The Effectiveness of Stem Enrichment Program Towards Young 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.