Definitions of Gifted

There are many definitions for the term gifted. Defining it helps to determine the ways to identify gifted children and set up the best methods to teach them.

Establishing a definition of giftedness is the basis for many educational programs.

There are many professionals who use a child's IQ results to determine giftedness. Some say a result of 130 or higher determines it.

Different governments and school boards use the one that most represents their particular needs.

Some place emphasis on intellectual ability, creative ability or a combination of many factors.

I have listed several below:

The 1972 Marland Definition: U.S. government

"Gifted and talented children are those identified by professionally qualified persons, who by virtue of outstanding abilities are capable of high performance.

These are children who require differentiated educational programs and/or services beyond those normally provided by the regular school program in order to realize their contribution to self and society.

Children capable of high performance include those with demonstrated achievement and/or potential ability in any of the following areas singly or in combination."

1. General Intellectual Ability

2. Specific Academic Aptitude

3. Creative or Productive Thinking

4. Leadership Ability

5. Visual Performing Arts

The Columbus Group 1991:

"Giftedness is asynchronous development in which advanced cognitive abilities and heightened intensity combine to create inner experiences and awareness that are qualitatively different from the norm.

This asynchrony increases with higher intellectual capacity. The uniqueness of the gifted renders them particular vulnerable and requires modifications in parenting, teaching and counselling in order for them to develop optimally."

Sternberg and Wagner 1982:

They felt the "key psychological basis of intellectual giftedness resides in insight skills that include three main processes:

1. Separating relevant from irrelevant information

2. Combining isolated pieces of information into a unified whole

3. Relating newly acquired information to information acquired in the past.

They emphasized problem-solving abilities and viewed the gifted student as one who processes information rapidly and uses insight abilities."

Government of New Zealand: Working Party Report 2001:

"All individuals have strengths relative to their other capabilities; some individuals have exceptional abilities relative to most other people."

The Ministry of Education and Training for the province of Ontario:

"An unusually advanced degree of general intellectual ability that requires differentiated learning experiences of a depth and breadth beyond those normally provided in the regular school program to satisfy the level of educational potential indicated."

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