fostering gifted ness and creativity: implementing Engineering byDesign™ in Kuwait

摘要

In 2010, the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) founded the Sabah Al Ahmad Center for Giftedness and Creativity (SACGC). The Center supports Kuwait's Strategic Development Plan and the country's commitment to nurture gifted and talented youth. The Center also supports the work of talented adult inventors and entrepreneurs by providing financial support and facilities to assist with product development and the patent process. In early 2015, the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) was approached by General Manager Dr. Omar Al-Bannai and Curriculum Coordinator Mr. Meshari Alnouri from the SACGC after reviewing other comparable programs to support innovation and design education at the Center. ITEEA, through the implementation of the Engineering by Design~(TM)(EbD~(TM)) curriculum, has since partnered with SACGC to further the mission of the SACGC: Contributing to build a Kuwaiti society that fosters giftedness and creativity. Prior to this partnership, technology and engineering education was not a part of public primary or secondary education in Kuwait. Kuwait teacher education programs do not prepare technology and engineering teachers. The relationship between the SACGC and ITEEA has founded technology and engineering education as a discipline in Kuwait and has drawn math and science teachers together in partnership to implement integrative STEM education for the first time.