Training and Mentoring Teachers in Using the I-CIBI Application for Initial Screening of Gifted and Talented Potential Among Elementary School Students: A Pre-Post Evaluation of Teachers’ Knowledge

Abstract

Identifying children with gifted and talented potential is essential for providing educational services that meet their individual needs. However, some elementary school teachers still rely on manually administered tests that may be difficult to standardize and document. This community service program aimed to improve teachers’ knowledge of the I-CIBI Application, a digital tool for preliminary screening of gifted and talented potential that requires subsequent formal assessment. Conducted on August 24-25, 2026, at Universitas Negeri Padang, the program involved 12 elementary school teachers and two students as simulation subjects. Activities included introductory sessions on gifted and talented potential, technical guidance, supervised application practice, and pre-training and post-training assessments using the same 10 multiple-choice questions. All participants completed both assessments. The mean score increased from 46.7 before training, with a standard deviation of 11.55, to 89.2 after training, with a standard deviation of 7.93. The mean individual score gain was 42.5 points, with a standard deviation of 13.57. Statistical analysis indicated a significant difference between the pre-training and post-training scores, with a t-statistic of 10.85, 11 degrees of freedom, a p-value below 0.001, and an effect size of 3.13. These findings indicate an immediate improvement in teachers’ knowledge scores following the training. However, the single-group design, small sample, repeated test items, and absence of follow-up limit the interpretation of the results. The program provides an initial model for translating university research into teacher capacity development and supports educational inclusion through partnerships between higher education institutions and schools.