• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.609-620
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• 2011

This study examined how pre-service science teachers, who observed classes for the gifted in science, perceive the gifted in science and the education they are getting, and explored what needs to be improved in the classes for the gifted in science. Based on the results of this study, first, pre-service science teachers were negative about the giftedness of the gifted in science. Second, they recognized that various types of classes were not provided. Especially, while theoretical lectures were mostly offered, they recognized that it had a negative influence in developing the potential giftedness of the gifted in science. Third, they were negative about the absence of programs for improving creativity and thinking skills and teaching materials for the gifted in science; however, they were positive about self-directed learning. Fourth, they had a negative opinion on educational facilities and the number of students in classes. Fifth, they recognized that potential giftedness would be developed the most when the lecturer is a professor majoring in the subject. For improvements in the classes for the gifted in science, they referred to revising the distinction focusing on preceding learning, reinforcing teaching methods to improve creative thinking, constructing creative contents regardless of specific grades and curriculum, securing learning materials for the gifted, and the necessity of lecturers specialized in the education for the gifted. Eventually, pre-service science teachers have negative cognitions for the classes for the gifted in science offered by universities, and it was known that they mentioned the necessity of creative educational courses and professional lecturers, not pre-learning for improvements.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.485-510
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• 2011

This study aimed to analyze the appropriateness of chemistry teaching-learning programs for the gifted in science in middle school gifted classes and to propose improvements. For this study, 5 chemistry teaching-learning 4-6 hour programs developed for science gifted classes by Korea Education Development Institute (KEDI) and 3 chemistry teaching-learning programs developed for science gifted classes by three middle schools in K province were selected. A standard model for gifted education programs was used as tool for analyzing the program targets, program contents, teaching-learning methods, and assessment items. The results showed that all chemistry teaching-learning programs for the gifted in science presented well attainable objectives in the program targets. However, most program targets did not offer differentiated objectives from the general education. Program contents of KEDI stresses intensified education, and also presented a high ratio of sub-elements of creativity, which can enhance gifted creativity. On the other hand, program contents developed by three middle schools focused on acceleration in advancement, and presented low ratio of creativity sub-elements, which could be insufficient in enhancing gifted creativity. Differentiated and personalized, integrated science and interscience, updated research contents were hardly found in programs developed by KEDI and three middle schools. However, teaching-learning methods were composed to fit the learning objectives in the teaching process and the procedures, and were made to self-directed learning. There were no assessment for the feedback after class. Therefore, teaching-learning programs for the gifted in science should be developed further in order to fulfill the objectives of gifted education and gifted characteristics. Also, it is necessary to construct infrastructure to carry out the developed teaching-learning programs.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.487-502
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of SSC(Small-Scale Chemistry) lab program applying to scientifically gifted students' classes. The participants were 15 the middle school scientifically gifted students selected and enrolled in science-gifted education center of university. SSC lab program was applied for 3 month with 5 topics. The research design was one group pretest-posttest design, the data were analyzed using the PASW 18 statistics program. The results of this study were as follows: First, the scientific attitude of scientifically gifted students was improved significantly(p<.01) after applying SSC lab program. Especially, there were significant difference between pre-test and post-test in the scores of cooperativity, spontaneity, perseverance, which were the sub-region of scientific attitude. Second, the creative personality characteristics of scientifically gifted students showed statistically significant improvements(p<.01) after applying SSC lab program. Especially, there was significant difference between pre-test and post-test in the scores of adhesion, which was a sub-region of the creative personality characteristics. Third, there were no significant differences in the science inquiry skills between before and after applying the SSC lab program in the scientifically gifted students' classes(p>.05). The results suggest that SSC Lab program is an effective program in scientifically gifted students' classes.