The ultimate goal of gifted education programs is to cultivate students' competences through challenging, enriching, and engaging opportunities for talent development. The purpose of this review is to present two main approaches of enrichment programs for gifted learners in Taiwan: the programs following the law and the alternative programs…

Federal attention is focused currently on investing and improving the quality of early childhood education, so that children's potential and talent development can be used as a natural resource for the future of our country. This article engages readers in transitioning their thinking about early childhood gifted education from a traditional…

The purpose of this study was to conduct a program evaluation of a K-5 Gifted Education Program. Program evaluation addressed how well the gifted education program studied met the National Association of Gifted Children standards. In addition, this study included stakeholder perceptions of the current gifted education program K-5. This program…

This "ERIC Digest" discusses the components of an effective educational program for students who are gifted. The paper defines the term "program" and distinguishes between programs and provisions. Eight major components of an effective program are noted: needs assessment, definition of population, identification procedures,…

A program for gifted adolescents at Franklin and Marshall College has involved 172 junior high and high school students over a three-year period in seminars. Despite problems, the program has expanded, resulting in five types of benefits, including challenge, basic skills, and research opportunities. (CL)

A description is given of a staff development program designed to bridge the gap between regular teachers and teachers of gifted children. The program is based on the following concepts: (1) teachers must be provided with practical ideas that can be put into place immediately in the classroom; (2) teachers must feel ownership of their own…

This monograph describes the organization, findings, and impact of a 4-year study which investigated programming options for able learners. The study had three goals: to find out what was being done in schools for able learners, to judge the effectiveness of current programs, and to recommend practices and programs which would result in…

This study evaluated a mentorship program which involved classroom instruction and actual mentorship experiences for gifted juniors and seniors. A survey of 103 former mentorship students found that the students derived numerous benefits from the mentorship program in the areas of personal, academic, and career development. (JDD)

The manual is intended to help local education agencies assess the overall quality of its programs and services for academically gifted students. The approach can aid in future planning by measuring the extent to which current goals are being met. Chapter 2 outlines the program goal approach and sets forth three major goals (and their related…

Author states that if a program for the gifted is to survive over the years, the 12 issues he cites need to be given careful attention. (BP)

Inappropriate expectations, insufficient instructional time, and lack of a support system erode the positive effects of gifted program inservice opportunities. Alternative training experiences are described which emphasize teacher-to-teacher rather than consultant-to-group interaction; focus on a specific objective reinforced by several inservice…

A total of 446 children, 32 teachers, and 32 teacher aides participated in an evaluation of a program providing instruction to meet the needs of bright/talented/gifted Head Start children. Components of the program included (1) enrichment programing to enhance the critical thinking skills of all Head Start children, (2) identification of…

The Outdoor Activity Center (Atlanta, Georgia) provides enriched experiences in a natural environment for economically disadvantaged gifted primary grade students and has developed materials incorporating creative activities used at the Center to expand the elementary science curriculum of the Atlanta Public Schools. Fifty-eight gifted students…

A program called OM (originally titled Olympics of the Mind), aimed at encouraging creativity in gifted and talented students via the industrial arts curriculum, is examined. Creative problem solving is discussed and examples of problems and format are included. Program effectiveness and public relations are described in detail. (CT)

The report presents evaluation findings of a gifted and talented program serving elementary-secondary students in Des Moines, Iowa. A four-part evaluation design was implemented: structural interviews with students and staff; written reaction forms completed by students, staff, and parents; descriptive evaluation of a "culminating activity"…