Development of a curriculum on research with innovation for potentially gifted elementary learners: A Delphi study

Abstract

Filipino gifted learners require tailored learning experiences to develop essential research and innovation skills for future success in industrial revolutions. This study was conducted to determine topics and competencies to develop a curriculum guide for Research with Innovation for potentially gifted elementary learners based on the inputs of experts. Through the paradigm of pragmatism, the study employed a three-round Delphi technique. Gifted professionals, potentially gifted learners, parents of potentially gifted learners, curriculum experts, curriculum implementers, and content experts composed the Delphi expert panel. There were 17, 13, and 9 of them who informed the three rounds respectively. Data were gathered through open-ended questionnaires and Likert-scales and were analyzed using median, percentage, interquartile range, and reflexive thematic analysis. Findings revealed agreement and consensus at 94.23% of topics and competencies on the second round and 88.89% on the final round leading to three thematic clusters: Inspiring Curiosity and Creativity, Engaging in Scientific Inquiry and Design Thinking, and Thinking Towards the Future. Also, Agreement and consensus on curriculum framework elements were 100% in first the second round and 97.43% on the third round. These were used to design and develop Research with Innovation curriculum for potentially gifted elementary learners. Accompanying this is a novel learner-centered innovation learning experience model has five phases namely. State the need, Talk about it, Act on it, Reflect on it, and Share it (STARS), proposed for teachers and learners. The evaluation of the five curriculum experts, curriculum implementers, and content experts, shows that they strongly agreed on the curriculum's balance, alignment, articulation, sequence, integration, and agreed on its continuity. The use and implementation of this curriculum is desired to nurture talent in research and innovation among potentially gifted elementary learners.