Ateneo EDGES Program
Education for Elementary Gifted Student
This is an Academic Support Program for the
Intellectually Gifted students of Ateneo de Davao University
Grade School. Providing this group of students with opportunities
to perform novel tasks and learning conditions early in life
can help them discover the patterns and relationships they can
use to adapt to the changing conditions around them. Students
identified as gifted are provided services designed to meet
their specialized educational needs with consideration given
to individual learning styles, interests and aspirations
Program Goals
The Ateneo de Davao University Grade School Academic Support Program for the Gifted strives
to ensure the continued development of the potential of the gifted students through the
following goals:
1. To provide an instructional program which encourages students to become
independent learners, effective problem solvers and creative thinkers.
2. To provide a curriculum that gives opportunities for students
to maximize their learning potentials.
3. To prepare students higher levels of learning.
Who are the gifted?
Ateneo de Davao University Grade School adapted definition
Gifted children are those who perform well on qualitative and quantitative instruments that
measure giftedness in both aptitude and achievement and have the capability to learn at greater
depth more quickly and that they may have interests which may predate those of their peers.
(Areti (1976), Parke (1988)). A three fold process was used in identifying the gifted
Phase I - Screening stage ,Phase2 -Identification Stage, Phase3 -Placement Stage.
I. Science -Ateneo EDGES Program
The Science Program for the gifted is inspired by Renzulli who developed a sequence of activities
which begins with exploration of many potential areas of interest, leads through series of exercises, drills,
experiments and games in which students may refine skills necessary for the development of thinking skills and feeling processes and finally challenges the gifted students to conduct an in-depth investigations of chosen areas of interest (Tuttle 1989).
The curriculum focus of Science for this program is the systematic development of thinking abilities of the students to pursue investigation of area
of interest, draw generalization from many exploration activities and produce quality work.
The program permits pupils to approach larger, more authentic scientific problems
using-data -collection and other scientific tools. The program employs a modular approach.
The program assumes some kind of differentiated instruction necessary for the gifted individual.
II. Science Objectives
The Ateneo de Davao Grade School Science Program for the Gifted would like the pupils
1. to value the learning as an end to itself and not as a means of getting reward such as approval,
grades and high test scores.
2. to develop pupils who are mastery -oriented, learning -oriented and task -oriented.
3. to apply scientific method to the problem of discovering how technology affects our lives and
how we could manage technology innovations to support social values.
III. Catholic Jesuit Education and the Science Program for the Gifted
The Science Program for the Gifted adhere to the objective of Jesuit education to assist in the
fullest possible development of all God given talents of each individual person as a member of
human community.(CJE 1.1 paragraph 25)
To realized this, the program provides opportunities for the students to master their own learning;
to translate into action their own ideas thereby producing projects which has social relevance.
The Science Program for the Gifted adhere to the objective of Jesuit Education to instill a joy
in learning and a desire to learn that will remain beyond the days in school. (CJE 2.3 paragraph 46)
The program's objective is to develop learners who value
learning as an end to itself. The program will try to translate CJE 2.3 into classroom practices
that will enable students to be constructors of their own knowledge thus motivating them to become
independent learner and assume the responsibility for his or her own education.
Moreover, the Science Program for the Gifted adhere to the objective of Jesuit Education to help
students realize that talents are gifts to be developed, not for self -satisfaction or self-gain,
but rather, with the help of God, for the good of human community.
The program commits itself to providing students opportunities to discuss, examine and take a
stand in social issues brought about by scientific advancement; examples are issues that posed
environmental problems and other health hazards in the environment.
IV. Nature and Scope
