Education Commons^™

Exceptional And Able: Supporting The Social Communication Skills Of Gifted Neurodiverse Students In The Classroom, Victoria S. Henbest, Brenda L. Beverly

APLL Lab Presentations

These are the presentation slides from the 2022 MEGA Conference (Mobile, AL) sponsored by the Alabama State Department of Education.

Contribution Of A Differentiated Counseling Program Based On Self-Organization And Goal Orientation In Improving The Level Of Scientific Flow And Self-Awareness Among Economically Disadvantaged Gifted Students, Refah M. Al-Johar, Abdulhamid A. Al-Arfaj

International Journal for Research in Education

The current study aimed to improve the level of scientific flow level and self-awareness of economically disadvantaged gifted students through an online counseling program that depends mainly on self-organization and goal orientation. The study used a mixed-methods design. The sample consisted of 6 gifted economically disadvantaged students; 3 middle school students and 3 secondary school students. The authors developed the scientific flow scale and the self-awareness scale. Moreover, a differentiated counseling program was developed. The results have shown statistically significant differences (α < 0.01) on the scientific flow scale in favor of the post-testing. The results also showed statistically significant differences at the level of (α < 0.01) on the self-awareness scale in favor of the post-testing, which indicates the effect of the counseling program. The study also identified the factors affecting the nature of the relationship between economic deprivation, self-regulation, and goal orientation by determining the impact of economic deprivation on talent aspects, then determining the influencing factors. Data analysis revealed that there are three influential factors, namely the degree of economic deprivation, age, and the level of family education. The role of the counseling program in reducing the effectiveness of the factors affecting the nature of the relationship between economic deprivation, self-regulation and goal orientation was analyzed.

Keywords: Program, differentiated counseling, self-organization, goals orientation, scientific flow, self-awareness, gifted students, economically disadvantaged.

Exploring Differences In Mathematical Creative Potential And Problem-Posing In Gifted And Non-Gifted Middle School Students, Aishah Ahmed Alzahrani

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the link between students’ Mathematical Creative Potential (MCP) and giftedness by analyzing their abilities to pose mathematical problems. The participants included 260 gifted and non-gifted students from the 7th and 8th grades, representing four schools and four school districts in Northwest Arkansas. The study developed the Mathematical Creative Potential Scale (MCPS) to measure participant MCP. The MCPS is based on a divergent-thinking technique consisting of five free-structured and semi-structured situations. Students’ plausible problems were scored based on three dimensions of creativity: fluency, flexibility, and originality. This study found that there were statistically …

Characteristics For Teaching Gifted Students: The Saudi Teachers' Perspective, Majed S. Al Dalham

Doctoral Dissertations

Teachers of gifted students (GT) are the key to a fruitful learning environment for gifted students who have unique abilities and are different from their peers. There is a growing demand to identify effective GT teachers in Saudi Arabia who have specific characteristics that will help them successfully tailor their teaching to the needs of gifted students. Consequently, exploring the characteristics of Saudi GT teachers is an essential component of ensuring the quality of the teaching of gifted students in their settings. The characteristics of GT teachers have been adequately addressed in several countries, but there is a paucity of …

Benefits Of Veterans’ Oral History On Gifted Students, Katelyn Watkins

Honors Theses

To combat boredom and negative sentiments, all students need to be provided with engaging experiences in history. This is especially the case with gifted students. One strategy that has proven beneficial to students is oral history, which brings people who have lived through history into the classroom. Research supports the use of oral history in the classroom; however, research on the benefits of veterans’ oral histories on gifted students in particular is scarce. This study describes research on how a veteran’s oral history might benefit gifted students. Qualitative research methods consisting of case study and narrative research were used. The …

Counseling Gifted Students: School-Based Considerations And Strategies, Kelly Kennedy, Jessica Farley

Education Faculty Articles and Research

Gifted students are a heterogeneous group, inclusive of those of all cultures, backgrounds, interests, and achievements. Gifted students may not display any more or worse psychological, social, or developmental challenges than their peers, but they also are not immune from these challenges. Moreover, the nature of their giftedness may impact both how they experience a challenge and how a counselor might best support them. This article provides information regarding some developmental, emotional, and social challenges faced by gifted youth, as well as some suggestions for appropriate school-based counseling strategies.

Middle School Teacher Perspectives Toward Classroom Practices And Groupings Of Academically Gifted Students, Bethany Settlemyre

Education Dissertations and Projects

This mixed-method research study was designed to examine middle school teacher perspectives toward the classroom practices and groupings of academically gifted students. The Classroom Practices Questionnaire (Archambault et al., 1993) was used to survey middle school teachers on their use of instructional strategies with gifted students. Focus groups were then held to gain insight on teacher perceptions of differentiation practices for gifted students and homogenous and heterogeneous groupings of gifted students.

