This digest paper presents a model for the education of gifted children and youth based on the concept of talent development and suggests specific ways to identify and develop talent. New conceptions of intelligence and talent developed by Sternberg, Gardner, and Gagne are noted. Feldhusen's and Wood's model of talent recognition and development…

A new paradigm of education, talent development, may be the successor to gifted education. The talent development perspective involves extension and redefinition of the nature of giftedness or talents, identification, and programming. Emphasis is on identifying and nurturing talents in all students, rather than selecting and serving the "gifted…

Gifted education urgently needs reform, including the acknowledgement of multiple types of ability or talent and long-range recognition and development of talent using multiple measures in order to understand the total person. (SK)

Five major steps in the identification of gifted and talented youth are discussed, and problems in each area are noted: (1) determination of program goals and types of gifted youth to be served; (2) nomination procedures; (3) assessment procedures; (4) individual differentiation; and (5) validation of the identification process. (CL)

Discusses definitions of giftedness, including the use of talent as a more effective term for giftedness. Argues that the concept of giftedness is closely linked to general intelligence and is of limited usefulness in understanding and educating youth with special abilities, while talents represent special aptitudes that can be individually…

Discusses the need for gifted and talented students to develop annual talent growth plans with the assistance of their counselors or program coordinators. Lists potential talent development services (such as mentorships, Odyssey of the Mind, and grade advancement), and describes the components of a sample growth plan used with approximately 600…

Identified characteristics and needs of vocationally talented high school students and assessed how their needs can best be served in vocational education using descriptive data from 31 secondary vocational directors. Found three categories of talent by students in vocational courses: academic, vocational, and academic and vocational talent. (ABL)

This introduction to a special section of articles on talent development in gifted education presents the Purdue Pyramid, a model of talent development with acceptance as a human being on the base, a variety of educational experiences ascending the pyramid, and self-understanding and commitment to self-development at the top. (DB)

This paper combines Gardner's multiple intelligences theory with Bloom's conception of talent to provide a foundation for the practice of fostering students' specific talents as a primary goal of gifted education. Individualized personal and skills-based growth plans are seen as a medium for career-oriented education based on students' identified…

This paper offers a model of the nature and development of talents, which views genetic factors as determining potential strengths and setting limits and views abilities, aptitudes, and intelligences emerging as a result of experiences, motivations, and styles. Specific talents are characterized by precocity, creative insight, a functional…

In their new book, "Genius Denied" (2004), Jan and Bob Davidson paint a bleak picture of the educational scene for gifted and talented children in the United States. They also do a thorough job of presenting and describing the many school programs and services available and the good research bases for those programs and services. What…

Leadership behavior, creative ability, and dramatic skill of 54 school-age children and youth were rated by their teachers. Significant correlations were found between leadership and dramatic skills and between creativity and dramatic skills but not between leadership and creativity. (Author/JDD)

Saturday programs can enrich schools' offerings to gifted/talented youths by providing in-depth, accelerated study in areas of interest, with the opportunity to study under high-level specialists. Important considerations in development of Saturday programs include teacher selection, training, and supervision; evaluation; financing; curriculum…

Seminars, characterized by high level content, interaction, discussion, and individual study and research, are an effective instructional format for gifted and talented students. Examples of seven seminar programs at both elementary and high school levels are briefly described. Stressed is the importance of the proper physical and psychological…

The Program for Academic and Creative Enrichment (PACE) is a pull-out program for gifted elementary students. It is implemented by resource teachers working on a three stage model to develop basic thinking, critical thinking and problem solving, independent study, and research skills. (CL)