Open AccessThe Effectiveness of Stem Enrichment Program Towards Young Gifted Students
Author(s) -
Nurul Suzaina,
Azizah Mohd Zahidi,
Nur Zakirah,
Sharifah Norul Akmar Syed Zamri,
Nursakinah Mat Hazir,
Azrina Md,
Jamaliah Hamdan,
Roslina Ahmad Faisal,
Noorsyakina Simin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
asian journal of research in education and social sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2682-8502
DOI - 10.55057/ajress.2021.3.4.5
Subject(s) - test (biology) , mathematics education , achievement test , psychology , dyad , computer science , standardized test , developmental psychology , paleontology , biology
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.