Abstract:

The Enrichment Program in the Domains of Aptitude, Interest and Socialization (PEDAIS) implemented at ANEIS (National Association for the Study and Intervention in Giftedness) aims to develop the social, emotional and cognitive characteristics of children and young people with characteristics of giftedness and talent, aged between 3 and 18 years old. It consists of an extracurricular program, based on Joseph Renzulli's Triadic Enrichment Model, held on saturday mornings in a face-to-face format that, among other activities, includes STE(A)M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) projects and activities, thus seeking to respond to the interests, potential, expectations and skills of the participants.

Given the limitations imposed by COVID-19 to activities in face-to-face format, PEDAIS adopted the online format - #PEDAISemCasa (PEDAIS at home) for periods of varying duration since March 2020. Among the various projects developed remotely, the most noteworthy were those designed according to the STE(A)M approach and the Engineering Design Process methodology:
1) WWII Plane Challenge,
2) (Re)creating the Wonders of the World - 3D Challenge, and
3) STE(A)M Challenges - The Tallest Tower.

The main objective of these projects was to promote XXI century skills, in particular, creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and communication.

Therefore, through this cross-sectional study with a mixed methodology - qualitative and quantitative - it was possible to access the perceptions of a sample composed by 14 children and young people with high abilities, aged between 10 and 15 years old, regarding the three STE(A)M projects mentioned. The perceptions collected through an online questionnaire resulted in responses that were subjected to a mixed data analysis. The results obtained were generally in line with the expected results, i.e. there was an easy adaptation of the participants to carrying out these STE(A)M projects in an online format, as well as the transfer of the stages of the Engineering Design Process to other life contexts and the development of XXI century skills.

It is considered important to continue building, running, and evaluating projects with these characteristics to promote skills such as creativity, collaboration, and communication.

Keywords:

High abilities, Engineering Design Process, STE(A)M, Enrichment Programme, Online Learning.