The effect of VTL model with digital technique on promoting system 1 to system 2 switch for creative thinking: a five-year study through a global pandemic

The starting reasoning and promoting switch from intuitive system 1 to deliberate system 2 for provoking creative thinking is lacking feasible model, especially during the global pandemic. We established a visible, trainable and learnable (VTL) model with digital technique to promote this dual switch for creative thinking. This study was registered this project in Chinese clinical trial registry(Registration number: ChiCTR2200065100; Date of registration: 10–27,2022). Considering the education equity for each class, we performed this study in formal college classes utilizing a self-controlled study by testing the related indicators. We performed the VTL model and evaluated the related indicators in questionnaire from students who entered University in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018 in the same major and with the same knowledge background. And we found that this model helped students to get the positive effect of other psychological processes on starting human reasoning. What’s more, this model promoted social factors to provoke the switch from intuitive system 1 to deliberate system 2 in students’ reasoning. With this model, students had a better performance in the innovative initiative and a better master the content in the class, and also offered significantly more problem-solving solutions. Finally, digital technique also accelerated internal switch. This VTL model with digital technologies could significantly promote the dual switching, especially during COVID-19 pandemic. Graphical Abstract