2026 Math & Science Gifted Education Program in South Korea: A Systems Thinking Approach
I will introduce a pioneering case: the first-ever application of Systems Thinking in Gifted Education in South Korea. In Korea, gifted education is operated by local education offices under the national education law. This program is unique for two reasons. First, Systems Thinking was applied for the first time within an official, law-based gifted program. In other words, it received formal institutional recognition. Second, the curriculum employs a single core concept: Stock–Flow. It is an experimental Systems Thinking program with no Causal Loop Diagrams. In Systems Thinking, Causal Loop Diagrams (CLDs) and Stock-Flow Diagrams (SFDs) are often used together. Here, however, I intentionally designed the entire program using the Stock–Flow concept alone. Here is the overview. This program serves fifteen selected Grade 7 students, the first year of middle school in Korea. As mentioned, we approach system structures using the Stock and Flow concept vis...