Serious identification of the gifted started with the work of Lewis Terman early in the 20th century. Terman's model, based largely on IQ, may have made sense in the early 20th century, but it no longer makes sense today. The problems that society needs its gifted individuals to solve in the 21st century require much more than IQ--in addition to…

Gifted intelligence is underpinned by those aspects of neural function that enable an enhanced facility to engage in fluid analogizing: a cognitive-level construct that describes intermodule information articulation within the brain. Evidence for this claim comes from a program of neuroimaging investigations of the neural underpinnings and IQ…

Research in cognitive neuroscience suggests that the brains of mathematically gifted children are quantitatively and qualitatively different from those of average math ability. Math-gifted children exhibit signs of enhanced right-hemisphere development, and when engaged in the thinking process, tend to rely on mental imagery. They further manifest…

Social cognitive theory emphasizes a dynamic interactive process to explain human functioning. This theory ascribes a central role to cognitive processes in which the individual can observe others and the environment, reflect on that in combination with his or her own thoughts and behaviors, and alter his or her own self-regulatory functions…

Using questions posed by a gifted 12th-grade girl during an American History class, this article defines the nature of reflective thinking as a search for meaning that involves both imaginative as well as critical, logical thought processes. The author concludes by drawing implications for the education of gifted persons. (Author)

A metacognitive approach which stresses knowledge about cognitive phenomena for teaching gifted children is proposed. The author suggests that teachers-in-training must first be exposed to metacognitive experiences in a program stressing awareness and control of learning processes. (CL)

The role of the unconscious in educating students is considered, along with historical trends in educational philosophy and psychoanalysis at Roeper School (Michigan) for gifted students. The unconscious and creative drive of gifted students is seen as the bridge for explaining what would otherwise be incomprehensible reactions, behavior,…

Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligence construct is considered from the perspective of its viability in gifted education, especially in comparison with the more traditional Intelligence Quotient-based construct of intelligence. Empirical and theoretical support and contradictory findings are discussed from the literature in cognitive science and…

Describes the creativity classification system, a taxonomy of creativity that integrates nine dimensions of creative activity (contact, conscience, interest, fantasy, incubation, creative contact, inspiration, production, and verification). The system is used to categorize measures of creativity to help practitioners apply test results to a…

This article discusses using the Cognitive Assessment System based on the PASS theory, which centers on Planning, Attention, Simultaneous, and Successive cognitive processes, for identifying gifted children. It is argued that this more extensive and inclusive measure of intelligences could identify gifted children who would not traditionally be…

Four artistic people of various ages were interviewed concerning their conscious and unconscious thought during creative activity, emotions which precipitated creative activity and intermingled with cognition, and intrinsic motivators and rewards. The interviews supported research regarding the internal forces of creativity. (Author/JDD)

The Cognitive Enrichment Network Educational Model (COGNET) is a comprehensive elementary school approach to assist children in becoming effective, independent, life-long learners, by using mediated learning to address each child's personal and cultural characteristics and social milieu. This paper describes the COGNET approach for nurturing…

A triarchic model for identifying, teaching, and assessing children who are gifted is presented. The model involves three abilities: memory-analytic, creative-synthetic, and practical-contextual. Results are presented of the Yale Summer Psychology pilot project that is based on this model. Expanding the model to other fields beyond psychology is…

The Process Skills Rating Scales were designed to rate how well a student uses those process skills that develop an ability to think, reason, and search for knowledge independently and to communicate and interact effectively with all members of society. Forms are available for students (elementary and secondary), teachers, and parents. (JDD)

An Alabama school district implemented a thinking skills instruction program called Talents Unlimited through inservice education. Both workshop ratings by teachers and pretest-posttest scores by middle school and high school students suggested that Talents Unlimited can change teachers' understandings about higher order thinking skills and…