Development and Application of Identification Tools for Humanities and Social Sciences Gifted Students in Regular Classes Using Middle School Social Studies Curriculum

The purpose of this study is to develop and apply identification tools for humanities and social sciences gifted students in regular classes using the middle school social studies curriculum. Additional assessment tools and selection procedures not provided in the regular curriculum are necessary to implement gifted education in humanities and social sciences while operating the regular curriculum. The contents of this study are as follows. First, assessment tools were developed to identify candidates for gifted education programs in humanities and social sciences. In this study, written and performance assessments were designed to be implemented in regular classes using the social studies curriculum, and were analyzed based on the competencies targeted in social studies and the humanities and social sciences gifted competencies proposed by KEDI. Based on the analysis results, performance assessment tools were refined to ensure balanced manifestation of competencies, and these were applied as identification tools for humanities and social sciences gifted students. Second, using these identification tools, candidates for gifted education in humanities and social sciences were selected. Initially, students who showed excellent results in regular curriculum assessments (approximately the top 15%) were selected as candidates, and through in-depth interviews, students who demonstrated extensive knowledge and deep interest in humanities and social sciences, leadership qualities, and career inclinations toward humanities and social sciences were finally selected as candidates for gifted education. This study is expected to serve as valuable reference material for advancing methodologies in gifted education in the humanities and social sciences field.