Who, rather than what, decides what giftedness is? The academic world traditionally focuses on theoretical descriptors whereas society as a whole is more interested in practical function. This partly divided focus is becoming increasingly critical and problematic as economies are becoming global and the political objective is to create a knowledge…

The issue of underrepresentation in gifted and talented (GT) programs has developed into a critical educational concern. At the core are ambiguous identification assessment practices, especially for bilingual students. To illustrate, this article reports data from the last decade that supports the underrepresentation of gifted Hispanic bilingual…

The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with a comprehensive yet detailed account of the current giftedness and gifted education situation in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. It is concerned with four main research questions: (1) How is "giftedness" defined in German-speaking countries? (2) How are gifted children…

The purpose of this document is to establish the minimum standards for approval of programs which meet the requirements of the Standards of Accreditation adopted by the State Board of Education February 22, 1984, and have been effective since June 1, 1987. Included are guidelines, which enable school districts to: (1) Establish equitable criteria…

The authors suggest the need for conceptual shifts in the identification and definition of gifted children. They foresee a change toward broadened assessment of cognitive and affective development. Among recommended service options are advance placement classes, early admission, curricular comprehension, work study programs, and supervised…

A model is presented that views gifted individuals as being process oriented, creative individuals as product oriented, and talented individuals as performance oriented. Approaches to acting that differ based on elements of giftedness, creativity, talent, and combinations thereof are explored. (JDD)

Criticizes Morelock's (1996) attempt at differentiating giftedness from talent, in part because it chooses precocious development instead of outstanding human abilities as the essence of giftedness and endorses the "talent for all" ideology. Gagne's Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent is presented as a more logical approach. (Author/CR)

This response to a critique by Francoys Gagne defends the Columbus Group definition of differentiating giftedness and talent. Concepts addressed include qualitative versus quantitative differences, generalizability of the gifted definition, intensity, precocious development, vulnerability of the moderately gifted, moral superiority, and gifted…

This rejoinder to Morelock's response to criticism of the Columbus Group definition of giftedness and talent addresses continuing concerns and defends the Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent. Giftedness is described as encompassing natural abilities and is distinct from the "talent potential" definition that is offered by Morelock. (CR)

Several definitions of giftedness have been used to identify culturally different gifted children. Traditional notions of giftedness have focused on high degrees of intellectual ability, special talent, or innate ability in a particular area. A more liberal definition would include any children identified by professionally qualified persons who,…

This rejoinder to criticism of a previous article defends the Columbus Group definition of giftedness and talent by comparing and contrasting this definition with Gagne's Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent. Thresholds of giftedness and talent, including generalizability and clinical experience that support the Columbus Group definition,…

After reviewing old definitions of giftedness and research dealing with characteristics of the gifted, the author presents a definition that focuses on three clusters of traits--above average general ability, high level of task commitment, and high level of creativity. (IRT)

These suggestions for teachers of gifted students with hearing impairments address definitional dilemmas affecting this population and special screening and evaluation problems. Guidance is given concerning choosing a "gifted" definition, selecting measures for identifying giftedness, and determining the reference group. Teachers are urged to look…

A pentagonal implicit theory of giftedness and five criteria for designating a person as gifted are considered. Research with 24 college students and 39 parents of gifted children assessed whether this theory captures people's intuitions about giftedness and whether they use these criteria to evaluate others. Implications for educational practice…

This paper reviews literature-based giftedness definitions which have evolved as different manifestations of giftedness have been recognized. Various fields of giftedness are outlined, including mental, creative, specific academic, psychosocial (leadership), performing arts, kinesthetic (athletic), manipulative skills, and…