revealing significant improvements in all dimensions of critical thinking and creativity, except for systematic and cognitive maturity, which showed non-significant changes. Large effect sizes were observed in fluency, flexibility, and originality, demonstrating the effectiveness of the holistic approach in fostering critical thinking and creative abilities. The study highlights the importance of integrating cognitive, emotional, and social development in education to prepare students for the challenges of a rapidly evolving, interconnected world. The findings underscore the need for education systems to adopt holistic, student-centered strategies to cultivate well-rounded, adaptable individuals capable of critical analysis, creative problem-solving, and continuous learning.