Cultivation of STEM Talent Catalysts and Life Satisfaction of the Specialized Science High School Alumni

• In Event: STEM in Gifted Education and Talent Development

Abstract

This study examined cultivation of personal catalysts of STEM talent in specialized science high schools in South Korea. 145 alumni of three national specialized science high schools responded to Catalysts Cultivation Survey, which was developed based on in-depth interviews with 23 eminent alumni of these schools. Through in-depth interviews, three affective (grit, interest in math, interest in science) and three cognitive catalysts (competency in math, competency in science, and creative problem solving competency) of STEM talent were identified. Alumni responded these catalysts were cultivated the most during the high school period in general. However, those alumni with low life satisfaction responded that cultivation of these catalysts was less during the high school than middle school period.

Authors

• Juah Kim, Korean Educational Development Institute

• Doehee Ahn, Chung-Ang University

• Seokhee Cho, St. John's University