Being gifted doesn’t end after school

What is on offer for the 10 per cent who are gifted, asks Amanda J. Harper

ACCURATELY identifying, and providing for, school-aged gifted learners is a vital mechanism by which children may reach their full potential, however giftedness is not something people grow out of. Being a gifted learner may impact the way an individual of any age processes information, relates to other people, and responds to the world around them.

For school-aged learners the Australian Curriculum mandates that “Gifted and talented students are entitled to rigorous, relevant and engaging learning opportunities”, just the same as all students. The Curriculum also directs that teachers “will use the Australian Curriculum to develop teaching and learning programs that build on students’ interests, strengths, goals and learning needs, and address the cognitive, affective, physical, social and aesthetic needs of all students.” This, of course, includes gifted and high achieving students.

The work of Professor Francois Gagne provides the most widely accepted model of giftedness in Australia. His work stipulates that giftedness applies to the top 10 per cent of learners in any domain. It is therefore imperative that these learners, irrespective of their age, socio-economic status, gender (or any other differentiating factor) are accurately identified in order to appropriately design their learning programs.

The University of Tasmania recognises the importance of supporting and encouraging gifted learners of all ages. In addition to the many scholarships and valueadding programs that are available to students at the university, one program provides a stand-out opportunity for gifted and high achieving students: the Bachelor of Philosophy. Despite its name, this course is a companion degree for gifted learners and opens the doors to opportunities for additional study across all disciplines within the university, tailored to each student’s individual circumstances and talents. This degree allows students to expand their areas of study beyond their principal degree area, or to further concentrate on that discipline allowing for greater depth of study. The Bachelor of Philosophy is available both to new and existing gifted and high achieving students at the University of Tasmania, or to those who have completed a Bachelor degree or higher, and are within three years of their graduation. The Bachelor of Philosophy also attracts a student contribution HECS waiver, so students are not incurring additional debt for this opportunity.

Of course, the world of gifted learners may open, for many people, a new world — with many questions that need answering. If we are to support gifted learners of all ages, it is vital that there is an improved understanding about their needs — there are indeed many myths that need busting!

If you have a family member of any age who is gifted, or are working in a profession where understanding the way people learn is an integral part of your world, the new short course: Understanding Gifted Learners: Busting the Myths, may provide some answers.

The first iteration of this publicly available online course, begins in October and is now available for registrations.

More information, including eligibility requirements for the Bachelor of Philosophy, is available from http://www.utas.edu.au/ courses/acad/courses/x3pbachelor-of-philosophy

Find out more about the short course at https://university-oftasmania.thinkific.com/courses/gifted-learners-2019.