Fostering critical thinking through art: A study of high school students in Jipijapa

The study evaluated the impact of artistic workshops on artistic self-assessment and divergent thinking of first-year high school students at the ‘Ocho de Enero’ Fiscal Educational Unit in Jipijapa. It was identified that the Ecuadorian education system prioritises traditional methods, limiting creativity and innovative problem solving. To address this situation, workshops in music, dance, theatre and visual arts were designed with the aim of strengthening the individual expression and critical thinking of the students. The research adopted a mixed approach, with quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Sixty students were divided into an experimental group and a control group. Artistic self-assessment questionnaires and divergent thinking tests were administered before and after the intervention. In addition, interviews were conducted with teachers and students to understand their perceptions of the implementation of the workshops. The results showed a 40% increase in students' confidence in their creative abilities and improvements in the fluidity and flexibility of ideas. Teachers also noted greater participation and interest in artistic activities. Despite the observed benefits, challenges in implementation were identified, such as the need for teacher training and the lack of adequate infrastructure. It was concluded that the integration of art workshops into the educational curriculum is essential to enhance creativity and critical thinking in students.