Gifted Education and the Threat of Irrelevance

1996 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
James H. Borland
Keyword(s):  
Gifted Education ◽  
Educational Philosophy ◽  
Critical Appraisal ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Gifted Programs ◽  
Major Topic ◽  
As If

In this paper, I argue that, when one subjects the field of gifted education to critical appraisal, the most important finding that emerges is a sense that the field is increasingly irrelevant in the educational scheme of things. At a time when education is a major topic in the discourse of the nation and when fundamental issues of educational philosophy and practice are being raised, our field has been largely marginal. Instead of asking the questions that are and ought to be basic to our field, we have left that task to others, contenting ourselves instead with defending gifted programs as if they were an end, not a means to an end. I develop this argument in the context of a number of fundamental questions that bear on the theory and practice of educating gifted students, questions that have, for the most part, been raised by individuals outside the field of gifted education.

Providing Equity in Gifted Education in a Single-State Country

2021 ◽  
pp. 001698622110405
Author(s):  
Sema Tan
Keyword(s):  
Gifted Education ◽  
Teacher Candidates ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Equal Opportunities ◽  
Gifted Programs ◽  
Careful Planning ◽  
Entire Country ◽  
Single State ◽  
Delivery Options ◽  
Unequal Opportunities

Turkey adopts a single-state (centralized/unitary) system that results in following the same identification procedures and providing similar service delivery options for the entire country. At first glance, this might seem like a fair way to achieve equity within public school gifted programs. However, a close look at this system reveals several handicaps such as implementing the same teacher training program for all teacher candidates, ignoring the unequal opportunities provided in the most (İstanbul) and least (Şırnak) economically developed cities, and the accessibility of services delivered to gifted students. Turkey has paid much attention to the education of the gifted and taken several important steps for improvement in the last three decades. However, a need for bigger changes to achieve equity in gifted education is clear. With a careful planning and implementation, appropriate changes might pave the way for gifted students to access more equal opportunities to fulfill their potential.

scholarly journals Learning from the voices and life trajectories of our most able students: A listening guide analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-49
Author(s):  
Harry Killas ◽  
C Owen Lo ◽  
Marion Porath ◽  
Yuen Sze Michelle Tan ◽  
Chia-Yen Hsieh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gifted Education ◽  
Original Film ◽  
Qualitative Method ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Listening Guide ◽  
Gifted Programs ◽  
Life Trajectories ◽  
The Listening Guide

The “Superkids,” a group of highly gifted students, were first portrayed in a 2004 documentary. In response to the question of what happened to these students after the original film, a second documentary has been produced. The sequel focused on these individual’s lives, their retrospective insights about gifted education, their educational and career choices, and their reflections on their early adulthood. Transcripts of filmed interviews were analyzed using The Listening Guide, a qualitative method for understanding and interpreting voices. The researchers further highlighted first-person voices that may not have been apparent in interviews. This information was used to identify contrapuntal voices among the participants that reflected their views on the meaning of giftedness and their experience of studying in full-time congregated gifted programs. These voices provided a foundation for understanding the variety of pathways to accomplishment, the meaning of the gifted label, and the purpose of education at large.

Assessment in Gifted Education: A Review of the Literature From 2005 to 2016

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 163-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thuy Hong Cao ◽  
Jae Yup Jung ◽  
Jihyun Lee
Keyword(s):  
Gifted Education ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Assessment Instruments ◽  
Gifted Programs ◽  
Gifted Identification ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Gifted Program ◽  
Crucial Component ◽  
Gifted Education Programs

Assessment is a crucial component of gifted education. Not only does it facilitate the recognition of the potential and specific needs of gifted students, it also monitors the progress and growth of gifted students, and allows for the evaluation of gifted education programs. In the present review, we synthesize the literature on assessment in gifted education published in the period from 2005 to 2016. We suggest that gifted assessment research has witnessed notable advances, which are apparent in both the extensive range of assessment instruments/methods that now exist and the diverse ways in which assessment data are now used. Future research attention nevertheless appears to be necessary on the optimal approaches to (a) use multiple criteria in gifted identification, (b) address the disproportionate representation of disadvantaged groups in gifted programs, and (c) promote the development of guidelines for gifted program evaluation.

