Enhancing the effects of creativity training for business school students through art-based methods and blended learning

Purpose The content of training (art-based method) and instructional strategies (blended learning) can improve business school students' creativity and attempts to determine how training can be maintained using longitudinal tracking. The study aims to answer (1) whether the incorporation of art-based methods enhances the creativity of students compared to traditional face-to-face (F2F) teaching, and (2) whether such creative training and blended teaching methods have a higher transfer of training. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a two-stage design (1) it adopted a 2 x 2 (with or without art-based methods * blended teaching or F2F teaching) between-subject design of experiments with 221 participants and (2) a one-year follow-up study was conducted (participants who were employed for 6 months to one year after graduation) with 187 participants and their directors. Findings The results showed that the inclusion of art-based methods in the creative training of students strengthens creative ability of the students; there were no significant differences between blended and traditional learning. The authors examined the effect of transferring creative training through a questionnaire analysis of participants and employers of the participants. Self-regulated and self-directed learning positively influence motivation to transfer, which positively influences creative performance. Originality/value The higher the level of self-regulated and self-directed learning of students, the more effective the transfer of creative training is over time.

Automated summary

This study explores the impact of art-based methods and blended teaching strategies on the creativity of business school students, and determines how training effects can be maintained through longitudinal tracking. The findings suggest that art-based methods enhance students' creative ability, and there is no significant difference in creative training between blended and traditional teaching methods. Self-regulated and self-directed learning positively influence the effectiveness of training over time.