The program of study is to develop PBL program for enhancing the 'humanities and social science insights' of the gifted elementary student in the humanities and social science.
The study consists contents as follows: With definition of 'the gifted in...
The program of study is to develop PBL program for enhancing the 'humanities and social science insights' of the gifted elementary student in the humanities and social science.
The study consists contents as follows: With definition of 'the gifted in the humanities and social science' through reviewing previous literatures and inquiry into PBL model for enhancing the 'humanities and social science insights', first, I chose themes to enhance the 'humanities and social science insights' of the gifted elementary students in the humanities and social science. Second, I decided teaching plan by developing PBL problems. Third, I applied the developed program to class for the gifted elementary students in the humanities and social science and diagnosed the problems and finally made suggestions for developing this PBL program for the gifted elementary students in the humanity and social science.
The definition of the gifted in the humanities and social science is a person 'who has highly social sensitiveness and can solve problems and produce creative outcomes using structures of language, information and social science'. The developed program was applied to 20 students in the 'class for the gifted students in the humanities and social science' and I conducted 28 hours' classes and analyzed reactions from learners and modified and supplemented the program.
The results of the study are following:
First, through reviewing previous literatures, I selected 'creative problem-solving ability', 'high-level thinking power', 'high-level linguistic performance' and 'leadership' for sub-elements for the 'humanities and social science insights' of the gifted elementary students in the humanities and social science. In order to select themes, I analyzed the goals of elementary subjects closely related to the humanities and social science(Ethics, Korean Language and Social Studies) and decided the theme 'Multicultural Education' which can forms concepts of 'change', 'diversity' and 'interaction', goals of knowledge. As a result, common features in the final products by learners suggested recognition of 'diversity' among people in society and their desirable interaction and aimed to happy world respecting human right. From results of 'sharing impressions' and 'self-evaluation', it turned out leadership element, creative problem-solving ability, thinking power and linguistic performance improved.
Second, for the PBL model, I applied Jo Youn Soon(2004)'s model which was designed for Korean educational circumstances on elementary students and developed problems 'Considering the curriculum, figuring out learners' characteristics, selecting potential problems & mapping, setting roles and situations and making problem scenarios' in order and planned curriculum consisting of 'facing problems-planning for solving problem-searching and re-searching information - inventing solutions - presentations and evaluation'. The developed situation problem was 'to introduce supports for multicultural families as member of civil groups'.
Third, as the results of putting the developed program to the project with the total 28 hours of class, there were problems in each program and its application. For problems provoked from learning stage of the PBL program was brisk 'suggestion of potential solutions' without guidance by teacher in 'facing problems', It was similar to 'generating hypothesis' after 'discussing problems' in model by Barros & Myers(1993)' PBL generally used in medical schools(making small groups and assigning tutor-suggesting problems on imaginary patient-discussing problems-generating hypothesis, distinguishing events, pointing out study problems-collecting information-evaluating usefulness on information resources-reevaluating problems-demonstrating results and presentation-self evaluation and evaluation by co-workers). Then there were problems in the process because teacher didn't consider the gifted children's characteristics. Because of learners' higher 'social sensibility' and 'curiosity', it took longer hours in 'prompting motivation' and 'planning for solving problems' than expected. And it was not active in reaching agreements for 'things to know more' and making comprehensive material for sharing the entire information because of learners' strong self-direction so teacher had to intervene deeply in them. I did not compare them with ordinary children but according to analysis of the previous literatures, the gifted children show higher social sensibility, strong curiosity and obsession for commitment and pursue perfection and it was applicable to learners, this study's research subjects.
So, synthesizing these results, I have the following conclusions:
First, themes for enhancing the 'humanities and social science insights' of the gifted elementary students in the humanities and social science are related to subjects like Ethics, Korean Language and Social Studies and to select themes which are social issues in real life context is effective. As multi-disciplinary curriculum includes important contents and functions for national and social perspectives and suggests 35 themes which fosters abilities to lead to world which changes integratedly, if it is restructured fit to the gifted children's level and features, it will be proper to develop the 'humanities and social science insights'. Second, the learning stages for PBL for the gifted students basically consist of facing problems-planning for solving problem-searching and re-searching information - inventing solutions - presentations and evaluation' and if, in particular, 'potential solutions' for the final results are discussed in each stage, learners can play more leading problem solver and suggest practicable solutions.
Third, the most remarkable characteristics in the entire process were 'social sensibility', 'strong curiosity' and 'self-direction'. 'Higher social sensibility' has influences on challenging minds against the problems and will to solve them in the entire process and in order to control learners' 'higher curiosity' and 'strong self-direction', it requires teacher's active intervention.
From these research results and conclusions, I suggest considerations for developing the PBL program for the gifted students in the humanities and social science as follows: First, characteristics of the gifted children should be considered for developing and applying the PBL program for the gifted children in the humanities and social science. Second, if the program is developed with consideration of their 'higher social sensibility', it will influence problem-solving ability, creative thinking power and leadership and then social insights will grow. However, these characteristics appeared in the study should be identified whether it is the gifted student's reaction or the effect by the program through future studies.