The purpose of this study is to look into what influence of activity of the educational program for brilliant children using robot electronic kit has on general middle school students' latent giftedness. For this purpose, this study developed the robo...
The purpose of this study is to look into what influence of activity of the educational program for brilliant children using robot electronic kit has on general middle school students' latent giftedness. For this purpose, this study developed the robot electronic kit for educational use, which makes it possible to teach the education ranging from basic electronic component to simple robot making by analyzing the contents of subjects for secondary education of the 2009 Educational Curriculum Revision. In addition, this study developed teaching-learning program for education for brilliant children using this educational tool, and applied this program to 30 general middle school students for a total of 4 weeks starting from September 28, 2013 until October 19, 2013. Then, this study conducted t-test of the two dependent samples with the pre-test. post-test design of single population for comparison of the change between pre-activity of program and post-activity of program with focus on the change in creative personality and scientific attitude among the sub-elements of giftedness. Further, this study supplemented the research design by drawing meaningful statements through the analysis of the research participants' records, etc. based on the observation log, and open questionnaire survey.
As this research object, this study screened a total of 30 students of the middle schools in Seoul by making an announcement of recruitment for the educational program activity for brilliant children using robot electronic kit in September, 2013. This study collected the information of participation objects based on applications for participation, and screened samples through stratified sampling as a sampling method in the light of the component ratio of the homogeneous group. This study asked for prior consent on the phone in advance from teachers of each school, and got applicants to have approval from their teachers or parents in their applications for participation. The study amended and supplemented the already developed program by diagnosing the problems in the program through mock application of the program to the primary pilot test, and then conducted the secondary field application of the program.
As a methodology of confirming the latent giftedness, this study dealt with the measurement variable, and conducted the test with emphasis on the scientific attitude and creative personality among some sub-components which have been discussed all this while. For the test of measuring creative personality, this study used the creative personality test developed by the Korea Education Development Institute(2004)'s research work by amending and supplementing it in line with this research. In addition, as a measurement tool of scientific attitude, this study chose and used 3 areas suited for the 'Scientific Attitude' test among 7 areas of TOSRA( Test of Science Related Attitudes).
The result of this study is summed up as follows:
First, this study developed robot electronic kit for educational use in the light of a middle school student's developmental level, number of class sessions, price of the kit, and easiness in field application and enhanced its accessibility for a wider range of users by putting a lower price on the kit than other robot kits. In addition, this study composed the kit components with the electronic parts included in the 2009 Educational Curriculum Revision. This robot electronic kit is available for phased assembly and also makes it possible to take level-based class according to a student's ability and needs. This kit is finally designed to make it possible for a student to make a design and apply by combining one's own robot tied up with creative technology and cultural artistry with real life materials. Robot electronic kit application in this research work elicited interest from students and could promote their concentration.
Second, this educational program for brilliant children developed 8-time-hours volume of teaching-learning guidance plan and learning materials around the previously developed robot electronic kit. The development of the educational program for brilliant children is composed on the basis of Renzulli's Enrichment Triad Model which was designed to be applicable to not only gifted children but also wider range of students. This program puts emphasis on students' ability to adapt themselves to general classes and link with general education by expanding the scope of gifted children. The content validity of the final program has been already verified by 3 specialists and 2 teachers in charge of program progression. In addition, this study made a final supplementation of the teaching-learning guidance plan so that the guidance plan can be properly used in more educational fields by putting together and collecting the program result and students' responses.
Third, as a result of the test of creative personality and scientific attitude among the sub-components of giftedness which was examined with much focus in this study, almost all participants were found to be improved greatly. The effect on creative personality showed statistically high significance value(p<.001). Particularly, participants showed the biggest change in 'Patience. Obsession' and 'Self-Conviction" elements among the sub-components of creative personality.
Along with this, the result of 'scientific attitude' test revealed a significant difference in the same way as creative personality(p<.001). In addition, The change in scientific attitude is showing a big change in all sub-areas. For this reason, it might be safely said that the educational program for brilliant children should be distributed to a lot broader range of students by getting out of the limited scope of brilliant children.
On the basis of this research result, this study is going to make a suggestion as follows: First, the educational program for brilliant children should be definitely introduced on a wider scale. Additionally, it's necessary to have a paradigm shift from the educational prejudice that the same program should be addressed to gifted children only, together with reorganization of thinking. Second, it's necessary to establish an educational environment for more intensified practice activities in and out of school and to have a continuous interest lest various educational benefits should be lopsided. Third, it's necessary to introduce several educational tools and to do research on their application plan for basic inquiry ability improvement through continued application and supplementation process of the educational program for brilliant children.