A two-year study of 14 of the most successful schools in the Metropolitan New York Region showed that these schools had developed "phantom classes" that did not use textbooks, did not administer tests, and conducted very few observable sessions. These classes simply required the students to conduct independent research studies. (Author/CL)

Project DIG (Discovering Industries in the Ground) was a pilot program in Portage County, Ohio, involving gifted/talented high school students who gathered information from guest speakers, participated in field trips and an onsite archaeological excavation, wrote research papers, and shared experiences with gifted elementary students and the…

This study investigated the perceived value (after several years) of a year-long independent study/mentorship course provided to 90 gifted high school students. Respondents reported that the course had improved their self-esteem; that the mentor was a significant influence and helped in "real life" learning; and that the course helped in career…