Gifted Students Journey to Reed Wetlands and National Bio Resource Institute

"Elementary and middle school students from the gifted education center embarked on an ecological experience at Sihwa Lake Reed Wetlands?"

The Gifted Education Center, affiliated with Gyeonggi Province Hwaseong-Osan Office of Education, led 79 students on a field study for natural ecological experience on the 23rd as part of the "2010 Academic Year Second Semester Field Experience Learning."

The students visited Sihwa Lake Reed Wetlands Park and the National Institute of Biological Resources in Incheon Metropolitan City.

An official from the gifted education center stated, "This field experience learning is an important part of the learning methodology that facilitates understanding of the interrelationships between organisms and the environment, and provides learning experiences through direct experience where students can autonomously acquire scientific principles."

For this reason, the gifted education center dedicates 30 hours of the total 163-hour curriculum to field experience learning, operating various programs including first and second semester field trips and a two-night, three-day summer camp."

At Sihwa Lake Reed Wetlands Park that day, students had the opportunity to directly experience the self-purification principles of wetlands and understand the importance of wetland preservation value, including wetland types, functions, and roles.

The National Institute of Biological Resources allowed students to directly observe 11 million biological specimens, Asia's largest collection, developing their abilities to pursue experience-based education on biodiversity and conservation as well as self-directed exploratory learning.

Students appreciated the diversity and value of biological resources such as archaea, protists, and fungi, experiencing firsthand the environmental and economic value of future advanced industries.

In response, the center official said, "Through more diverse and creative educational activities to discover and nurture excellent gifted students early, and to provide opportunities for students to fully exercise their talents, we plan to further activate experience-based curricula in partnership with local governments and regional businesses moving forward."