An analysis of the data revealed that teachers held positive perceptions of teaching AIG students. Data also revealed that teachers believe that homogenous groupings are more beneficial for AIG …

Program Changes For Gifted Students And The Impact On Collaborative Efficacy, Trevor J. Putnam

Education Dissertations and Projects

Research suggests that academically gifted students are often underserved when it comes to the school setting. Academically gifted students require specialized instruction to challenge them. Several successful strategies exist for creating an educational environment that appropriately challenges and helps these students achieve academic growth; however, these strategies are rarely employed due to a lack of accountability, supports, or these students’ ability to make passing scores on state assessments.

The school chosen for this study came out of analysis of state growth numbers for academically gifted students. Analysis revealed that while gifted students of this school were meeting proficiency standards on …

Teacher And Student Perceptions Of Pedagogical Practices On Gifted Student Motivation, Chloe M. Pappas

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis explored teacher and student perceptions of classroom pedagogical practices as they may impact gifted children's motivation to learn. Because engaging gifted students can be uniquely challenging, teachers may need to tailor the teaching and learning experience to motivate them in ways that encourage them to succeed to their full potential. This exploratory study examined relationships among various pedagogical practices employed by a teacher and gifted student motivation. Ultimately, results of this study may lay a foundation for best practices for teaching gifted students.

Examining Social Emotional Learning For Gifted Students, Lisa D. B. Turner

Teaching and Learning Sciences: Doctoral Research Projects

The purpose of this intrinsic qualitative study was to investigate the use of universal social emotional learning (SEL) curricula as a primary means for supporting the social and emotional developmental needs of gifted students in a large school district in the western U.S. The District, or case for this study, was not using any specific systemic social and emotional programming for their identified gifted learners. Through a constructivist social cognitive theoretical lens, the efficacy of universal curricula for gifted learners was explored. The increasing use of SEL in school reform efforts to improve academic success has provided much research on …

Student Perceptions Of The Honors Program At An Appalachian Community College, Melissa Renee Helton

Online Theses and Dissertations

Gifted students in the United States are often underserved. Collegiate honors programs are a proven way to provide for gifted students' special needs. Many gifted students attend community colleges, and these institutions have a set of challenges to starting and maintaining thriving honors programs, including accusations of elitism and lack of resources. Community colleges in Appalachia have an additional set of challenges to face, including high proportions of first generation students, rurality, and poverty. Efforts for thriving honors programs need to be effective and efficient at meeting gifted students' needs, but there is little research on the programs at these …

Student Behavioral Engagement Of Fifth-Grade Gifted Students In A General Education Class, Charron Rodriguez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This observational study surveyed the engagement of fifth-grade gifted students who spend the majority of their academic day in a general education classroom. This study looked at students in a K-6 public school district in Southern California. This study was a qualitative study with some quantitative data to confirm observational findings. The methods included observations, observational notes, audio and video recordings. After the observations the recordings were reviewed to assure the observational notes accurately portrayed the actions of the target students. The measures included student surveys, observational data via the Behavioral Observation of Students in Schools instrument, and teacher interviews. …

Reversing The Tide In Science, Engineering, Technology And Mathematics (Stem): Academically Gifted African American Students In Historically Black Colleges & Universities, Delores Rice, Fred Bonner, Chance Lewis, Mary Alfred, Felecia M. Nave, Sherri Frizell

Journal of Research Initiatives

What started off as a national concern has escalated to the point of crisis (Bonner, Alfred, Lewis, Nave & Frizell, 2009; Chubin & Malcolm, 2008; Hrabowski, Summers & Hrabowski, 2006). The current state of affairs regarding African American participation in STEM disciplines has become one of the thorniest issues of contemporary focus. This article highlights data collected for a NSF Education Research grant. The focus of this HBCU-UP project was to uncover factors contributing to the success of academically gifted (high-achieving) African American students enrolled in engineering programs at the 12 ABET accredited four-year institutions in the U.S. Specifically, this …

Gifted Students: Perceptions And Practices Of Regular Class Teachers, Tracy Taylor

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this research was to examine provision of differentiated learning experiences for gifted students in regular classes in Western Australian primary schools. Specifically, it was intended to explore differentiation strategies used with gifted students, issues faced by teachers in their efforts to provide for their gifted students, and teachers’ suggestions on solutions for these issues.

