An Evaluation on Science Camp Program for the Gifted and Students¡¯ Activities

Abstract

Science camp is one of the informal way of teaching and gives students a chance to inquiry in which they discover problems and solve it. In a formal education, it is difficult to provide intensive learning with gifted students. Science camp could be an alternative way of learning for them. However, science camps for gifted students rarely have been held also a few involving researches have been conducted over the recent decades. So, it has been hard to get some educational implications about the science camp for the gifted. Thus, we chose a global science camp currently held for the gifted in science, and then, evaluating programs and analyzing students¡¯ activities were done. The science camp program satisfaction survey was also conducted. The results of this study as follow: First, The global student camp for the gifted in science was appropriate in developing ICT utilization skill, creative problem solving skill and teaching scientific concept as well as scientific attitude. Second, the students participated in the camp had higher inquiry skill and creative problem solving skill than average, but their ability to communicate was influenced by their English level. Third, the students preferred programs that were easy to understand, beneficial, interesting, and able to participate in. The satisfaction of the programs including discussions depended on students¡¯ English ability. The implications of these findings are considered.