UQE97

Education of Special Populations of Gifted Students
INTRODUCTION
The Education of Special Populations of Gifted Students Module provides an
overview of the challenges and issues that face diverse populations of gifted
students as they struggle to gain acceptance, recognition, and access to appropriate
gifted education to meet their individual needs. It incorporates central issues in
multicultural education that examine questions of equity and excellence; prejudice
and stereotyping of special populations; and lack of awareness, understanding,
and recognition manifested in discriminatory practices on the national, state, and
local levels. It examines policies and procedures to screen, identify, and provide
appropriate modifications to curriculum for these diverse gifted students.
This module infuses the NAGC-CEC Teacher Preparation Standards in Gifted
Education (2007) in its objectives, as presented by the National Association for
Gifted and Talented Children and the Council for Exceptional Children (reviewed in
Topic 1).
The module begins with a review of central concepts of giftedness in relation to
diversity and current practices in identification (Topics 1, 2, and 3). The module is
then structured into three perspectives:
• Socio-cultural issues that examine global and geographical differences;
ethnicity, religion, and linguistic diversity (Topics 4 and 5)
• Personal issues that examine underachievement, physical disabilities,
behavioral and emotional disorders, and learning disabilities (Topics 6, 7, 8,
and 9)
• Community issues that examine economic and educational disadvantages;
diverse family structures and pressures; the young gifted, highly gifted, and
precocious; and gender differences (Topics 10, 11, 12, and 13)
The module concludes with a view of how to evaluate effective practices and
exemplary programs for special populations of gifted students (Topic 14). The
appendices include Additional References and Resources for Special Populations
(Appendix 1), suggested Course Products and Performances (Appendix 2), and
descriptions of cooperative Group Strategies (Appendix 3).
The module provides an overview of types of diverse perspectives and their impact
on the development of gifted abilities, such as ethnic heritage and culture, minority
status, language, diverse physical and mental abilities, gender and age, socioeconomic
status and poverty, and diverse family structures.
Introduction
1