1. The nature of area of special needs - Giftedness
General definition
Giftedness can be referred to as the capacity or potential for performing at significantly higher level of accomplishment compared to others of the same age, experience or environment.
Range of conditions
This capacity or potential can be shown in the area of intellect, creativity, art, leadership or any specific academic field.
Characteristics
1. Verbal Proficiency - acquire large vocabulary, facility of expression and rich information
2. Power of Abstraction - have strong interest in inductive learning or problem solving and show high level of conceptualisation
3. Intellectual Curiosity - interested in complexity, a wide range of things, determined to pursue goals and goes beyond assignments
4. High Level of Concentration - able to concentrate for long periods of time and retain information.
5. Independence - self-directed and pursue own interests
6. Critical Thinking - critical on self and other things. Good at analysing strengths and weaknesses.
7. Sensitivity - have high level of awareness and emotional depth.
8. Creativity - demonstrate inventiveness to create new ways of thinking or doing things and like to brainstorm
9. Versatility - have diverse hobbies and abilities
10. Persistency - stays with a task till completion
11. Impulsive - little interest in details
12. Often bored with routine tasks
Ellen Winner (1996) also describes the following 4 characteristics of giftedness:-
1. Precocity: As gifted children begin to master an area earlier than their peers, they tend to display such talents when the opportunity arises for them to use this gift or talent. (Power of abstraction and verbal proficiency)
2. Marching to their own drummer: This is mainly due to the fact that gifted children learn differently qualitatively. They also require less support or scaffolding from adults and hence often resists explicit instruction. (independence)
3. A passion to master: They usually have a high degree of intrinsic motivation in learning and completing tasks. (Intellectual curiosity and persistency)
4. Faster information processing skills: Gifted children tend to learn at a faster pace, process information more rapidly, are better at reasoning, use better strategies and monitor their understanding better. (Verbal proficiency, power of abstraction, high level of concentration, critical thinking)
2. Causes of giftedness
There are many theories on attributable causes of giftedness, such as biological, social or experiential factors. The only certain theory is that there is no one main single factor causing giftedness and it can be a result of any cause, not withstanding the above stated ones.
3. The general impact of the special need on a student in terms of development and learning
Though giftedness relates to high achievement, it also make gifted students:
C. RESOURCES