Investigating the effect of the STEAM (science-technology-engineering-art-mathematics)-based pointilism activities on the learning styles of gifted/talented children aged between 11-14

In this study, the prospective changes that STEAM-based pointilism activities have made on the learning ways of gifted/ talented learners aged between 11-14 have been investigated. In line with this purpose, the answers to 3 sub-problems have been sought in the study, designed with a qualitative research design. For the question 'Does STEAM-based integrated learning model create a change in the conceptual knowledge level of gifted/ talented learners?' conceptual knowledge test form with open ended questions; for the question 'Does STEAM-based integrated learning model create a change in the skill development of gifted/ talented learners?' observation forms and worksheets and for the question 'Is the pointilism technique in the STEAM-based integrated learning model effective in the skill development of gifted/ talented learners?', activity evaluation forms have been used for data collection and the data has been analyzed through descriptive content analysis. In addition, participants' previous experiences and artistic backgrounds have been taken through written-interview-forms and been considered during the evaluation process. The participants of the study are 19 gifted/ talented students aged between 11 and 14, in the visual arts departments of two different art and science centres, in İzmir and Manisa provinces. The activities of the study include puzzle works prepared within STEAM integrated model; layer study od artwork fort he discovery of cyan, magenta, yellow and black; applied experiments on pigment and light colors and the presentation of the pointilism technique and applications of art. Visual art teachers in the relevant art and science centres took part in the study as observer teachers, in each activity. At the end of the activities,for the first sub problem, a progress at the rate of % 39,13 on average, from basic level (%22,13) towards good level(%61,25) in the conceptual knowledge; for the second sub problem, progress from lower avarage level(% 35,14) towards the upper avarage level (%53,48), at the rate of 18,33 on avarage, in the skill development and for the third sub problem, from the rate of %65 towards the rate of % 18,86, a progress at the range of %9,21 on basic level in the skill development of the participants. Accordingly, it has been foreseen and recommended that the relevant group should be supported with long-term, regular intervals and original artistic materials, for further development of conceptual knowledge and skills. Keywords: Gifted/ talented learners, STEAM, pointilism