This article describes how a series of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were implemented in the Hector Children's Academy Talent Development Program with the goal of generating mutual benefits for research and practice. The Hector Children's Academy Program, founded in 2010 and located in one of the largest states in Germany, Baden-Württemberg, is a statewide enrichment program for talented primary school students, with a focus on STEMM topics. The program is financed by a private foundation, supervised by the Ministry of Education, and offered by 69 local sites that are hosted by local schools. About 15,000 primary school students (Grades 1–4) attend enrichment courses (more than 23,000 course participations) offered by the Hector Children's Academy Program every year. A unique element of the Hector Children's Academy Program is the role of empirical research in course development. The Hector Core Courses—offered by all local sites—undergo a strict quality assurance process in which RCTs are used to test their effectiveness with regard to central outcomes. After describing the Hector Children's Academy Program, we explain how the Hector Core Courses were developed and incorporated into the program, summarize key findings from the RCTs, and discuss mutual benefits for research and practice.

中文翻译：

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研究与实践的互惠互利：赫克托儿童学院计划中的随机对照试验


本文介绍了赫克特儿童学院人才发展计划如何实施一系列随机对照试验（RCT），以实现研究和实践的互惠互利。赫克托儿童学院项目成立于 2010 年，位于德国最大的州之一巴登-符腾堡州，是一个面向有才华的小学生的全州范围内的强化项目，重点关注 STEMM 主题。该计划由私人基金会资助，由教育部监督，并由当地学校主办的 69 个当地站点提供。每年约有 15,000 名小学生（1-4 年级）参加赫克托儿童学院项目提供的强化课程（超过 23,000 人次课程参与）。赫克托儿童学院项目的一个独特要素是实证研究在课程开发中的作用。 Hector 核心课程（由所有本地站点提供）经过严格的质量保证流程，其中使用随机对照试验来测试其在中心成果方面的有效性。在描述赫克托儿童学院计划后，我们解释了赫克托核心课程是如何开发并纳入该计划的，总结了随机对照试验的主要发现，并讨论了研究和实践的互惠互利。