Unlocking Young Children’s Potential with STEAM: Special Online Programme for Gifted Young Children
摘要
There are gifted children across various age groups and regions, many of which still wait for the educational support and opportunities they deserve. Among children with special needs, younger gifted children are the most frequently ignored worldwide. The integrated focus of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) education on problem-solving and innovation in real-life contexts makes it an ideal framework for nurturing and recognising gifted children and their exceptional talents. Providing STEAM education at an early age can contribute to cultivating each child’s strengths, allowing their individuality and diversity to flourish. This chapter explores key dimensions associated with unlocking gifted children’s potential through early STEAM education provision, focusing on three core aspects: dispelling the assumption that children are primitive and passive beings; eliminating disciplinary and gender stereotypes, such as ‘science is for boys’; relinquishing the pursuit of perfectionism. A case study of Generative AI-based programs is also introduced. This chapter provides introductory information about STEAM education program for gifted young children online, explores the importance of both providing high-quality education for such children from an early age and establishing a network for them, and explores the possibilities of gifted education and talent development from an early age through the use of digital tools.