Presently reality in Western Australia is that gifted primary students spend at least 90% of their time at school in regular classes. Therefore, the regular class teacher’s role in implementing appropriate learning opportunities for these students is critical. Relevant literature clearly identifies the …

The Influence Of Advanced Cognitive Ability On The Development Of Psychological Defenses And In Understanding And Managing Affect: A Study Of Latency-Aged Gifted Students, Kahlila Ife Robinson

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The present study examines the influence of advanced cognitive ability on the development of psychological defenses and in understanding and managing affect, using the lens of Emotional Intelligence (EI). Theories of psychological defense maturity state that defense mechanisms are influenced both by the cognitive level of the individual and by the cognitive complexity of the defense itself (Cramer, 1999; Cramer, 2009). Individuals with exceptional cognitive ability may therefore show a corresponding "match" with complex defense use. In addition to defense use, how well one is able to identify, understand, manage and use emotion to facilitate thought, abilities often labelled Emotional …

The Challenge: Magazine For The Center For Gifted Studies (No. 33, Winter 2014), Center For Gifted Studies, Tracy Inman Editor

Gifted Studies Publications

No abstract provided.

Preparing Students For Careers That Do Not Yet Exist, Glenn W. "Max" Mcgee

Glenn W. "Max" McGee

The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA), as a self-described "teaching and learning laboratory for imagination and inquiry," has a history of pursuing innovations closely aligned with the vision and framework of the National Science Education Standards. Innovations include both methods and materials for inquiry-based student instruction as well as for delivering professional development for pre-service and practicing teachers. Instructional innovations described include yearlong student inquiry and research projects (SIR), self-paced physics instruction, student-driven energy and engineering projects, instruction in innovation and entrepreneurialism, and a host of student-led outreach activities to "ignite and nurture creative, ethical, scientific minds of students …

Preparing Students For Careers That Do Not Yet Exist, Glenn W. "Max" Mcgee

Publications & Research

The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA), as a self-described "teaching and learning laboratory for imagination and inquiry," has a history of pursuing innovations closely aligned with the vision and framework of the National Science Education Standards. Innovations include both methods and materials for inquiry-based student instruction as well as for delivering professional development for pre-service and practicing teachers. Instructional innovations described include yearlong student inquiry and research projects (SIR), self-paced physics instruction, student-driven energy and engineering projects, instruction in innovation and entrepreneurialism, and a host of student-led outreach activities to "ignite and nurture creative, ethical, scientific minds of students …

Educating Gifted Students In The Regular Classroom: Efficacy, Attitudes, And Differentiation Of Instruction, Daniel William Caldwell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine which variable, teacher self-efficacy or teachers’ attitudes toward gifted students, better explains teachers’ willingness to differentiate instruction for gifted students. Survey data from 341third through eighth grade teachers were analyzed using multiple regression. Teachers’ attitudes toward gifted students were measured using the Survey of Practices with Students of Varying Needs (short version). The Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale was used to measure teacher self-efficacy. The outcome variable, teachers’ willingness to differentiate instruction for gifted students, was measured by an instrument adapted by the researcher from an instrument developed by Heacox …

The Challenge: Magazine Of The Center For Gifted Studies (No. 26, Winter 2011), Center For Gifted Studies, Tracy Inman Editor

Gifted Studies Publications

No abstract provided.

The Challenge: Magazine Of The Center For Gifted Studies (No. 25, Summer 2010), Center For Gifted Studies, Tracy Inman Editor

Gifted Studies Publications

No abstract provided.

Developing Scientific Talent In Students With Special Needs: An Alternative Model For Identification, Curriculum, And Assessment, Carolyn R. Cooper, Susan M. Baum, Terry W. Neu

Education Faculty Publications

Can students with learning and attention difficulties in school actually be talented scientists in disguise? This article presents a model that was highly successful in identifying and developing scientific talent in these special students. The factors that contributed to the success of the model were the following: The emphasis was on helping students become creative producers. The model also featured a strong mentoring component that included role-modeling and problem solving within specific scientific domains and provided students with authentic, discovery-based, experiential, advanced level subject matter of the domain. Finally, the alternate means of assessing student achievement focused on a student’s …

Creating Conditions For Developing And Nurturing Talent: The Work Of School Leaders, Stephanie Pace Marshall, Martin Ramirez, Kathy Plinske, Catherine C. Veal

Publications & Research

In 1993, two decades after the 1972 U.S. Office of Education Report on the status of gifted and talented programs (the Marland Report), U. S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley issued a report stating that gifted education is essential to our nation’s future and documenting the “quiet risk” faced by gifted children and gifted education programs in the United States.