Analysis of Science Teaching and Learning for the Gifted at Elementary School Level

초등 과학영재수업의 교수ㆍ학습 실태 분석

This study aims to investigate science teaching and learning for the gifted in comparison with regular classrooms in elementary schools. A questionnaire was developed to survey gifted and general students＇ perceptions to elementary science teaching and teaming with employing a teaching and learning model for the gifted by Maker and Neilson (1995, 1996). The 28 item questionnaire consisted of four categories of content, teaching and teaming process, student product, and learning environment, and each category included six to nine items. Randomly selected 114 students from gifted classes and 99 students for regular classes responded to the questionnaire through the use of five-point Likert scale. It was found that there are significant differences between gifted and regular classes of science at all four categories of the teaching and learning model for the gifted. Therefore, science teaching and teaming for the gifted seemed to be differentiated from regular classes and emphasized students＇ creativity. However, no differences were appeared in a few items: study of gifted people and research methods (gifted=3.0; regular=.21 F=2.54), students＇ freedom of choice for topics of lessons, tasks, etc., (gifted=3.1; regular=3.0, F=0.31), student product addressed to real audience (gifted=2.8, regular=2.6, F=0.96), and students＇ high mobility to seek for data in library, etc. during class periods (gifted=2.3, regular= 2.3, F=0.01). It was concluded that science education for the gifted in Korea calls for quality improvement in terms of teaching and teaming in various aspects.