CREATIVE AND CRITICAL THINKING DEVELOPMENT THROUGH STEAM: THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS, EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE, AND PEDAGOGICAL IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

Creative and critical thinking, two higher-order thinking skills (HOTS), are important cognitive skills that 21st-century students should develop to cope with the current complex and dynamic world. Creativity can be described as the ability to produce ideas, solutions or artifacts that are original and fit for purpose; while critical thinking is a disciplined process for assessing information, arguments and assumptions using evidence and logical reasoning. Precise definitions used in this chapter are set before it starts. This was done to improve conceptual clarity and increase cross-study comparability. This chapter provides a brief introduction to the theoretical link between STEAM education and HOTS, and highlights research from 2021-2025, including systematic reviews and meta-analyses of original research that supports the direct effect of STEAM (learning science, technology, engineering and mathematics together with the arts) on the development of these skills. This chapter also details two core teaching practices used in STEAM education, project-based learning and design thinking, and provides practical tips to educators and curriculum developers.