Hector – Scientific Support for the Hector Children's Academies in Hessen and Baden-Württemberg
Hector Children’s Academies are extracurricular institutions that offer support to gifted children under the age of ten; they endorse a holistic approach. The aim of the project is a scientific monitoring of the support program. This includes the support of the implementation, the evaluation of the courses offered, the investigation of related scientific questions and the qualification of the coordinators of the Hector Children's Academies.
Project Description
With the goal of supporting gifted children the program Hector Children's Academies was launched in 2010 in Baden-Württemberg. Hector Children's Academies offer a voluntary extracurricular support program for particularly gifted children of primary school age with a special focus on the STEM fields. The main goals are the development of an adequate self-concept, the promotion of self-regulatory skills and social skills as well as the development of specific disciplinary competencies and general cognitive key qualifications. Hector Children’s Academies are funded by the Hector Foundation II and under the patronage of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.
Starting in 2023, the Hector Children's Academies program will also be implemented in Hessen. The aim is a comprehensive implementation of the program all over the federal state of Hessen, funded by the Hector Foundation II and coordinated by the Hessian Ministry of Education.
The program Hector Children's Academies includes scientific monitoring from the DIPF in cooperation with the Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology at the University of Tübingen. This includes scientific support with the implementation of the program, the development of courses, the qualification of the coordinators and multipliers, the evaluation of the program and the investigation of related scientific questions.
The project consists of four main areas.
Project Objectives
Development of Hector Core Courses
In this part of the project, two Hector Core Courses for gifted children in second grade will be developed and evaluated. The course BioLog is designed to sustainably promote scientific interests and scientific thinking. The course MuLog intends to promote musical skills, creativity and logical thinking.
Contact: Dr. Patrick Lösche, 069-24708-240, cC5sb2VzY2hlQGRpcGYuZGU=
Formative Evaluation and Development of the Hector Children's Academies Support Program
The focus of this part of the project is the development and improvement of the program with all its components. This includes the evaluation whether and to what extent the Hector Children's Academies can achieve their desired goals and can contribute to the positive development of gifted primary school children. In addition, generalizable findings on the development and support of gifted children shall be derived from the results. The scientific monitoring of the project is designed as a formative evaluation, so that important findings from the accompanying investigations can directly be used to improve the work of the Hector Children's Academies.
Contact: Dr. Nina Brück, 069-24708-569, bi5icnVlY2tAZGlwZi5kZQ==
Identification of Gifted Children
This part of the project deals with the development of suitable methods for a reliable identification of gifted children in elementary school. In addition, it is empirically examined to what extent a tailored assignment of potential and support measures lead to better long-term development of gifted children.
Contact: Dr. Patrick Lösche, 069-24708-240, cC5sb2VzY2hlQGRpcGYuZGU=
Qualification
This part of the project is responsible for qualification of the coordinators of the Hector Children's Academies. As part of the implementation of these courses in Hessen, staff at regional school offices take on coordinating tasks. They contribute to the realization and quality of the Children's Academies in their region. For this regional personnel a qualification program will be developed, implemented, and evaluated. This program will incorporate several components such as imparting theoretical knowledge on promoting giftedness and developing potential as well as pedagogical expertise in order to design high-quality learning opportunities.
Contact: Dr. Katharina Grunwald, 069-24708-839, ay5ncnVud2FsZEBkaXBmLmRl
Funding
Cooperations
This project is being carried out in cooperation with...
- Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology (University of Tübingen)
- Prof. Dr. Johannes Hasselhorn and Miriam Knebusch (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg)
- Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum (Frankfurt am Main)
- Prof. Dr. Garvin Brod (Unit Individualised Interventions at DIPF)
Project Management
Project Team
- Dr. Nina Brück
- Marius Büttgen
- Katharina Fink
- Dr. Katharina Grunwald
- Dr. Patrick Lösche
- Diana Richter
- Leonie Weindorf
Project Details
| Status: |
Current project
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|---|---|
| Areas of focus | |
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| Units: | |
| Education Sector: | Early Childhood Education |
| Duration: |
04/2010 – 12/2027
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| Funding: |
External funding
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| Contact: | Dr. Nina Brück, Coordinator |
