IMPACT
IMPACT
Instructional Model for Programming Applied Critical Thinking
The Medford Township Board of Education has adopted the educational philosophy that as an ultimate goal, the maximum development of the individual student in all phases of growth - intellectual, physical, social, moral, and emotional, should be attained. As such, they have recognized that there is a small segment of our student population which has outstanding intellectual, academic, and creative abilities and that these attributes create developmental needs which must be challenged.
Instructional Model for Programming Applied Critical Thinking
The Medford Township Board of Education has adopted the educational philosophy that as an ultimate goal, the maximum development of the individual student in all phases of growth - intellectual, physical, social, moral, and emotional, should be attained. As such, they have recognized that there is a small segment of our student population which has outstanding intellectual, academic, and creative abilities and that these attributes create developmental needs which must be challenged.
In a continuing effort to meet these needs, parents, educators and administrators have offered input into developing a special program for these students. This program, which is called I.M.P.A.C.T. (Instructional Model for Programming Applied Critical Thinking), is offered to fourth and fifth graders who have already proven to be extremely successful in our school approved curriculum.
I.M.P.A.C.T. was adopted to identify and meet the needs of Medford's highest achieving, intellectually mature, academically talented, and creative students. The methods of identifying those eligible for I.M.P.A.C.T. include criteria combining both objective and subjective measures. School achievement and intelligence, as well as, creativity and leadership abilities are skills which are considered for participation.
In order to meet the needs of these children, the following objectives were developed:
- Critical and creative thinking through the use of logical reasoning, imagery, and activities that engage divergent processes
- Methods and techniques used for problem solving
- A higher level of thinking skill through a variety of activities which engage divergent and accelerated thinking
The I.M.P.A.C.T. Program focuses on the higher levels of thinking: analysis, synthesis and evaluation, as well as developing creativity. Topics are taught through the application of these thinking processes. Topics for instruction may vary from year to year based on student interest and program evaluation.