The Relationship Between Learner-Centered Teaching Methods and Academic Achievement Among First-Year High School Students in Korea: The Mediating Effect of Creativity

Objectives This study examined the relationship between learner-centered teaching methods, creativity, and academic achievement. Additionally, this study analyzed the mediating effect of creativity in the relationship between learner-centered teaching methods and academic achievement. Methods To achieve this, data from the “Korea Educational Longitudinal Study 2013,” conducted by the Korean Educational Development Institute (KEDI), were utilized. The study collected responses from 3,882 valid samples of first-year high school students regarding learner-centered teaching methods, creativity, and academic achievement. To explore the relationships and mediating effects, bootstrapping analysis using the SPSS Process Macro was conducted. Results The results of this study indicate that learner-centered teaching methods significantly influence creativity. Creativity also significantly affects academic achievement. Furthermore, the impact of learner-centered teaching methods on academic achievement is significant. The mediating effect of creativity in the relationship between learner-centered teaching methods and academic achievement is also significant. Conclusions Learner-centered teaching methods play a crucial role in enhancing creative thinking skills, ultimately positively impacting academic achievement. These findings underscore the importance of applying learner-centered teaching methods and fostering creative thinking abilities to enhance high school students' academic performance.