Enhancing Computational Thinking Through Off-School STEAM Programs for Gifted Students

The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE) is a government-subsidized organization offering off-school learning opportunities for gifted students aged 10-18. In collaboration with universities and professional bodies, HKAGE provides around 400 programs annually. To nurture future innovation and technology (I&T) talents, the Academy has recently focused on STEAM-related programs. This study aimed to identify the effectiveness of STEAM programs on gifted students. Analysis of 871 participants revealed that technology-related activities could effectively foster Computational Thinking (CT) competencies among gifted students, which are of fundamental importance for technological innovations and applicable to different disciplines. The findings indicate that, beyond fostering interest and aspiration, HKAGE is well-positioned to make substantial impacts through structured and specialized STEAM training, which is unaffordable in regular schools.