Engineering Practices and Talented Young Students: Investigating Design Under Constraints

• In Event: 66.087 - MTCC Roundtable Session 30
  In Roundtable Session: 66.087-12 - Research on Creativity, Talent Development, and Giftedness

Abstract

Guided by the theoretical framework of curriculum as a platform for talent development, this field study investigated an intervention focused on engineering practices, problem-solving in science, and STEM biographies of scientists, engineers, and inventors. The sample comprised 204 identified gifted students in Grades 2 and 3 across 25 classrooms. Through a comparative design, multilevel modeling was used. No post-test performance gaps were associated with demographic variables of gender, underrepresented minority, or meal subsidy status. The intervention resulted in an effect size of 0.75 on the engineering outcome measure. Discussion focused on the use of core engineering concepts and the engineering design process enacted through elementary curricula as a promising academic domain to addresses excellence gaps in young, gifted students.

Authors

• Ann E. Robinson, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

• Jill L. Adelson, Duke University

• Keila Moreno Navarete, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

• Kristy Kidd, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

• Kathleen Cash, University of Louisville

• Christine M. Cunningham, The Pennsylvania State University