The purpose of this paper was to develop and evaluate of an educational model focused on creativity and character for science-gifted students by determining the concept of creativity and character education.
First of all, it was investigated the dire ...
The purpose of this paper was to develop and evaluate of an educational model focused on creativity and character for science-gifted students by determining the concept of creativity and character education.
First of all, it was investigated the direction of science gifted education based on creativity and character by perception in gifted education field. The results of the study showed that the participants perceived character, creativity, leadership, and morality as the important capability in the future society. Also, they wanted to explore the science as much as they wish, form values as a leader, and feel a sense of accomplishment through a collaborative research project. Next, it was investigated the teaching and learning method of science gifted education based on creativity and character by Delphi survey. As a result by a total 3 round Delphi study, the concept of creativity and character education for science gifted students was to promote character development through the effectively interactive communications in the process of creative problem finding and solving.
An educational model focused on creativity and character for science-gifted students was developed as the analyzing previous research and conducting a literature review. The developed model, termed the Blossom Model, consists of four educational dimensions: leadership (LE), science inquiry (SIE), convergence (CE), and problem-based (PBE). 1) LE is on the axis of concept and emotion, and allows students to find the concepts of creativity, character and leadership by themselves and connect them to their feelings in order to find value in learning and motivate themselves. 2) SIE is on the axis of concept and process, and allows students to learn scientific concepts, inquiry methods and skills, and experience scientific principles by practicing them in real life. 3) CE is on the axis of process and behavior, and allows students to treat scientific issues in various ways, make correct decisions through communication, and produce outcomes based on knowledge and technology. 4) PBE is on the axis of emotion and behavior, which leads students to judge the common good of mankind, think from a global perspective and set science-related global problems into practice. Each axis is used to explain the dimensions of teaching-learning to fit the main purpose of education. However, the educational dimensions of the developed model include other axes’ meaning in addition to the suggested axes.
For verifying effectiveness, the education programs according to the model were developed with four secondary school teachers, and were applied to unit schools’ gifted education classes or district education office’s gifted education center. After class, in-depth interviews were held with teachers and students’ outcomes were collected. So the effective uses of the model were suggested by analyzing these results.
As a result, the effective uses of science gifted education model based on creativity and character were as follows. First, the education programs might be connected on a big idea or theme and developed by teacher learning community. Second, each of four axes in the Blossom model might be used to explain the dimensions of teaching-learning to fit the main purpose of education. Third, teacher network construction and teacher autonomy are needed to cooperate and apply. Lastly, industry-university-research collaboration system will be needed that gifted students could experience scientific technique as practical contexts.