A Case Study on Gifted Education in Mathematics

The Center for Science Gifted Education (CSGE) of Chongju National University of Education was established in 1998 with the financial support of the Korea. Science & Engineering Foundation (KOSEF). In fact, we had prepared mathematics and science gifted education program beginning in 1997. It was possible due to the commitment of faculty members with an interest in gifted education. Now we have 5 classes in Mathematics, two of which are fundamental, one of which is a strengthened second-grade class gifted elementary school students, and one a fundamental class, and one a strengthened class for gifted middle school students in Chungbuk province. Each class consists of 16 students selected by a rigorous examination and filtering process. Also we have a mentoring system for particularly gifted students in mathematics. We have a number of programs for Super-Saturday, Summer School, Winter School, and Mathematics and Science Gifted Camp. Each program is suitable for 90 or 180 minutes of class time. The types of tasks developed can be divided into experimental, group discussion, open-ended problem solving, and exposition and problem solving tasks. Levels of the tasks developed for talented elementary students in mathematics can be further divided into grade 5 and under, grade 6, and grade 7 and over. Types of the tasks developed can be divided into experimental, group discussion, open-ended problem solving, and exposition and problem solving task. Also levels of the tasks developed for talented elementary students in mathematics can be divided into the level of lower than grade 5, level of grade 6, and level of more than grade 7. Three tasks developed and practiced are reported in this article.