Practical Matters

1998 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-55
Author(s):  
Marie Peine
Keyword(s):  
Gifted Education ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Stakeholder Groups ◽  
Field Identification ◽  
K 12

Criticism in gifted education focuses on two concepts that are central to the field: identification and programming. Who are the gifted? What are the most effective ways to meet their needs? In our deliberations about redefining the foundations of the field, we need to consider the ideas of all of the stakeholder groups. One perspective that has been absent in our discussions is that of the teacher who works with gifted students in grades K-12. This commentary is presented as an examination of critical concerns in our field as they impact the practical matters of the classroom for the gifted.

Gifted Program Evaluation: Catalyst for Change or Keeper of the Culture

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 196-204
Author(s):  
Janice I. Robbins
Keyword(s):  
Program Evaluation ◽  
Gifted Education ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Gifted Program ◽  
Program Evaluations ◽  
Stakeholder Groups ◽  
Educational Role

This article presents a view of barriers to effective gifted program evaluation resulting from ineffective tools for measuring growth in gifted students and the human barriers confounding the evaluation process. The role of advocacy in the design, implementation, and utilization of evaluation studies is examined. Long held beliefs and biases related to gifted education are recognized as influencing program evaluations. The recognition of the strengths and challenges inherent in the educational role of specific stakeholder groups is presented. Suggestions for developing an emerging cadre of advocates for gifted education are detailed.

scholarly journals Perceptions of K-12 Teachers on the Cognitive, Affective, and Conative Functionalities of Gifted Students Engaged in Design Thinking

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Krista Stith ◽  
Mistie Potts ◽  
Lisa Rubenstein ◽  
Kathryn Shively ◽  
Robyn Spoon
Keyword(s):  
Learning Environments ◽  
Gifted Education ◽  
Design Thinking ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Formal Training ◽  
Design Learning ◽  
Significant Step ◽  
K 12 ◽  
Different Content ◽  
Training Opportunities

Gifted students are our nation’s natural resource of technological inventors and innovators, but oftentimes do not receive differentiated instruction in technology/engineering design learning environments. This is not negligence or lack of care by the instructor, but a national issue of not sufficiently providing pre- and in-service teachers with formal training opportunities in gifted education. The purpose of this study was to understand the perceptions of K-12 teachers, trained in gifted education pedagogy and the Design Thinking Model (DTM), after their gifted students engaged in design thinking activities. Fifteen K-12 educators of different content areas reflected in focus groups upon how their gifted students performed. Teachers noted cognitive, affective, and conative phenomena, such as development of 21st Century capabilities, externalizations of psychosocial behaviors (e.g., perfectionism, avoidance of failure, gifted underachievement), and strong motivations to solve problems for end-users. The researchers suggest that with the reality of educators unable to receive formal training in gifted education, developing an awareness of intrapersonal functionalities of gifted students engaged in design thinking can be a significant step toward providing supportive learning environments.

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.

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.

Preventing Burnout in Teachers of the Gifted

G/C/T ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peggy Dettmer
Keyword(s):  
Gifted Education ◽  
Teacher Burnout ◽  
Learning Experiences ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
High Profile ◽  
Staff Person ◽  
Differentiated Learning

The position of a gifted education staff person is high-profile. Inherent in the role are pressures, demands, and criticisms which can lead to burnout. Teacher burnout is debilitating in its personal and professional effects; therefore, teachers of the gifted must capitalize on their strengths and learn strategies for coping with high-visibility roles and often inflated expectations of others. Furthermore, administrators must support and encourage these teachers as they endeavor to provide differentiated learning experiences for gifted students.

Action Research and Practical Inquiry: Multicultural Content Integration in Gifted Education: Lessons from the Field

2002 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margie K. Kitano ◽  
Katie S. Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Staff Development ◽  
Secondary Teachers ◽  
Gifted Education ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Gifted Children ◽  
Content Integration

This article describes the attempt of 2 staff-development practitioners to understand—through practical inquiry—elementary and secondary teachers' multicultural goals and implementation experiences with gifted students in a diverse district. An informal survey of teachers participating in an in-service course on gifted education suggested that many of these teachers had goals and experiences related to multicultural curricula for gifted children. Through the survey, teachers also identified obstacles they encountered in implementing multicultural activities and benefits they perceived. Teachers' stories describing their practice were gathered through observations, written reports, and videotapes. Findings offer several implications for guiding teachers' implementation of content related to diversity.

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 Mexican Teachers’ Knowledge about Gifted Children: Relation to Teacher Teaching Experience and Training

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 4474
Author(s):  
Pedro Antonio Sánchez-Escobedo ◽  
Angel Alberto Valdés-Cuervo ◽  
Guillermo Alfonso Contreras-Olivera ◽  
Fernanda Inéz García-Vázquez ◽  
María Fernanda Durón-Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Elementary School Teachers ◽  
Gifted Education ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Gifted Children ◽  
Educational Strategies ◽  
Screening Criteria ◽  
Teachers Training ◽  
And Training

Gifted students are important for the development of knowledgeable societies. The present study examined Mexican elementary-school teachers’ knowledge about gifted students, specifically on screening criteria, educational strategies, and their social value. The relationships between teachers’ knowledge, teaching experience, and training in gifted education was analysed. A total of 1002 teachers (M age = 37.5, SD = 9.6 years old) from the 33 states of Mexico, 365 men and 510 females with 13.5 years of teaching experience, of whom 32% were trained in gifted education, completed an anonymous questionnaire. K-means cluster analysis revealed two clusters. Cluster 1 comprised teachers (61.2%) with poor knowledge, while Cluster 2 included teachers (38.8%) with basic knowledge and more teaching experience and training. Overall, the findings had implications for teachers’ training and educational policy.

scholarly journals Teaching in Circles: Learning to Harmonize as a Co-Teacher of Gifted Education

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Haberlin
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Public School ◽  
Gifted Education ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Teaching Experiences ◽  
Inclusion Classrooms ◽  
Educational Theories ◽  
Teachers And Parents ◽  
Constant Comparative Analysis

In this autoethnography, I explored my daily challenges and frustrations working as a teacher of gifted students in inclusion classrooms in an elementary public school. Inquiring about how I coped with these challenges and eventually thrived in the position, I journaled weekly about my teaching experiences during a six-month period and collected e-mails to teachers and parents. I employed constant comparative analysis and five themes emerged: frustration, isolation, advocacy, collaboration, and influence. I discussed the themes within the greater social and cultural context, drawing upon psychology and educational theories.

Gifted Students' Attitudes and Perceptions of the Gifted Label, Special Programs, and Peer Relations

1997 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
John F. Feldhusen ◽  
David Yun Dai
Keyword(s):  
Peer Relations ◽  
Gifted Education ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Educational Opportunities ◽  
Gifted Children ◽  
Summer Program ◽  
Social Growth ◽  
Perceptions And Attitudes ◽  
Special Programs ◽  
Students Attitudes

This study examined gifted students' perceptions and attitudes related to the “gifted” label and educational opportunities available to them. A questionnaire was administered to 305 students, ages 9–17, enrolled in a summer program for gifted children, Factor analysis of their responses yielded four factors: Acceptance of the Gifted Label, Perception of Ability as Incremental, Preference for Challenging Educational Opportunities, and Perceived Social Links to “Nongifted” Peers. A major finding was that gifted students hold a predominantly incremental view of their abilities. Results are discussed in terms of implications for students' academic and personal-social growth as well as a talent orientation for gifted education.

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