University-based gifted programs for gifted and talented students in Hong Kong: Practice and evaluation

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-107
Author(s):  
Lai Kwan Chan ◽  
David W Chan ◽  
Xiaoyan Sun
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Gifted And Talented ◽  
Gifted Education ◽  
Course Design ◽  
Evaluation Research ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Gifted Programs ◽  
Enrichment Programs ◽  
Exchange Programs ◽  
Talented Students

The development and implementation of regular Spring, Summer, and Winter Gifted Enrichment Programs, Gifted Students Exchange Programs, and the Gifted Peer Mentoring Scheme provided by the Program for the Gifted and Talented (PGT) at the Chinese University of Hong Kong for gifted and talented students are briefly described. PGT also conducts research to advance the knowledge of gifted education and talent development and furthers the development of its gifted education provisions based on evidence-based information from research. Specifically, PGT does research on the assessment of giftedness and the special needs of local gifted and talented learners and conducts evaluation on gifted enrichment programs, course design and instruction, and students’ performance. The uniqueness of PGT, future directions in the development of university-based gifted programs, and program evaluation research in gifted education in Hong Kong are discussed.

Curriculum in Gifted Education: The Core of the Enterprise

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-47
Author(s):  
Joyce VanTassel-Baska
Keyword(s):  
General Education ◽  
Gifted Education ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Gifted Programs ◽  
Differentiated Curriculum ◽  
The Core ◽  
Differentiated Strategies

This article examines these important questions related to differentiated curriculum: Should curriculum for the gifted be available for all learners? Would differentiated strategies that work with gifted students work for all learners? What are some promising directions in curriculum for gifted programs that have emerged from general education? These questions are examined along with important issues in the field of gifted education.

scholarly journals School Integration Limits the Ability of Local Norms to Diversify Gifted Programs: A Mathematical Analysis with Implications Related to the Achievement Gap

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell T. Warne
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Analysis ◽  
Gifted Education ◽  
National Level ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Gifted Programs ◽  
Gifted Program ◽  
Education Community ◽  
Local Norms ◽  
Building Level

Several experts within gifted education have advocated for the use of local norms when selecting students for gifted programs, instead of national-level norms. Local norms compare students to the peers in their school to identify gifted students and are believed to produce a more diverse gifted program. However, one limiting factor on the ability of local norms to diversify gifted programs has been almost completely overlooked in the gifted education community. Through a simplified example, I show in this article that local building-level norms are best at diversifying gifted programs when schools are highly segregated. Conversely, I also show that—when achievement gaps are present and a uniform admissions cutoff is applied—using building-level norms in highly integrated schools produce gifted programs that are highly segregated. In short, the use of building-level local norms trades one form of segregation for another. Implications and recommendations for gifted education and beyond are explored. A preprint version of this article is available at XXXX.

Perceived Challenges for Rural Gifted Education

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 184-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie D. Lewis ◽  
Cecelia Boswell
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
School Districts ◽  
Gifted Education ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Rural Culture ◽  
Rural School Districts ◽  
Gifted Programs ◽  
Educational Decisions ◽  
Gifted Programming ◽  
Rural Settings

Rural communities and school systems are the heart of many states across the nation. Yet, many of the challenges facing rural gifted education remain unanswered. There is limited research or policy focused on gifted students, teachers of the gifted, or gifted programming in rural settings. Understanding how culture defines rural communities and influences educational decisions is key in overcoming challenges within gifted programs. This study seeks to explore some of the perceived challenges and the influence of rural culture in providing gifted services in four rural school districts in Texas. Findings highlight the struggles of rural gifted programs to identify and serve gifted students. These struggles fall into three categories: limited funding, limited time, and limited resources available for gifted programs.

