Study
Human FactorsHigh ImpactModerate effect

Wholistic Education Models Prioritize Balanced Student Development

Educational institutions with a philosophy of developing the 'whole student' aim to cultivate well-balanced, responsible individuals prepared for lifelong service.

Academic Publication · 2020

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Key Findings

  • 01All four institutions share two common overarching goals: developing well-balanced, productive, responsible citizens, and fostering students who mature into individuals who regard serving humanity as an important, lifelong component of personal fulfillment.
  • 02While definitions and implementations of wholistic education differ, the emphasis on integrated student development remains consistent.
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Application

Design takeaway

Integrate physical development strategies within a broader framework of personal and social responsibility to foster well-rounded individuals.

How to apply

When designing educational experiences or facilities, consider how physical aspects can support broader goals of character development, civic responsibility, and personal fulfillment.

Project actions

  • 01When researching user needs, consider multiple dimensions of well-being, not just the functional aspect.
  • 02Explore how physical design elements can support psychological and social development goals.
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Method & Evidence

AimHow do higher educational institutions with a wholistic approach to education interpret and implement the development of the whole student, particularly the physical dimension?
MethodQualitative descriptive multiple case study
ProcedureThe study involved interviews, focus groups, observations, and document reviews at four institutions with distinct wholistic educational philosophies.
ContextHigher education institutions

Variables

IVEducational philosophy (wholistic vs. other)
DVInterpretation and implementation of physical dimension development, student outcomes (balanced citizens, service-oriented)
CVType of institution (e.g., Work Colleges, Adventist schools)
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Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Utilizes a qualitative, in-depth case study approach to understand complex educational philosophies.
  • +Examines multiple institutions for comparative insights.

Limitations

The findings might be specific to institutions with a strong philosophical or religious underpinning for wholistic development.

Reliability & validity

The qualitative nature of the study provides rich, in-depth data but may have limitations in generalizability. Triangulation of data sources (interviews, documents, observations) enhances validity.

Think critically

To what extent can the principles of 'wholistic development' be applied to non-educational design contexts, and what would be the equivalent 'dimensions' to consider?

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Design Principles

"Design for the whole person by considering the interplay between physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development."

Understanding how educational philosophies integrate physical development with other dimensions of a student's growth can inform the design of learning environments and programs. This holistic approach emphasizes the interconnectedness of physical, mental, and social well-being, which is crucial for fostering comprehensive personal development.

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What This Means for Your Design

Schools that want to develop students completely (mind, body, and spirit) focus on making them balanced, responsible people who want to help others throughout their lives.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Reference this study when discussing the importance of user-centered design that addresses multiple facets of human experience, such as physical, psychological, and social well-being.
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Add to My Project

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Quick Cite

(2020). Philosophy and Practice of Wholistic and Physical Student Development at Select Seventh-day Adventist Higher Educational Institutions and Work Colleges. Academic Publication. https://doi.org/10.32597/dissertations/1738 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/a37273ed-1a18-4803-86e8-0b8b26ee77c7/wholistic-education-models-prioritize-balanced-student-development

Paragraph starter

This study by Chase (2020) demonstrates that educational institutions committed to wholistic development aim to cultivate well-balanced, responsible individuals prepared for lifelong service. This approach underscores the importance of integrating physical development within a broader framework of personal and social growth, a principle applicable to designing user experiences that foster comprehensive well-being.

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Source

Academic Publication

Philosophy and Practice of Wholistic and Physical Student Development at Select Seventh-day Adventist Higher Educational Institutions and Work Colleges

journal · 2020

View source

Questions about this research

What does the research say about wholistic education models prioritize balanced student development?
Integrate physical development strategies within a broader framework of personal and social responsibility to foster well-rounded individuals. Evidence: Academic Publication (2020).
Why does "Wholistic Education Models Prioritize Balanced Student Development" matter for design?
Understanding how educational philosophies integrate physical development with other dimensions of a student's growth can inform the design of learning environments and programs. This holistic approach emphasizes the interconnectedness of physical, mental, and social well-being, which is crucial for fostering comprehensive personal development.
How can designers apply this research?
Integrate physical development strategies within a broader framework of personal and social responsibility to foster well-rounded individuals.
What were the main findings?
All four institutions share two common overarching goals: developing well-balanced, productive, responsible citizens, and fostering students who mature into individuals who regard serving humanity as an important, lifelong component of personal fulfillment.. While definitions and implementations of wholistic education differ, the emphasis on integrated student development remains consistent.
What research method was used?
Qualitative descriptive multiple case study.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2020 journal from Academic Publication.
What should I do differently in my next project?
When designing educational experiences or facilities, consider how physical aspects can support broader goals of character development, civic responsibility, and personal fulfillment.
What are the limitations?
The study focused on specific types of institutions (Seventh-day Adventist and Work Colleges), potentially limiting generalizability to other educational contexts.
Is there evidence that development affects design outcomes?
Despite variations in their specific approaches, educational institutions focused on wholistic development universally aim to produce well-rounded individuals committed to service and personal fulfillment. Understanding how educational philosophies integrate physical development with other dimensions of a student's gro Source: Academic Publication (2020).
Where does this student development research apply?
Higher education institutions It sits within human factors research on designdex.org.

Related research topics

development design research · evidence on development · does development improve design outcomes · student development studies for designers · development and student development findings · human factors research evidence