Regina Berkó

2.7 The Cyborg Project: Enhancing Creative and Complex Problem-Solving Skills through a Prosthesis Design Programme for 15–16-Year-Olds (Paper)

Regina Berkó – University of Szeged, Hungary

Abstract:

The PISA survey offers a global view of student skills in reading, mathematics, and science, with the 2022 assessment highlighting the value of creative thinking in high-achieving educational systems, particularly those with arts-rich curricula. Building on these findings, our study examines how arts-based activities can foster creativity and problem-solving. Through an international collaboration, Finland, Japan, Italy, and Hungary are assessing the impact of visual education on these skills, with each partner institution developing a unique programme focused on enhancing creativity and complex problem-solving. This presentation will share initial results from a ten-week pilot conducted with 15–16-year-old students at a Hungarian technical school, where students worked in teams to design functional prosthetics with innovative capabilities. Both creativity and complex problem-solving skills were measured, and the Rubric reflective method was used for the self-assessment of students, allowing them to track their development. The findings from these assessments, along with insights into the growth of hands-on creativity and complex problem-solving abilities, will be shared, offering valuable implications for educators and policymakers aiming to integrate interdisciplinary, skills-based learning approaches.

11.2 Cyborgs Are among us: Illustration of a Prosthesis Design Programme for 15–16-Year-Olds (Poster)

Regina Berkó – University of Szeged, Hungary

Abstract:

The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 survey highlights the value of creative thinking, particularly in arts-rich curricula found in many top-performing countries. Building on these findings, this project explores the potential of arts-based activities to foster creativity and problem-solving. This poster presents the results of the first phase of a pedagogical experiment conducted with 15–16-year-old students at a Hungarian technical school. The experiment took place over ten weeks, with sessions of two 45-minute periods per week. In this development programme, students were tasked with designing prosthetics that would grant users an extra ability. In teams, students created 3-dimensional, tactile models with functional features, promoting hands-on creativity and real-world problem-solving. The poster, richly illustrated, presents the design process of the project. By tracing students’ development from initial concepts to final solutions, readers of the poster can follow their growth in thinking and problem-solving step by step. Pre- and post-programme assessments reveal shifts in creativity and problem-solving skills, offering valuable implications for curriculum development.

Regina Berkó – Cyborgs Are among us: Illustration of a Prosthesis Design Programme for 15–16-Year-Olds (Poster)