What type of activities can best help gifted students develop their engineering skills?

Hands-on projects like building models are highly effective in helping gifted students develop their engineering skills because they engage learners in active problem-solving and critical thinking. These kinds of activities allow students to apply theoretical concepts in practical ways, fostering creativity and encouraging innovation. By physically manipulating materials and constructing models, students can better understand complex engineering principles and the design process.

Such projects often require teamwork, planning, and the ability to troubleshoot, providing a rich learning experience that goes beyond rote memorization or passive learning methods. This experiential approach aligns well with the needs of gifted learners, who often thrive when challenged with real-world applications and opportunities to explore and create. Through this type of activity, students can better internalize engineering concepts and gain confidence in their ability to think like engineers.