Educational Paradigm Shifts and the Effects on Educating Gifted Students in the Netherlands and Flanders

2021 ◽  
pp. 016235322110014
Author(s):  
Eleonoor van Gerven
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Social Constructivism ◽  
Gifted Education ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Western Society ◽  
Paradigm Shifts ◽  
Inclusive Approach ◽  
Educational Paradigm

Currently, in Western society, five significant paradigm shifts can be distinguished affecting Dutch and Flemish gifted education: (a) an inclusive approach of education, (b) response to educational needs, (c) new perspectives on giftedness, (d) social constructivism, and (e) evidence-informed teaching. In this review article, the positioning of the education of gifted students in primary schools in the Netherlands and Flanders is explained within the context of these five significant paradigm shifts. There are frictions between what is, from a theoretical perspective, desirable optimally and what can currently be realized in Dutch and Flemish education. The process of change demonstrates a need for competent specialists in gifted education. Because basic teacher competencies for the Netherlands and Flanders are already prescribed by law, the construction of a competency matrix is recommended for specialists in gifted education that combines the general teaching competencies with competencies that apply specifically for gifted education.

scholarly journals Underpinning the entrepreneurship educator’s toolkit: conceptualising the influence of educational philosophies and theory

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Bell
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Educational Philosophy ◽  
Entrepreneurship Education ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Learning Theories ◽  
Philosophical Orientation ◽  
Education Literature ◽  
Educational Philosophies ◽  
Literature Theory

AbstractEntrepreneurship educators can maximise the effectiveness of their delivery by having a firm grasp of the different educational philosophies and theories that underpin entrepreneurship education pedagogy and practice. A particular educational philosophical orientation underlies, directs, and drives educator practices and should align with what the teaching seeks to impart and achieve, and the roles the learners and educator play in the learning process. Whilst educators might not always be explicitly aware of their philosophical orientation, it will direct and drive their pedagogic practice and have implications for what they deliver, and how they deliver it. The benefits of bringing together different learning theories, philosophies, and approaches for entrepreneurship education has previously been posited in the literature. However, it has been highlighted that connections between educational theory and practice are limited, and that the field of entrepreneurship education could be advanced through providing links between education literature, theory, and learning. This paper advances the literature by linking educational philosophy and theory to entrepreneurship education and pedagogy in higher education. It discusses and highlights how behaviourism, cognitivism, constructivism, and humanism can be used to underpin and support learning in entrepreneurship education. This meets calls for the conceptualisation of how educational philosophies and theories can be integrated into entrepreneurship education to support learners.

Validity Evidence of The HOPE Scale in Korea: Identifying Gifted Students From Low-Income and Multicultural Families

2021 ◽  
pp. 001698622110245
Author(s):  
Hyeseong Lee ◽  
Marcia Gentry ◽  
Yukiko Maeda
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Confirmatory Factor Analysis ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Gifted Education ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Factor Loading ◽  
Social Characteristics ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Gifted Education Teachers ◽  
Low Income Families

The underrepresentation of students from low-income families and of culturally diverse students is a longstanding and pervasive problem in the field of gifted education. Teachers play an important role in equitably identifying and serving students in gifted education; therefore, the Having Opportunities Promotes Excellence (HOPE) Scale was used in this study with a sample of Korean elementary school teachers ( n = 55) and their students ( n = 1,157). Confirmatory factor analysis and multigroup confirmatory factor analysis results suggested the HOPE Scale shows equivalence of model form, factor loading, and factor variances across different income and ethnic groups. A follow-up interview with teachers ( n = 6) revealed they acknowledged the importance of using the HOPE Scale as an additional method for identifying gifted students; however, they indicated less confidence about rating gifted students’ social characteristics compared with academic components in the HOPE Scale.

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