Five papers are presented on serving rural gifted students, discussing: advanced academic courses offered through telecommunications; an electronic bulletin board and videotape exchange network; staff development and networking through telecommunications; acceleration strategies in elementary schools; and rural and urban gifted high-school…

Third- through sixth-grade mathematically talented students (n=306) enrolled in a flexibly paced university mathematics course far exceeded the normative achievement gains expected over a one-year period. Restricting such students to a rigid instructional pace may have a deleterious effect on motivation and achievement. (64 references) (MKR)

Discussion of the educational needs of students who are both gifted and learning disabled focuses on terminology, definitions, characteristics, identification, and instructional programming. A study showing the effectiveness of systematic direct instruction in small groups for this population is summarized. (DB)

National trends and issues that concern gifted education are considered, focusing on the relationships among regular education, early childhood education, and education of young children who are gifted. Specific topics include: whole language and emergent literacy, whole group instruction and flexible grouping, cooperative learning, and…

This article explores progress in the application of new technologies to the education of gifted students. Topics discussed include constructivism; new learning environments; empowerment of students; and applications of telecommunications, image processing, and expert systems. (Author/DB)

The summer course selections of approximately 1,500 gifted middle school students were examined. Factors influencing course selection included gender, race, ability, previous educational experiences, interests, and parental attitudes. Parental attitudes appeared to have a major influence in the selection of math and science courses for both males…

This study examined the status of local gifted education programs in 19 states and reasons attributed by 1,579 educators for the status of the programs. Programs in states with gifted education mandates and good economic health were intact and expanded, while programs in states without mandates or in poor economic health were threatened. (SW)

A case study examines the experience of a middle school mandated to provide differentiated instruction for academically diverse learners and considers factors affecting movement toward differentiated classrooms. Clarity in defining the concept is discussed, along with administrative barriers, issues related to changing expectations, and need for…

Examines questions on establishing a valid education for impoverished black students and offers suggestions to assist in correcting this group's disenchantment with the public schools. Questions concern teacher education for poor black students, how teachers can encourage poor black students to learn, and how teachers can identify gifted minority…

Studied diversity in high-level competence with 122 students identified as academically gifted, in grades 6-8. Results, which contradicted linear, single-scale models of intelligence, supported a three-factor solution: linguistic, logical-mathematical, and social. Specialization and generalization developed in tension with each other, yielding…

Addresses difficulties identifying gifted rural children who are economically disadvantaged and who do not exhibit traditional characteristics of gifted behavior. Suggests that individual assessment be both comprehensive and culturally specific, that curriculum interventions use the resources of rural communities, and that computer technology and…

Asserts that educational researchers ideally want their interests, values, and assumptions about life and human purpose interwoven with their research themes. Reviews research in art education. Concludes that one topic to study would be the relationship between art education and life. (CFR)

This study examined the effects of 3 instructional methods--computer education, creative problem solving, and traditional gifted curriculum--on development of problem-solving skills of gifted students aged 8 to 12. Posttest scores of the computer education unit were significantly higher than scores for the computer literacy and problem-solving…

Three students describe how teachers were able to make the learning of history exciting and encourage historical investigations. The use of primary sources of information to stimulate interest in history is recommended as a means of providing curricular differentiation for gifted students, and activities using primary sources are described. (JDD)

This model assessment procedure for gifted/learning-disabled students utilizes the concepts of the tetrahedral learning model and self-regulation versus other-regulation. Stage one focuses on the compilation of a summary profile of learner strengths and weaknesses; stage two deals with the learner in context, using a structured interview format.…