Characteristics of gifted and talented students
The Gifted and Talented Guidelines outlines the following definitions:
Giftedness refers to a student's outstanding potential and ability in one or more domains, (e.g. intellectual, artistic or sensorimotor).
Talent refers to outstanding performance in one or more fields of human activity. Talent emerges from ability as a consequence of the student's learning experience. (Gagné, 1985)
This definition reflects the distinction between ability and performance by acknowledging the importance of innate ability while also recognising the important influence of the environment and other factors on the development of ability. Policies and guidelines can be found on the Our Policies of the Department of Education and Training.
^ Return to top of page.Target group
It has traditionally been accepted that a small proportion (typically less than 5%) of the population should have access to gifted and talented programs. However, a broader view of the characteristics of gifted and talented students needs to be considered. As schools focus on outstanding performances in a range of fields, a higher proportion of the population (possibly as much as 15%) will be identified for gifted and talented provision. (See Gagnés Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent)
School-based provision (including that by all teachers in their day-to-day teaching) is applicable to 15% of the population and supplementary provision should be available to approximately the top 2.5% of the population in any particular domain or talent field.
This definition reflects the distinction between ability and performance by acknowledging the importance of innate ability while also recognising the important influence of the environment and other factors on the development of ability. Policies and guidelines can be found on the Our Policies of the Department of Education and Training.
^ Return to top of page.Gagné's Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent
Gagné's Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent (DMGT.US.2K)
Enlarged view of model.