The effectiveness of stem enrichment program towards young gifted students
List of Authors
  • Azizah Mohd Zahidi , Nurul Suzaina Joli

Keyword
  • Effectiveness, Enrichment Program, Gifted Students

Abstract
  • The current education is on STEM towards preparing future human capital. As such, most of the education systems from different contexts have come up with various STEM-based courses to benefit their students. Among other STEM-based courses include Computer Programming, Crime Scene Investigation, Logical Reasoning, Cryptology, Fast-Paced Biology, Science Fiction, and Invention and Introduction to Robotics. These courses are normally taught to undergraduates and are considered high level. This study examines the incorporation of these STEM-based courses as an enrichment program on 284 students, aged 11 and 12 years old, in a three-week Summer Camp Program, organized by Pusat GENIUS@Pintar Negara, UKM. The students learned the STEM-based courses continuously for three weeks. Before teaching, they were given an off-level test as a pre-test to gauge their understanding and readiness on the subject matter. Various teaching techniques were used in the teaching such as; games, collaborative learning, dyad, small group discussion, short quizzes, and problem-based learning for a better understanding of the topics. Findings from the study show that there were statistically significant differences between the means of the student's achievement on the pre-test and post-test, indicating that students' performance improved due to the enrichment program. Students were found to perform better in the post-test as 96% of students showed an increment of marks from the pre-test. The results of the pre-test and post-test indicate that the programs had a statistically significant effect on students’ achievement. The students’ results were then assessed to determine the suitability and continuity of this program.

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